Good storytelling is good marketing: 4 NFT projects that excel at storytelling

The author of this article introduces Banka. Described as a "passionate gamer and pure-blooded community blogger," with 9 years of experience in game community management in the Web2 gaming industry. Currently, the author is fully engaged in self-media, writing content related to blockchain and Discord community management. Disclaimer: This article is not investment advice, but a case study.

A good story can give substance to thin matters and warmth to cold characters; it can move hearts and leave a lasting impression. The same principle applies in the world of NFT. In this article, we will explore several NFTs that tell their stories using different methods.

10KTF – Ongoing Weekly Updates for Over 1 Year

When it comes to storytelling, 10KTF stands out among the rest. In mid-November 2022, Yuga Labs announced the acquisition of 10KTF. The announcement included the appointment of one of the co-founders, Michael Figge, as the Chief Content Officer of Yuga Labs, indicating that they are more than just storytellers.

What sets 10KTF apart is that their storylines not only unfold in a fictional universe but also have real impacts on token holders' interests at critical moments. This not only adds tension to the story but also enhances community engagement and discussion. Every early Friday morning in Taiwan time, a large number of holders eagerly discuss and anticipate updates on the weekly storyline on Discord.

As a classic example, in the main storyline of 10KTF, the main antagonist BOSS_TOADZ once launched an attack on the protagonist, Mr. Wagmi-san, by frantically buying 71 floor items of 10KTF under the name of BOSS_TOADZ on OpenSea and sending them all to be destroyed in a black hole. During the attack and purchase period, the project team and the community encouraged everyone to quickly remove the listings of 10KTF. While such actions may typically be seen as a way to protect the floor price in other projects, in 10KTF, it became a virtual storyline that interacted with real holders, and the actual destruction in a black hole was quite brutal!

LOSTPOETS – AI Collaboration of Images and Community Text

NFT artist Pak excels in using art on the blockchain for large-scale "action art" and "social experiments," creating a sense of FOMO in the market during the NFT bull market with mysterious hints and unique gameplay.

LOSTPOETS is a project with a gameplay divided into 4 stages. Initially, it sold only a blank piece of paper, or perhaps a layer without any pattern in the online world.

In the subsequent stages of the project, these blank papers can be transformed into portraits drawn by AI at the choice of the holders. The holders can also name or write texts/poetry for these AI-generated portraits by burning the blank paper. Many initially eerie and cold-looking portraits have been given new impressions and meanings by the creativity and ingenuity of the holders, making it trendy to have a LOSTPOETS as a profile picture for a while.

One year after the release of LOSTPOETS, in early November 2022, the project officially entered its fourth stage. All images underwent another revolutionary change, and some unknown attributes are being calculated through algorithms behind the scenes. While the project experienced a period of silence after the market hype, the possibilities are endless until the mysterious veil is completely lifted.

Second Universe Dictionary – Metaverse Dictionary for the Chinese-Speaking World

Initiated by the Taiwanese team Rug Pull Frens, the Second Universe Dictionary is an NFT project that showcases stories written by authors and combines community collaboration to redefine word definitions. It won the Bronze Award for Media Innovation at the 2022 London International Chinese Creative Competition in November.

In the past, dictionaries were typically associated with conventional definitions. However, the Second Universe Dictionary breaks this stereotype by allowing holders to define the explanation of each word independently, giving the dictionary a whole new and different image due to the creative input of the community.

Ben Mezrich's NFT Trilogy – An Attempt to Subvert the Publishing Industry's Ecology

Ben Mezrich is an internationally bestselling author who has published 25 works since 1997, with a total sales record of over 10 million copies. Movies adapted from his works have collectively grossed over 500 million US dollars.

Some of the well-known film adaptations include:

• 21 (2008): Depicts a group of highly intelligent students planning to cheat millions of dollars from Las Vegas casinos.
• The Social Network (2010): Reveals the behind-the-scenes secrets and struggles of Mark Zuckerberg's founding of Facebook.
• In production, Dumb Money: Describes the "epic short squeeze" event in the US stock market involving GameStop in 2021.

In 2022, Ben Mezrich launched an NFT trilogy. Owners of the complete NFT trilogy (Part One, Part Two, Part Three) will be entitled to 50% profit sharing in Ben Mezrich's next movie script. He is currently writing a movie script related to NFTs.

Ben Mezrich's ambition is to establish a Web3 publishing platform to help aspiring authors obtain initial funding through crowdfunding. He is using his next movie script as an experiment to explore this model boldly, involving the community in co-creating and sharing the final outcome alongside storytelling.

Different Ways of Storytelling

The four NFT projects mentioned above each tell stories in their own way, utilizing the power of storytelling to build their communities.

• 10KTF: Uses impactful stories with real-world consequences to unite and invigorate the community.
• LOSTPOETS: Generates FOMO emotions in the community through technology and mystery, involving the community in the creation process to become part of the NFT.
• Second Universe Dictionary: Combines contemporary literary works with breaking the stereotype of dictionaries, allowing the community's creativity to run free.
• Ben Mezrich's NFT Trilogy: Subverts the publishing industry's model, engaging community members in the script creation process with his storytelling prowess accumulated over his career.