Alright everyone, if you are on Twitter space right now, I just started the live broadcast
on Twitch.
You'll be able to hear us here, but you won't be able to see us.
Whereas on Twitch you'll be able to see us and interact.
And if you have questions, you can post them there.
Hello everyone, welcome to Sound Dial Podcast number 24.
Today is going to be somewhat of a similar thing, but it will be quite different than
normal because today we have a SIP interview with one of the latest SIPs that will be going
out to vote tomorrow.
So SIP number 15 will be Metaverse and Disability with Meta Futura as the SIP author.
Mine will also be there as the Windows resizing as SIP number 14.
So hey Mark, good to see you.
But today we're going to be interviewing the team Meta Futura who is the author of SIP
number 15 and it's Metaverse and Disability SIP.
Perfecto, benvenuti a tutti, grazie di essere qui e vi diamo la benvenuta all'episodio numero
24 di questo podcast.
L'episodio di oggi sarà effettivamente parallelo a episodi precedenti, ma anche avrà una diversità
importante e questo è perché oggi abbiamo un'intervista speciale riguardo al SIP numero
45 che ha a che vedere con il Metaverse e la Disabilità.
Avrò anch'io un SIP da presentare domani che è il numero 14, avrà la votazione domani
e oggi vogliamo effettivamente intervistare Meta Futura che è lo studio che si è occupato
di questo SIP numero 45.
The scope of today's talk as I mentioned is to review and understand the SIP and as you
just heard we have an interpreter today, Valentina, very gifted interpreter who will be translating
from Italian which the Meta Futura team will be speaking in and then English that way we
can facilitate communication between us.
Quindi oggi sarà un episodio davvero speciale, andremo a revisare e capire il SIP e il contenuto
di questo SIP e come avete già potuto ascoltare abbiamo qui con noi un'interprete Valentina
che si occuperà di tradurre tutta questa intervista dall'italiano all'inglese e viceversa.
For the disclaimer, we do not represent the sandbox game or the sandbox foundation which
is the DAO.
We are not your financial legal advisors and nothing Meta Futura team and I say are to
be taken as financial or legal advice.
Ha visto prima di iniziare, non siamo rappresentanti legali, ne rappresentiamo alla DAO, quindi
all'Organizzazione Autonoma Decentralizzata, ne alla Fundazione Sandbox e ne Lenzer.io,
ne Meta Futura Studio, stiamo dando risposte legali e ufficiali, stiamo solo dando la nostra
opinione.
When we say the term SIF we mean Sandbox Improvement Proposal, when we say DAO, Decentralized Autonomous
Organization.
When we say SanFam we mean everyone in the sandbox community, from the gamers, creators,
and owners and token holders.
For the scoreboard, as you can see here, there is one SIF that is open for voting, it stops
in one or two days and then there are two SIFs that are on draft, which is Meta Futura
and mine and that will open up for voting tomorrow.
And for the checkbook, right now we have spent 2.3 million, which is 15% of our 15.5 million
budget.
And let's get into introductions.
So I'm Lenzer, I'm the podcast host of Sandel Podcast and I'm a landowner, I'm an enthusiast
of the DAO and I'm president of MetaWorlds.
And we have our illustrious guests here, Enrico and Federico from Meta Futura, if you could
please both introduce yourselves.
Hi guys, we are Meta Futura, I'm Enrico, Federico, then we also have Simone and Veronica,
who are not here right now because if they wake up early in the morning from us here,
it's very late and we're practically sleeping.
We are very happy to be here, we are an Italian company dedicated to the development of the
metaverse and also dedicated to the formation of the metaverse.
Now I'll leave my Valentine's Day to translate.
Great, so well thank you very much and hi guys.
I'm here with you and we are Meta Futura, I'm Enrico and there's Federico as well,
connecting with us today.
Simone and Veronica are the two members of the team that are left, they're not here with
us today because honestly they're early birds and it's pretty late here in Italy so everyone
is asleep but we're here to represent the agency and honestly we're very happy.
We are a company localized in Italy and we develop the metaverse and honestly we also
take, and we also take care of training and building in the metaverse.
We've been developing the metaverse for almost four years now.
We are the early adopters of the metaverse, we've already done some things like the first
Italian bootcamp for The Sandbox, we also brought Seb to Rome for the first time, he
did a great presentation in a historical theater and I can pass the floor to Federico to talk
about other things that we've developed like jobs, products, experiences.
That's great, well actually it's been four years that we've been working with this, we've
been developing honestly the metaverse a lot and we're also early adopters which means
that we were the first ones to organize a bootcamp, the first Italian bootcamp of Sandbox
and we also brought Sandbox to Rome, we had a big presentation, it was honestly a very
successful presentation in a big old theater in Rome and that was also a big landmark of
what we've been doing in the last four years and I'll pass the floor to Federico so that
he can add something more about what we do in Metafutura.
Yes, I'll continue to say that we are a company with a totally innovative character.
What we want to do in the metaverse is something a little different from the usual.
We found ourselves working in The Sandbox, we worked in The Central End, we also developed
in Nifty Island. What we want to do is to create a relationship between companies and
the metaverse. We see the metaverse as an important marketing tool, totally innovative
and we believe that our knowledge, our studies, our capabilities can allow us, as we have
already done, to train and build other creators. So what we have as prevention is absolutely
to involve new people because we believe that the metaverse can really bring opportunities
of work that currently do not exist. For us the metaverse gives great possibilities and
that's why we developed this project on disability.
Alright, so I'll add something more to what Enrico said. We believe that we are a very
innovative company so we want to do something different in the metaverse. We found ourselves
in Sandbox, we were there, we were using this metaverse and we honestly work on different
things as well. We were on Central End, we were on Nifty Island, but what we want, the
goal of our company, of our studio, is to create a strong relationship between companies
and the metaverse because we think that the metaverse has a huge importance in the marketing
sector. It's innovative, it's new. So what we believe, what we think is the best idea
is to put the skills that we have at the availability of building a better metaverse and using everything
that we have in our company to improve what we already have. So we want to integrate and
involve new people because we think that the metaverse is offering working opportunities
that are not existing in the reality we live in so far. So metaverse for us means big opportunities,
new work opportunities which do not exist yet and that is why we developed the SIF.
That is why we want to include disability in this metaverse.
