In this issue:

• This Week in Neo Tokyo: Are We Riddling Again? (by PhoenixxDown)

• Introducing NodeRunners: Web3 Gaming Meets Guild-Based RPG Strategy (by Flower83)

• Content Creators Wanted (by ZeHI)

• Umami DAO Unveils GM Vaults (by Steven-T)

We often kick these off by extending a warm welcome to new faces in The Citadel, but this week marks a different kind of welcome. Two seasoned veterans, two respected Neo Tokyo OGs, have once again ascended, but this time to leadership positions atop Citadel Tower. Join us in giving a big welcome to your newest Council Members, @TrevesStudios and @Xenophan via the official announcement here.

Arguably, there's no one more respected in The Citadel than the subject of the very first episode of Neo Tokyo's new show, "Meet Your Citizens." Hosted by Block Editor, the duo delves into DamonNeedsToCreate's pre-crypto journey up to the creation of the Project Resource Program, a crown jewel of Neo Tokyo. Kudos to LeBoomington for facilitating the set for this sit-down chat.

Another bustling week for the AMAs, with Interlinked playing host to both Sidus Master, the CEO of Sidus Heroes, and SW4GN3R, the Co-Founder and CEO of Star Atlas. Check out the AMAs here:

• Sidus Heroes

• Star Atlas

Neo Tokyo News also engaged in a discussion with SW4GN3R on our NFT Market Monday X Space, along with a special edition episode featuring the Noderunners team tackling the burning question, "Did The Cabal kill GameFi, and how can we save it?" Quite spicy! The 23rd episode of Health Is Wealth wraps up a packed week for the News team. Listen back below:

• Star Atlas

• Noderunners

• Health is Wealth

Our Project Manager, Firestorm, represented Neo Tokyo in Merit Circle’s "Let’s Talk Gaming #9" X Space, hosted by @Marco_Merit and some of the biggest names in gaming. Listen back here.

Exciting news! Neo Tokyo will have a featured gallery wall at the JRNY Gallery in the Las Vegas Arts District, with Alpha King, WhiteCoco4U, and Co-Founder of NXG, BlockChainBuck, being the lucky citizens selected for this feature during our time there.

If you have meatbag friends who are on the fence about joining The Citadel, first of all, why would they even be on the fence STILL? But even so, drop them this quick recap of citizen utility coming from the Outreach Team to help seal the deal.

Lastly, you might have noticed a peculiar-looking email in your inbox this week. While many questioned whether the Becker bots were putting in some effort for once, our web3 security expert, Danor, confirmed the email's safety, though its actual nature remains a mystery. Are we riddling again? It seems so.

Note, however, that Firestorm highlighted that this did not come from Neo Tokyo, and the battle for the 5th Hand has not commenced.

The Citadel is known for fostering innovation and creativity, especially when it comes to web3 game development. There have been many quality projects coming out of Neo Tokyo lately and this time is no different.

Here we introduce NodeRunners; a web3-native play-to-earn game that has been in development for two years by a group of four founding members who initially connected inside The Citadel’s walls. The game is a manifestation, brought to life from a 24 year long dream by the founder Limitless.

NodeRunners is a guild-based roleplaying game where the fate of the universe is entirely determined by its community, emphasizing social dynamics and strategic gameplay. Players embark on a journey to acquire a ship, join a guild, and engage in battles for economic supremacy across the expansive NodeRunners universe. This is also the first game that leans heavily into $BYTES integration, with mini-games that will run solely on Neo Tokyo’s native token.

About the Game

In the NodeRunners universe, a complex web of diplomacy unfolds, shaping alliances, conflicts, and betrayals among guilds trying to get their hands on limited rewards from controlling planets across three interconnected zones.

It’s unique navigation system will resonate with strategy gamers. Players can seamlessly move from space to space, referred to as "nodes," interacting with other ships in each node. Activities range from landing safely on planets and performing administrative tasks to forming and editing guilds, trading resources, repairing, playing mini-games, and more. NodeRunners sets itself apart with innovative game mechanics; there is no other web2 or web3 game that has a movement concept like this.

Inside the game, players will progress through the game by leveling up their experience through kills, earning enough to upgrade through ship classes. The goal is to join a guild and gain control over key planets, catering to various playstyles, whether focused on PvP, resource gathering, performing administrative tasks, trading, or diplomatic pursuits.

Meet the Team

The NodeRunners core team consists of four fully doxxed Neo Tokyo citizens, with two of them even being day one minters.

They are actively engaging on social media platforms and Discord, always ready to help and share more information. Being gamers themselves, they understand the unique challenges and opportunities within both the gaming, as well as the web3 space.

What Can We Look Forward To?

NodeRunners places a strong emphasis on community involvement. As the project progresses, expect a cascade of information on game systems and components, with Twitter threads and Medium announcements diving into guilds' intricacies and their customization options. Look out for detailed threads explaining pilot classes and the perks of choosing each, as well as posts focusing on various ship aspects. Everything will be unveiled iteratively, in due time. Also, watch out Twitter for Discord announcements; those quickest to arrive will be rewarded.