That's awesome. That will move us right into our first question but before we move off
of that, as you can see, MetaVutura has one, two, three, four, five, at least six different
experiences so they've been in for quite a while. I wanted to ask Enrico, did I catch
correctly that you've been working in the sandbox for four years?
Alright so that is a great answer and we'll move right to the first question but before
that I just want to let you know and highlight the fact that MetaVutura has...
You're speaking in English.
You're doing great.
Perfect. So before we move on to the first question, I would like to underline something
important. MetaVutura has one, two, at least six different experiences so I would like to
know, in the last four years, Enrico Federico, have you worked on this? How have these last
four years been?
We're talking about the adopters. Federico was in the old... what was his name? The Creator
Found. He was one of the first creators to work on experiences and assets. In 2019,
he was still working on the game. So we've worked on the sandbox, we've always worked
on MetaVutura's sandbox, on the opportunities that we've had. We've asked a lot of questions,
for example, to the Game Maker Found. We have a game that I haven't seen mentioned before,
The Legend of the Miners, one of our most famous IPs. We also have a game that is bigger
than 4x4, I don't know if it's called Yuleverse.
I think, sorry Enrico, that we have at least 20 active and completed experiences, besides
the ones we've produced for the companies we've worked for.
Yes, we can make names like MetaCleber, Metapolitan, and other interesting games that are published
on the sandbox.
We actually work according to what sandbox gives us. Federico was one of the first persons
to create experience and assets in RedRound. I think it was 2019, 2020. Federico is confirming
2019, but I think it's actually 2020, even before COVID. We were already working on this.
As I was saying, we've been working according to what sandbox was offering to us, the opportunities
that were appearing in sandbox. We asked a lot of questions about the game. We were working
on Legend Mine. We had a famous IP, 4x4. We could list games now and list names, but I
think we have at the moment around 20 complete and active experiences, besides all the experiences
that we already created for different companies. It's actually a lot more than that.
Wow, very nice. Very nice. We'll finish with that question and move right into... You mentioned
that this SIP wants to... You wanted to create a strong relationship between companies and
Metaverse community, and this SIP was a way to do that. Can you explain what else you
wanted to achieve with this SIP?
This SIP is actually a whole different story. Like what I was saying, we don't have
the same
This SIP is a bit different.
What I was explaining before is the concept of our company,
that is, to want to introduce companies because we believe that the metaverse is a marketing tool.
In our working path, in our relationship development, in our networking,
we have created relationships with associations also linked to disability.
This is because, in reality, it was just for a chat we had a while ago
with a person linked to a no-profit association in Italy,
who was talking to us and was asking if the metaverse could be an opportunity for those who have disabilities.
For a disabled person who cannot move, the metaverse could give them a new way, a new place of work.
This made us reflect and this is where the realization of this SIP comes from.
Simply from a comparison between the need of an association that put us in front of the need
on the one hand, a disadvantaged category, and on the other hand, we said absolutely.
Also because we are also very much linked to our personal issues in the world of disability
and we know that the metaverse can absolutely be an opportunity, so-called, to be equal.
We have a lot of links with associations that work with disability and people with disabilities.
Why have we come to that?
Honestly, it was because we had a very simple conversation with a person who works in a no-profit association
and that person was asking us, do you think that the metaverse is an opportunity
or can create opportunities for people with disabilities or people that have no mobility
or possibility to move fully and freely?
Could the metaverse create some kind of working opportunity for them?
We started to think about it and that is how SIP was born because we had a need.
We had the need of the association that spoke with us, telling us there are disadvantaged people
who have a need, who need working conditions and working opportunities.
We were there to answer yes. Honestly, on a personal note, we, parts of the studio,
are very closely related to people with disabilities.
We, ourselves, thought, on a personal note, that it was an actual great idea
and that we wanted to give a positive answer to such an important question.
Wow. Okay. That answered two questions in one.
Wow, fantastic. You answered two questions in one.
So, you had a conversation with someone within a disability organization or someone who was disabled
and that led to this.
So, the conversation you had with this person, was it a person directly linked to an association of disabilities
or was it a person with disabilities?
It was the president of the Ampis association, who is then our partner for this event.
It was actually the head, so the director of Ampis, which is the association who collaborated with us on this step.
Oh, okay. All right, let me make sure my notes are correct.
You had a conversation with the director of Ampis, a disability organization,
and you all asked if there was an opportunity within the metaverse that you give them
or what would that opportunity look like, and then you collaborated with Ampis to come up with this.
Yes?
So, let's see if I understand correctly. You talked to the director of Ampis, which is an association for people with disabilities, and having this conversation, you were asked, so the president asked you if there was an opportunity to create a link with people with disabilities and the metaverse.
And from there you started working on this proposal in collaboration with him and therefore with Ampis and his association?
Yes, absolutely. If you want to know in detail, we met through people of common knowledge and then developed this discourse.
Yes, then we also collaborate with Ampis on other fronts, on other things internally, and we know what they do and they do good to people with disabilities.
They connect them on sports and also on training issues, they make a connection, a beautiful thing.
Yes, in fact I also specify that with Ampis we have other projects, not linked to DAO, but other projects of ours, always of development, however, linked on our part to training,
and eventually, project by project, there are their own characteristics to the adoption of people with disabilities.
So that's exactly correct. Your notes are correct. We met through common people with the head of the Ampis, and honestly we have other projects internally with Ampis, so we are already linked to that association, and we know them, we know they do good work.
They do work with sports and training, it's not really linked to Metaverse or development, but they do good work with people with disabilities, and we honestly love it, we love the good work that they do.
And yes, Ampis has some projects already active with us and has been having for quite some time, and those projects, of course, are not DAO related, they don't have to do with sandbox, but since we are a developing studio as well, we use developers, and depending on the projects and the complexity of the projects, we do hire people with disabilities for some part of the developing process.
Okay. And you said it was a marketing opportunity, can you explain what that means?
Yes, and we also said that it is a marketing opportunity, so we can know a little more about this definition. So, not really. The marketing opportunity is understood as, as we see Metaverse as an introduction opportunity for companies, because for many the link between company and Metaverse is really difficult to understand.
For companies themselves, when we find ourselves talking or proposing our work, companies don't have, at least in Italy, don't have this perception of usefulness in Metaverse.
So, what we see for companies, we see it as a usefulness, let's say, a usefulness of marketing.
So, linking it to this project, it is not really a marketing opportunity. Obviously, we know that an activity like this can bring an interest, a visibility, because we are touching on a very, let's say, in this moment,
in which Europe, even through its policies, is acting on processes, is acting on investments, let's say, it is a very sensitive sector.
And so, obviously, every action in this area can bring what we believe in this case in the sandbox, can light up that light of interest that, slowly, unfortunately, since we are working on it, I have to say, unfortunately, Metaverse is turning off a little.
The interest in Metaverse is fading away. So, we also need to understand and make it clear what the utility of Metaverse can be.
We believe that for disabled people it can be a concrete working opportunity.
Indeed. So, it's not really a marketing opportunity. What I said about marketing opportunity is more about what we think the Metaverse can be presented as for companies.
So, a lot of people do not understand that there is a close relationship between companies and the Metaverse, or that there can be such a relationship.
And when we speak with companies about the Metaverse, at least in Italy, maybe it's because in Italy it's not so developed, such a concept, but companies do not understand the big opportunity that they have in the Metaverse.
So, we see marketing and marketing opportunities in that kind of setup. Now, in this specific project, I wouldn't really call it marketing, because we know that the Metaverse is active and it can bring, by moving elements around in such a reality,
it can bring both visibility and interest, because we're touching upon a very important sector.
The European Union itself is acting on this sector, is making important choices and decisions, and it is a delicate sector.
So, every action that can be taken in such a context is an example, and Sandbox can be an example of that.
And there's a lot of elements to move around, because we know, and sadly we can say it because we work in this sector, we know that the interest of the Metaverse in general in the world is, you know, it's going lower, it's reducing a bit, people are not that interested anymore.
So, we want to, and we feel that there's a need to make people understand and make the companies understand that there is a marketing opportunity in the Metaverse, and that we believe that by using all of these elements, we can create work, working opportunities for people who actually need it.
Awesome.
Makes sense.
Excellent. Excellent.
Thank you.
Are either of you on the Sandbox team, or associated with the DAO?
So, Enrico, are you part of the Sandbox or the DAO team?
No, we are a side-by-side studio, we are the partners of the Sandbox, in the sense that they have put us on the site, we have the Blue Spunta as creators, and the description as many other studios, but it's not that we are dependent on the Sandbox, or we don't have contracts or anything.
No, not at all. Actually, we are just what we would say is a collateral studio, so a parallel studio, we do have the Blue Tag that the Sandbox gives out, but we're not on their payroll, we don't have any contract with them, so no, we just work.
Excellent. Okay.
And if we were part, if we had been part of the DAO or the team, I don't believe we could have presented a SIP actually.
You can, most of the SIPs that have been presented are from Sandbox, not from the community.
What did he say?
That is actually good.
It depends on your perspective, but I won't argue with that.
Alright, so within, so we'll move into your actual proposal content.
Thank you very much for explaining the context. I think it makes a lot of sense now to understand how you got to where you are now and why this SIP is so important for you to put forward.
The first question is where it said the people are selected by Anpis Association.
Does that mean that your candidates are already selected and you're just waiting for the SIP to pass before you start to train them?
So, in the part where you say that Anpis already selected the people that could be part of this project, does that mean that you're ready and that when the proposal is approved, you start with these people already selected?
So, as we have also expressed at Sandbox, the association asked us for about 30 days to identify the people that will be selected.
You should know that Anpis is an association that is located throughout Italy and has a lot of subscribers and a lot of interesting initiatives.
So, once the funding is approved, in about a month we will have a deadline to select these people with disabilities to start this work and social adventure in the metaverse.
I would like to add that the Italian timing in making this selection is perfect because the beginning of the schools is the moment in which we go looking for training activities and not to do for the students with the side to teaching.
So, this October is the perfect time to create this in the young people and in this sector.
Valentina, when you translate, would you mind telling me who said what to the best of your ability?
Of course.
So, Federico first.
Yes, about this SIP, we actually have 30 days that Anpis has available to select the people who will be part of the project if it gets approved.
Now, there's a context to be done here, Federico keeps on saying, Anpis is mainly and very widely present in the Italian peninsula, which means that they have a lot of people who are already registered to the association on one side,
and on the other side, they already have a lot of active projects with people organizing and moving and participating.
So, we have the deadline.
We have those 30 days and we know that Anpis will be quickly on their foot, looking for these people and selecting these people that they already have somehow in house and have the list ready before that 30 day deadline.
Enrico wanted to add that in Italy, we're having a great timing, this SIP is coming out at the best possible time because October and November are the back to school months, which means that a lot of parents are looking for opportunities, training opportunities
outside of school so extra curricular activities we would call them to be done in the afternoons after school, for their children or teenagers with disabilities to be able to keep their training outside of school hours.
So October and November are perfect months to be able to kickstart this project in Italy because of that.
Buone.
Very nice. Okay.
Under.
So that was under.
When you said developer for sandbox, the central and if the islands. Do you have any concerns about being able to develop the time needed for this specific SIP in the sandbox.
You said you're developing it in other platforms as well, for example in FDI Island. Are you concerned about the time required to develop this new project in your normal hours?
I'm concerned about the time required to develop this new project in your normal hours. Are you concerned about the time required to develop this new project in your normal hours.
And to tell you the truth, the central and if the island at the moment we decided to put them in standby because the market is not generating requests.
We have then implemented different strategies from the past, also thanks to the advice of construction workers who are supporting us.
And we have, let's say, put them in our team. We have taken on this interest in the field of the third sector, as we said.
And it has been repeated several times that the concept of disability and metaverse can be expressed together.
And therefore people with disabilities in this field can also find consideration that unfortunately they do not always have in the field of work.
We have therefore implemented a series of training activities for companies, people with disabilities, people with disabilities, with the conviction that the metaverse can give an advantage to these people.
From the same point of view, we believe that the sandbox can have an advantage from this action that we are doing. Because this will obviously bring new creators, new players, new content creators.
We have always been driven by this concept of sandbox and metaverse for everyone. And therefore we firmly believe that it is a source of work also for the most fragile subjects.
Where they can then express their own creativity and also socialize. And let's not forget that many times socialization is also considered less, but in reality it is fundamental also for people who may have disabilities.
Now we believe that this project is of the utmost importance. And honestly on Centralland and Nefty Island we are basically on standby because the market is not requesting much out of those platforms.