In Q1 of 2024 there will be an NFT mint - PFP avatars that will serve as in-game characters. The NFTs will consist of two categories: Genesis Pilots and Clone Pilots. While Clone Pilots are free-to-play, Genesis Pilots offer several advantages. Limited to a supply of 5555, they come with various utilities, including boosted ship statistics, a free ship mint on game release, and early access to the game's launch. Additionally, they will be eligible for future airdrops.

Get in touch and connect with NodeRunners using links below:

• Website: https://www.noderunners.gg/ 

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/noderunnersgg 

• Discord: https://discord.com/invite/noderunners 

• Blog: https://medium.com/@NodeRunnersgg 

• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/noderunnersgg

Neo Tokyo PM, Firestorm, was a featured guest on an X Space today hosted by Merit Circle / Beam, with the theme, “Talking with Content Creators.” After the space, our courageous commander with the combusting cranium dropped this inspiring nugget:

“Right now, the studio demand for Web3 gaming content far outweighs the supply. Every game needs quality content to drive engagement and long-term community building. Creators who've been growing reliable audiences will have their pick of the litter for sponsorships and affiliations, but there's still a lot of room for new entrants.”

Those of us on the Neo Tokyo News team have long held the vision that a focused group of content creators working together from the heart of The Citadel would have a significant leg up in our capacity to become a force to reckon with in web3 media.

The main reasons for this belief:

• We have access to the amazing hive mind that is NT - full of great minds with diverse specialties, and a general expertise in web3…especially concerning crypto gaming.

• NT is branded and positioned as the Soho House (or Illuminati…depending on Becker’s mood) of crypto gaming. This vision has recently come to fruition with the Founders of All the top crypto gaming projects joining Neo Tokyo.

• Our metacity’s co-founders are two of the most prominent and sought-after content creators in the space... I mean, imagine what would happen to our NFT Market Monday space if our Angelic Overlord graced us with his presence…maybe next week ;).

You need video editors? NT has them. You need livestreamers? Right down that metastreet. You need researchers, head to Aries Compound. How about a long list of headline guests?…they’re around every corner.

Combining all of this with some good organization, the AMA team has demonstrated this potential through the success of its revamped Interlinked podcast…already with two major sponsors.

NT News is also right on track, yet we are looking to recruit a few more solid members to help raise our game to another level and fully take advantage of the opportunity before us.

Currently, we are looking for help with:

• Video Editing

• Gaming content creators with experience on YouTube and/or Twitch.

• Researchers / writers 

If you see this same vision, and want to learn more about this opportunity to join our team, don’t hesitate to drop into the News Division, tag ZeHI and/or DadFuture, and introduce yourself.

Empowering Neo Tokyo with DeFi Liquidity Solutions and insane ARB emission rates!

Citizens, it's time to embrace the future of DeFi with open arms! Umami Finance is thrilled to introduce our latest innovation, GM Vaults, designed to simplify and revolutionize your DeFi journey. In a rapidly evolving landscape, we are committed to providing cutting-edge liquidity solutions tailored to the unique needs of Neo Tokyo's citizens.

Choose Your Own DeFi Adventure with Umami's GM Vaults

Are you tired of being limited by the traditional DeFi offerings? Look no further, Neo Tokyo, as Umami Finance presents a game-changing solution! GM Vaults offer you the freedom to control your market exposure by depositing into our single-sided LPs. Say goodbye to the days of being forced to hold both ETH and USDC – now, you can compound your DeFi journey with ease.

Safety First: Umami's Vault Audits and Guardian Auditing

We understand that security is a top priority for Neo Tokyo Citizens. That's why Umami Finance has partnered with Guardian Auditing, a trusted name in the business. Guardian Auditing, the same firm used by GMX itself, is conducting a rigorous audit of our vaults. Rest assured, we prioritize safety and plan to undergo a second audit to ensure the utmost security and effectiveness for our users.

Unlock Capital Efficiency with Umami's ERC-4626 Vaults

Protocol treasuries and users seeking a capital-efficient way to earn ETH or USDC yields, rejoice! Umami's vaults are ERC-4626 tokens, making them fungible and tradable. These vaults are the perfect collateral for leveraging yield positions, offering a liquid and flexible solution for your financial needs.

Straight ARB Emissions

Thanks to generous grants from GMX and the Arbitrum DAO, direct ARB incentives are now live, providing a convenient opportunity to explore our vaults and join us in our exciting transformation.

Calling All Neo Tokyo Projects: Collaborate with Umami for Protocol Optimizations

Neo Tokyo's innovative spirit aligns perfectly with Umami Finance's ethos. We invite you to join us in optimizing our protocols to maximize their potential. If you share our vision of innovation and growth, reach out to explore partnership opportunities and help shape the future of DeFi in Neo Tokyo.

• Visit: umami.finance/vaults

• X Account: @UmamiDao

All content from Neo Tokyo News is for entertainment purposes only, and not financial advice.

That’s it for our 32nd edition of the Neo Tokyo Newsletter. Be sure to subscribe and share with your friends so you don’t miss out on future content.

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