So in the last few months we have been developing different strategies to make the studio work in a different way. We received financial advice.
These people, the financial advisors are now part of the team as well. And what we've been seeing is a specific need in what we call the third sector.
Now metaverse and disability are two concepts that can be explained and can be put together. So we know that people with disability need acknowledgement and that acknowledgement is not always something that happens in a work environment for them.
So we started to develop projects with the companies that we already work with and with people with disabilities, because we believe that the metaverse can really help these people.
We think that being a company that is one of our priorities and on a different note, we think that sandbox can benefit out of this great idea that we had, because this project will be able to bring new creators, new gamers, new architects, new people in the sandbox, which is what the platforms and what the metaverse needs as well.
And we have been pushing all of this, we have been pushing the concept of a metaverse for all. So we think the work opportunities can be and can appear for people with disabilities, and that that will help them on one side express their creativity, and on a different note, also socializing.
Let's not forget that sometimes we think and we underestimate the concept of socializing, but for people with disabilities, that is actually a very important concept. It's not secondary at all.
So, yeah.
Wow.
Okay, both and your translating ability, Valentina, that was a really long one. And also that was a great answer.
Besides the great translation ability, because it was actually a very long answer, it was a really excellent answer. Fantastic, what you said.
Thank you.
Is this the first time you've worked with Unpis or have you worked with them before?
It's the first time you've worked with Unpis in this project or in this type of project, you've worked with them before.
So we've been developing projects with Unpis for the last three months, but this is the first project that we developed with them, which is open to the public.
I don't think I understood that you've been doing what with them for the past three months?
We've just been developing projects with them for the last three or four months.
Yeah, those are different projects that have nothing to do with sandbox.
Okay, so not the first time you've worked with Unpis, but the first time you've done a public project in the sandbox with Unpis.
We have said yes, but in reality, as I said, we have projects with them for other situations and this is the first one that we show to the public.
I would say that the answer is yes, but basically I would say that this is the first project that we do with them in sandbox and we've been working on different projects with them on different situations and different things and this is the first one that we open to the public.
Later on, in the proposal, it says that Unpis will be responsible for selecting the students, providing assistance, ensuring the implementation and the hiring plan. What is your MetaFutura's involvement in the process with Unpis?
Okay, so I see in the proposal that it says that Unpis will be responsible for selecting the students and the people who will be participating in this project. What is your role as a MetaFutura, as a studio in this selection and in this part of the process?
Well, we are teachers, we give a method, we do a cycle of lessons and Unpis provides a classroom where to keep the students and do this course.
Do you want to add something? No, we are responsible for the training and then obviously the adoption and the support, let's say, that we can give to the students who will become workers.
I forgot to say. Enrico says, basically, we are teachers, we are trainers, so what we will do is the teaching part, creating this set of classes, this course, and Unpis will provide the students on one side and the classroom, so the actual in-person space where we will teach to the students.
And Federico added that, yes, we're trainers, so we will teach on one side and then afterwards take care of the hiring part and of course working support whenever they will start working.
And that's to all students who will then be hired afterwards.
Great. How many students for class and how many total?
In total there will be 12 students, there will be 12 students of which 10 may be hired.
There will be selected two more to have the possibility when the student decides not to continue the work activity, let's say, we have two other people who will be hired.
We have two other people who have graduated and are then ready for the instruction and the work activity.
So we'll have a total of 12 students as Federico and we will be hiring 10 by the end of the course. So we selected actually, we're going to select two extra people in case one or two students decide not to continue with the working career that we offer at the end. And in that case, we will have two more people fully trained to hire and get to those 10 hiring people.
Great.
In the proposal, it talks about how voting people will have an innovative profession in their hands, and they will be able to decide how best to relate to the world of work.
Does that mean that they're going to be available to work for any sandbox studio or are you just wanting that to be or will they only be working for Metafutura?
People will be able to work with all the studios, even thinking about opening their own studio, having their own creative activity, creating their own
collections. We guarantee a month of paid work from our side.
So people will be able to work for any and every study and even open their own study or create their own things or, you know, they will have the opportunity to be a studio themselves. And what we guarantee is at least one month of full payroll and full salary and training, of course.
For all 10 that you hire?
Exactly to 10 people.
Okay.
One full month of payroll to the 10 hire.
When he said that they'll be able to work for anyone, I guess what he means is, or I guess ask him if he means they, you'll guarantee them one month of payroll that they can accept or choose to go work for themselves.
Or do they have to do the work for one month and then they can move on to do whatever.
Okay.
No.
Okay.
All right. So, if a person wants a person can go and work for whoever they want. So, if they want to get our training and then leave and create their own studio or work for themselves, of course they can do that.
Now, we will not tell them how much you're going to get as a salary, but you know, let's not complicate things says Federico again. People can go wherever they want. And what we want to do is to, you know, create opportunities.
And if a person doesn't want to stay there, that's why we have trained two more extra people. So if a person decides to stop the training or finish the training and then go somewhere else and do not work with us, at least for the first month, then we will, we will go to the two extra people that we trained.
Okay, and those people will be able to replace them. Now, it's important to highlight that what we want, and what we think is the best option in this scenario would be, you know, to train these people and then to hire them and then to give them a project, because the long term and the, the next step to that would be that this people will be then able to develop a new hub, which is basically a hub with specific characteristics, which is called creative horizons.
Got it. Okay.
And no, no, no confessado.
Cool, make sense. So creative horizons.
I've heard you mentioned that a couple times. You explain what that is.
So, the development of this project will be one of the main tasks that will be reserved for the new hires.
Obviously, during this month, let's say, of hiring, other tasks will also be carried out within the company. We do not want to make this a speculative operation where we hire people, we hire them, we make them do the little task and then we greet them.
We really want to put them in the world of work. This is, as I said, is an important partnership for us as a company, but it is, as I can say, something important also for the Ampis association.
It is something totally innovative, going back to the speech of the image return that we will have as a company, because we believe that what we are doing is actually something new and that works.
Who puts more than half of the budget of a similar project at the disposal of people who do not know, because indeed there will be more than 15,000 euros assigned to people with disabilities who will be hired.
So I want to make this difference strong, because this is the difference of the project. It is something concrete that really helps people.
It is not just a training course, but an introduction to work and we all hope that the projects that we have, both in the field of disability but also in the normality of our company, can lead us to prolong the working relationship.
Maybe not with everyone, but we believe that maybe we can select and keep some elements in our team.
All right, well, the development of this creative horizons project will be a specific task for the new hires. Now of course, during that first hiring month, they will have other tasks as well in our company.
I want to underline that this is not a speculative project. I don't want anyone to think that this is just a project to hire some people, to give them a small task and then tell them goodbye. This is not what this is about. We really want to allow these people with disabilities to enter, to access a work environment and a working world that they do not have access to yet.
So, both for us, for our company, for our studio and for Ampis, this is a very original, innovative project. It's important and as well, the reputation of the studio that we have plays a big role and this project also plays a big role on the feedback that we will get as a studio, because we believe we're doing something good.
Who else besides us is allocating half the budget to some unknown people, you know, because we're speaking about more than $15,000 that we're assigning to people with disabilities and we want to underline that this is the different, this is why this project is so different, because this is a concrete project, it really exists, it's not abstract and this really can get to help people.
We're allowing them to have an introduction to the working sector of the world as active population and we all hope that this project can help, you know, people with disabilities and also the company that we work with.
We want these people to work with us and on the long term, we actually think that some of those new hires can be incorporated and be official assets of the company, maybe not all of them, but some of them for sure will.
Okay, that's a very, very unique approach.
I like that.
Thank you.
Thank you for that.
We, I saw that you also talked about the European Parliament, which was, which was pleasantly surprising for me to read. How do you discuss, are you talking to the European Parliament yourself, or is that something happening within the European Parliament about disabled people?
Great, I saw that you mentioned the European Union several times, I really like that you mentioned it. My question is, are you talking to the European Union or is it rather the European Union internally that is talking about this project, about these projects on disability?
Well, as all companies do, they propose. We proposed it, the idea is pleasant, it's pleasant because, as I said before, the European Union is doing its best to put important funds on this topic.
Supporting people with disabilities is a duty and recently it has also become an objective of the European Parliament. This is certain, also seeing the programming from here until 2030.
And so we believe that the media return that The Sandbox can have with this project can then lead us to develop other projects related to equal opportunities.
We are not talking about disabilities anymore, but to be able to solve or give a solution for other problems related to the difficulty in training, in the work insertion, as well as the new opportunities that are realized, created with the metaverse.
That's it.
Well, as I said before, the European Union is putting effort in the whole sector of people with disabilities.
And as every and any other company, what we did was basically auto proposing ourselves, and they liked the idea and the idea was like because the European Union is not only putting effort in working and solving issues for people with disabilities, but also a lot of money, because they have been including these elements several times in the EU program here until 2030.
The disabilities and disability related issues are appearing a lot in the European program, and we know that supporting people with disabilities is essential.
So the media feedback that Sandbox could get out of such a project allows us to think and to hope that other projects could also kick start at some point in the future, not just with disabilities but also with every issue that people with disabilities have when it comes to training when it comes to introducing themselves to the working sector.
And, you know, the metaverse could literally providing us with a lot of me and providing them, people with disabilities with a lot of new opportunities.
And, and she said that I said it was liked by whom, and what was the part about 2030 I didn't understand that.
Federico, could you repeat the part of 2030 and who exactly you talked to? I prefer not to say names of whom we are talking about, they are personal relationships.
At the moment it is not necessary to say names. I can say that there is great interest from this point of view and there is a whole normative, we have also included it in part in the site, as far as it has been allowed for the issue of extension.
But in short, there is an important project from here until 2030 to make, to improve the conditions and the consideration of people with disabilities compared to the entire European continent.
So, I'm not allowed to say names. Those are basically personal relationships I cannot really say with whom I spoke.
And actually we were allowed to include some kind of norm that was already published like a normative in the European Union platform, and that we included in the SIP. It was actually too long, because of, because of that, our SIP was too wordy, because of that.
So, what I can say is that in the European strategy, from right now until 2030, which is the European official strategy, it has been included, disability has been included in the form of this kind of projects, and then by 2030 the European Union wants to improve basically the
conditions that disabled, that people with disabilities get in the European continent.
I think there might be language thing I'm trying to figure out here. I wasn't asking who, like the name of the person.
He said that it was liked by someone, and I didn't catch who it was liked by.
Perfecto, I really don't need to know the name, maybe it was a linguistic type. What I would like to know is who liked it, really, because you said that the idea was liked, and so I would like to know who it was.
It was liked by members of the European Parliament.
That's what we cannot say it was liked by members of the European Union. That's all we can say. Oh, okay. That, that's that's fine.
And so I just googled it, the European disability strategy. I see what he's talking about. Help me understand if I'm hearing this right. Is this SIP specifically called out within European strategy, or is it connected to it?
Okay, now I understand. I just googled it and there is actually this strategy of the European Parliament on disability. Now I would like to have the right information, so help me understand.
Is this SIP specifically included in this strategy? Are there elements that have been included? Is it only mentioned in the general issue of disability?
No, no, absolutely not. This is our proposal, which we have made. Obviously, as you can imagine, the metaverse in some areas is not yet conceivable.
Let's say this could be the pilot project to show that the metaverse can be a solution for this particular area of disability.
So much so that what we believe this could be the path to then be able to develop a strategy directly supported by the policy to develop even more similar projects.
Not at all. So the answer is basically that SIP is our own proposal. And as you can imagine, the metaverse is still in the European Union, somehow in some parts of the discussion, not conceivable.
So this is a pilot project or it could be a pilot project to show them that the metaverse can be the solution to a lot of problems that people with disabilities have.
That is why we believe that this is the right path and this is what we need to show them in order to then afterwards be able to develop a lot of different projects with people with disabilities.
Okay, makes sense. Thank you for explaining that to me.
That's a very interesting thing. I've never heard of the European Union strategy. I have it up on Google here on the stream.
And I see what you're referring to now as your SIP could be a possible answer to show the European Union that the metaverse is one of those answers.
That's a very interesting thing. I have the strategy that I just mentioned here. I'm sharing it on the streaming. And actually, this SIP, as you just said, can be a response to show all the projects that can be done to help people with disabilities.
Especially where it says equal access to participate in society and economy. Especially that.
And this could be something that would please even the sandbox, like entering into these dynamics inside. As a metaverse, from our point of view, it's an interesting thing.
Let's go back to the concept of the beginning of the interview. What we're trying to do is not a company that only deals with gaming.
We like gaming, we develop it, but in reality we believe that the metaverse has many other opportunities, still for us developed.
Enrico first.
Can you hear me? Yes, that's great. So Enrico first. This could actually be a great opportunity for sandbox. It could be useful and helpful for them because it could show them the access to all this world in a metaverse point of view.
It could be very important for them as well. And Federico added, if we circle back to the concept that we mentioned at the beginning of the interview, we are not just a gaming studio or a gaming company.
We know, yes, we like it. Yes, we develop it. But at the same time, we believe that the metaverse has so many still unknown and not explored opportunities.
Yeah, I see that now.
Thank you. That's that connection started to become very clear with your team and why, why you're doing this, why you have this set.
Yes, now it's really clear and there's a lot of clarity on why you are so connected and connected to this project with your team.
So we only have about three or four more questions and then we'll conclude.
The next question.
The next question is, according to our labor calculations, this is from your proposal. Each hiring will cost the company 1500 1520 pounds per person.
I think I heard earlier you mentioned that this this will guarantee hiring for one month on the payroll.
Is that correct?
Exactly.
I think I understood that one. Exactly. Exactly. Very good. Exactly. That corresponds to one month salary. Yes. Okay. Thank you.
Can you comment.
Let's set this one up correctly. So the last two we just added.
And let's just say outright when when we looked at the when anyone looks at the proposal itself, they're going to see at the top that the special counsel has rendered an overall negative recommendation and Geraldine explained why.
I'll stop there and translate that first.
Okay.
And so they explained that this initiative, I'm going to quote, appears to be focused on a limited number of people rather than offering a scalable methodology.
And then later they say the team's expertise and disability inclusivity is unclear.
And the last thing they said was, it's uncertain what recognition this project will bring to the sandbox.
So let's walk through those three things, because I want to give you the opportunity to to respond to them and make sure it's clear what's what you think about that.
Excellent. So let's see in the comment that goes along with this negative recommendation that they mentioned three different elements. They mentioned, among other things, the fact that it could be a limited integration, so very few people could really start this project.
They also mentioned the fact that the recognition of this project is not so clear and that there are no experts already established and there is no clarity on this.
Could you give your answer to this comment that we received?
Can we say five words? Can we say big words?
Actually, I have already answered these observations because for us this statement was very disappointing. Since we have been carrying out the project with the sandbox for a long time, the proposal of this SIP, we have had many times the possibility of discussion.
We have answered all the questions and the integrations that they have asked us.
So this is what they told us, it hurt us, especially for a speech in which they do not consider a future-based study that sandbox knows as an official partner, a trainer for the sandbox.
And it puts in doubt the professionalism of our society and of a no-profit association like Ampis, which has been with people with disabilities for more than 20 years, with operations and assistance and projects of relevant importance.
So for us it was very, very disappointing.
Let's translate.
Well, I already answered actually to the comment that they put about this negative recommendation. And honestly, we need to say that we're very disappointed. We were very disappointed to receive such a recommendation.
And that is because we've been working with sandbox for a very long time in order to be able to propose this SIP. And we had several debates, we had several conversations with them, we have answered all of their questions, integration and doubts.
And that's why when we received this negative recommendation, we were actually pretty hurt. And that is because they haven't considered our studio as a professional studio. And let's not forget that we're speaking about Meta Futura, which is a checked, we have the blue check, we are checked and officials, partners of sandbox.
So the recommendation is not taking into consideration our professionalism, our reputation, but also they're putting it down and they're doubting the reputation of Ampis. And Ampis has been working for 20 years with people with disabilities, they've been doing support, they've been bringing to an end a lot of projects that have been validated and that have relevant importance.
So, we were very disappointed and yeah, I'll stop here to translate and I'll keep on right now.
First of all, their response to the council's comment doesn't take into account a fundamental, central fact, disability.
Try to put together a class composed of 30 people with disabilities, all together. Do you think it's the same thing as putting together a class of numerous people with disabilities? No.
There's absolutely a need for a different kind of follow-up from us teachers. So, absolutely not considering this part is very serious for me, very serious from those who commented so superficially this proposal.
We intend, considering a number so small of people, to create a real benefit. Those people will have a training, they will have a salary and they will have the possibility to get into the world of work.
If this is of interest to you, I don't know. From the response, honestly, it seems like it isn't. So, this is the thing that leaves me a little perplexed.
And it hasn't considered a very important thing, the development of this Creative Horizons project. This is an experience that we make these people build directly.
And here we bring many other things. We want the kids to make their own collections, to show their own abilities, to use this experience to really get visibility.
This is not only for us, it also depends on Sandbox. The lack of support for this project has left me a little perplexed.
Because in reality we were pushed by them to participate. But I'm sure that, as I was writing, the people who are listening to us, who will have the patience to read the SIP, will have a different sensibility and vision.
And maybe a little deeper than the Sandbox or the Council of those who commented.
The other thing that needs to be underlined, which is that the Council didn't take into consideration the central elements of this proposal, which is disability.
And we're answering now about the question of why we do not have considered a bigger number of people. And the big elements to be considered here, and they forgot to consider it, is disability.
Can you imagine putting 30 people with disabilities, 30 young people with disabilities, in a classroom? Is that the same as putting 30 young people with normal abilities in a classroom?
Of course it's not. There's a big difference. And as teachers, we know that there's a big difference. That's why the follow-up that you have to do with people with disabilities is different.
And it is honestly very serious that the Council hasn't considered such an essential element in this proposal. We're giving, we want to give to people with disabilities, training, salary, and real access to a work environment and to working opportunities.
And that is real. That is not abstract. That is actually something that we would be able to give to them. So if Sandbox is interested in that, I do not know.
Apparently, according to the answer that they gave to us, the recommendation, apparently they're not interested in that. And that is what shocks me the most, because the fact that they haven't considered that element and the fact that they haven't considered something else that we put in the proposal, which is creative horizons.
That would be a different project that we would be able to develop afterwards. And this experience would be so important for people with disabilities, because it would be them developing, creating horizons.
We want to give young people the opportunity for once to show the skills that they have, but also to throw and get visibility on such an important topic, which is people with disabilities, and we need to follow up on that.
So, it doesn't depend on us. It doesn't depend just on us. It depends on Sandbox. And the fact that they do not want to support such a really important initiative is shocking. And also, because Sandbox was the original stakeholder in this project to push us to have this project happening.
Really? Huh.
It's not, you know, I'm not sure here what is happening, but what I am sure about is that the people connected here, the public, the people who will have the patience to read through the proposal will have a different sensibility and will understand that this is a great opportunity and that they will think better than how the council thought.
Yes. Yes. Bravo. Bravo. I gathered that when I read your response down below, which at the very end, you mentioned how, let's see, make sure I see. Okay. So you mentioned how we are greatly disappointed, but we are sure that the public will have another sensibility and vision of this project useful to everyone.
I thought that is exactly right. I think even though the council has rendered its recommendation here, I think the community will see this for the good that it really is.
Effectively, as I read in your response, and I'm looking for the exact point, but you said that you were very disappointed with this, with this response from the council, but that you are actually sure that both the public and the people who will have the time to read the whole proposal will feel a different sensibility.
And indeed, I completely agree on this point and I am really sure that even if the council has given this answer, the community will be able to make a different decision.
That was a very powerful thing. Educating 30 young people with disabilities is not the same thing as educating 30 normal people, 30 people without disability. It means a lot more to do that.
And that goes to show with the...actually, just stop there. It's not the same. It's more powerful, 30 people with disabilities.
So, just to be sure that I understood well, I took the correct notes. We talked about the fact that the recommendation of the council was that you considered a number too small of people and you answered, and this is very strong in your response, that educating or teaching 20 people with disabilities is not the same as teaching or educating 30 people with disabilities.
So, this seems to be very important. I think I'll stop here. Indeed, I just need you to confirm that this was the official response point of the council on the fact that the people involved in the project were not enough.
Absolutely. It is planned to have a course of support, not only in the classroom, but also offline, because there is a need for a particular support.
It's a job that is a little more demanding, because you have to understand the fragility of people. So, it's absolutely like that.
Indeed, it is, right? Just like you said, and actually, we could add that in order to make this work, we are offering support to the classes, not just in the classroom, but offline as well. And that is because we know that in this project, this kind of work requires a lot more effort than the normal effort required.
And that is because we need to understand every weakness and every specific element of everyone. So, it is exactly like you said.
Bravo. Bravo. All right. So, that was one. Let's do number three next. It's uncertain what recognition this project will bring to the sandbox.
I think you answered that earlier when you spoke to how this was going to tie into the European strategy 2030 and how there are members of parliament who are named, but look upon this favorably.
So, clearly, there is national, well, European Union, regional, right? Regional recognition of the European Union in some way.
Agreed.
Absolutely.
Absolutely. Absolutely. But I also want to underline, in addition to the project that will be able to develop, as I said earlier, politically, also the media aspect.
I don't know about other countries, but in Italy there is a lot of closeness to these topics. And obviously also immediately, newspapers.
An operation that we also do, of course, is to go and contact, as we have already done, actually, entities, televisions, journalistic headlines.
Because from a media point of view, it is almost the first sound box we can have. Once the phenomenon becomes visible, then from there, in my opinion, at least in my personal opinion,
we can take, we can activate, perhaps, a national, political, international body.
I don't know how it works in different countries, but in Italy, this is strictly linked with an important topic.
Media recognition is important and plays a big role. So, media-wise, newspapers, for example, and actually we take action, operative action, ourselves.
Because we do speak with newspapers, with televisions, with media channels. Because media, to us, it's just like I wrote in the proposal, a sounding board.
And with this, with media, we will be able to diversify and amplify this news. And that is what we think could, in the future, activate national or even international projects about this.
Right on. Right on. That's really cool.
That's really cool that you're thinking about that and that you are linking your SIPs activities with the more global entity that is the European Union and the strategies that are within your country.
I think that's very wise.
It's really fantastic. I really like this proposal. It seems very wise from your point of view to link your SIPs activities with such an important and international entity as the European Union.
Fantastic.
And that goes right into number two, which was the special council's recommendation where it said, the team's expertise in disability inclusivity is unclear.
You mentioned in the beginning how you all have personal connections to this subject, people with disabilities, and how you're motivated and passionate about it.
And not to mention, you put in all this work and research to prepare a very diligent proposal on the subject. And now you have garnered a, secured a link and a partnership with the largest Italian disability organization and a linkage to European Union and Parliament.
So can you speak to what skill sets I haven't mentioned or you haven't mentioned that also talk about your expertise in disability inclusivity?
Let me know Valentina if I have to repeat any of that.
Perfect. So let's move on to the second element that was mentioned in the council's recommendation, which is the lack of your, or the lack of clarity on your personal experience and your relationship with the world of disability.
As we said in the beginning, there is a really personal link with what you are doing, and not only that, but also all the hours and all the time you have invested in the research, in obtaining all this information and in the preparation of this proposal, of this SIP.
So we are talking about an initiative in which we already have, thanks to you, a link, a direct link with one of the largest associations that manage people with disabilities, which is Ampis, and also a support link of the European Union.
So could you maybe talk about the set of skills or this expertise or this experience that the council has not seen and that it has mentioned in their comment?
Well, I don't know, maybe we were not clear enough in presenting or maybe they didn't go into detail about the issue, or the analysis of the partners, or what sometimes seems to be missing is this...
this prevention of openness.
It seems that there are paths to be taken and they are those, they are linked to gaming, they are linked to the development, I don't know, territorial at the level of land and therefore at the level of nation rather than region.
But it is limited and sometimes maybe an idea, an intuition from the outside, in my opinion, should be evaluated a little more deeply.
Because as you have seen, behind this project there is an important depth, we are talking about interesting things, we are talking about an opportunity that Sandbox, if you don't have it, can lose it.
We can develop it in another metaverse. We were born in the Sandbox with this adventure as builders and we would like to realize it here because we know how to have everything we need to do it here.
If we don't have the well-being, we will see how to face the situation.
But as I said, in my opinion, it takes a little bit of a broad vision and with all the discussion that has been there in time in the creation of the SIP and in the relationship of creation of it, at this point in my opinion a little bit of an analysis has been missing, deepened by the team.
And I'm not saying it to say it badly, but I say it because it's something that everyone notices.
You have to be honest when you have to be objective and therefore not considering how it deserves this project or the hasty answer in such a way that it is so complicated,
a project so deep that, as you said, involves many situations and can be a starting point to find many other solutions.
And so this is a little bit of the speech.
All right. Well, I don't really know how to answer to that. And maybe we were unclear in our presentation, or maybe they were in, they didn't deepen their analysis enough, they haven't analyzed the partners, maybe.
And, you know, sometimes I feel like in this world there's a lack of openness, because it looks to me like there are certain paths, and those paths are the only ones that we can walk on. So you know, the same paths as usual so either gaming or land development or national regional projects, but those are limited.
And sometimes we do, and we should, or they should deepen their analysis on outside ideas and intervention and intention, because we've been seeing and you've been seeing as well that this is a project with a big depth.
This is not a superficial project. So, we're seeing that we're putting a lot of work in and if sandbox doesn't see that doesn't see the interest and is the importance of this project.
Well, they're missing out. Now, can we develop this project in a different metaverse. Well, we were born with sandbox, and, you know, we know that we, we have all the resources we have all the tools to make that happen in sandbox.
Now, if their answer is negative, then at that point, we will see what we do with that. But I feel like we need to get that vision and that openness broadens, you know, that there needs to be a broad horizon, a broad openness on this kind of projects,
and we've had the debate, we spent so much time prepping and created this sip, and I feel like now we're stuck at a lack of deep analysis, and we need to be honest, we need to use honesty here, because that's a quick answer to such a deep project.
It looks like it hasn't been analyzed enough, you know, and we have all the cards on the table we know how the situation works and we also know that this project could be as I said, the sounding board for so many different important projects.
So yeah, that is why we were a bit disappointed.
Yeah, that's completely understandable.
Completely understandable.
Lenser, will you vote for us?
Yeah, see?
Thank you. Yeah, you have my support. I wasn't sure like in a moment of honesty, I wasn't sure what I was going to vote because I didn't fully understand how I understood what you were trying to do with the people's disability and that that's also dear to me in different ways.
But I didn't sure how you were going to implement that project in Metafutura. Now I understand a lot deeper, and I support you.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Well, we're happy that we have your support. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much. And honestly, yeah, we were very hurt. So let's hope that maybe the council will also have a look at this interview and understand what has been said so far and we, Federico added, we will be sending this interview to the high charges and the people in the highest level.
Well, I'm glad I hope this is very helpful for anyone at any level to see what this really is about. And I was really, really unsure how the translation was going to like the flow of this. I'm really happy with the way we've communicated back and forth.
And I don't feel that it was confusing at all. I feel like I understand what you're after and anyone who listens to this, I think in English at least, well, we'll definitely understand what this is about. But I will do my part and making sure that I communicate this to all the different places that can receive your message and vote for you as well.
Great. And indeed, I am very happy with all the information you have given me. Let's hope that this message can reach people of absolutely all levels. I was a little worried, I was a little anxious about being able to communicate with another language.
But in my opinion, at least for me and for the people who speak English, I think it was really great communication. There was no confusion at all, at least for the English part. And I assure you that I will do my part to send and make this message reach all the members of the community so that we can all vote for you.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much for that. Thank you for wanting to pass across our message to everyone. And special thanks to Valentina as well who has been very useful in the Italian part as well and she's able to communicate perfectly. So thank you for that.
Bravo. Yeah, I really appreciate it. The last thing I wanted to end with was the sandbox spaces. I'll share this with you on Twitter. But these are some places where the sandbox voters will congregate during the week. On Monday, you have the Mochaverse Hall.
On Saturdays, you have Bulls on the Block. Monday through Friday, you have a coffee with Captain. On Tuesday, you have Well Members, which is called Natively Digital. And every monthly as you as you spoke earlier, Sanfam Cafe with Pig Axe Master.
If you were to show up to as many of those as you can, you'll be able to talk about your SIP there and also convince more voters to vote for you. And so I'll stop there and then I'll continue after.
Great. So I just want to close now by mentioning some important spaces where you can still share your idea. So we have Mochaverse Hall, as you can see on the screen, Bulls on the Block, Chris Jordan, Well Members and Sanfam Cafe.
You have all the dates and schedules of the spaces where these people, these users, gather. And I think if you manage to show up to as many as you can, it would be a great opportunity to continue having a conversation about your project and convince as many people as possible to vote for you.
Yeah.
Thank you so much for the tip. This Twitter spaces sometimes are difficult for us because of language barriers, but this recap that you just gave us is really important. So thank you for the tip.
Yeah, no problem. And since I will, having heard your interview and your thoughts on this SIP, I'll be there also for my SIP at the same time. The windows were sizing. Both of ours is going to go for voting tomorrow. So if I'm there in any of these spaces, I'll be talking about your SIP as well if you're unable to attend.
And I have no problem doing that and and making sure they understand what this SIP is about and answer any question I can, if that's okay with you.
Thank you very much. We're so convinced you'll be the greatest ambassador for our project.
No problem. Okay, so for the last thing, the last thing that we do is we always raid someone. So the only person I see that's on right now is AU24K for Sandbox. Do you all have any preference for anyone that we can raid on Twitch?
So normally at the end of our episodes we raid someone. I see that the only person connected here is AU24K. Do you all have any preference for anyone that we can raid on Twitch?
I see that AU24K is online. If he's talking about Sandbox, let's open it up. He's resisted the whole interview.
He's resisted the whole interview? Oh, okay. All right, I will start that up. But thank you both for your time. And I really appreciated understanding what your proposal was really about.
And thank you for your patience with the translation and the different communication barrier. It meant a lot to me to be able to do this with you and also to Valentina for her wonderful translations and making this, I don't know, just making it to where our community can talk to each other, even though you speak Italian and I speak natively English at least. But thank you.
So thank you both for your patience and for explaining all of these things in the most clear way possible. And of course, thank you for your interpretation and Valentina for allowing us to communicate. We're trying to make our community communicate in different languages, you in Italian, I in English. So thank you all.
Thank you so much. Having a translator was a great touch for our communication because it was a big surprise for us to be able to transmit everything we can say in our language with a translation. Thank you so much Valentina.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with us.
Well, thank you, Linzer for taking care of interpreting, of course, it honestly was a real, it really benefited us a lot. It was really a luxury for us to be able to speak our own language because we were able to transmit exactly the message that we want to come to get across to you.
And thank you, Federico added to this space as well, which allowed us to maybe better explain or to improve the explanations on some of the points of our ship. So thank you absolutely for everything, Linzer.
Arrivederci.
Good night.
Arrivederci.