Building in the metaverse has become the new trend for big-name companies. However, small companies can also benefit from this bandwagon brought upon by NFT architecture designers.
Brands are looking for news to enter into the metaverse industry. As such, architects are increasingly partaking in 3D model building Decentraland. This is a complex process that can only be achieved by expert designers, the reason why only specialized NFT builders can do it.
Hence, it’s crucial to take a glimpse at the whole building process to understand why companies choose to outsource it.
What Can a Designer Do in Decentraland?
Thanks to the variety of items one can buy or sell in Decentraland, there are many types of non-fungible tokens designers can create.
For starters, collectibles and LANDs are the most popular choices. These are the main NFTs of the platform and are created only by 3D artists and architects. The metaverse itself provides a 3d modeling software, the Decentraland SDK, but designers can use third programs like Blender as well.
As for collectibles, artists can create 3D wearables and aesthetic items to customize their experience in the game. Although the price of collectibles is significantly lower than LANDs, they are still a great source of income. These are greatly valued by users; they even like to gather as many collectibles as possible!
Regarding LANDs, these are parcels within Decentraland. In these areas, one can build a scene in them, which translates to a structure where players can interact. In other words, architects can craft a whole building complex with events and activities built around it.
All in all, the NFTs Decentraland offer are highly focused on enhancing the experience of its users. Thus, one of the main questions a designer has to ask themselves when 3D model building Decentraland is how to engage the audience.
The Process of 3D Model Building Decentraland
Making 3D models boils down to rendering and architecture. The main objective is to sketch seemingly smooth designs so that users can see themselves having fun in them.
The Model Format
Despite how irrelevant this detail may look, the file format of 3D models is the core of designs.
Decentraland works only with glTF models. That means that any other format won’t be visible on the platform. Luckily, glTF is a rather common format in 3D models, so it’s not an issue. For instance, Blender artists can import their designs to Decentraland without much issue at all.
Furthermore, artists have looked for solutions and crafted plug-ins that enable models to change their format even for platforms that don’t support it. For example, Unity and Maya don’t support the glTF format, but designers can still import their 3D models regardless.
The reason behind this format choice lies in its features. glTF models come with skeletal structures and finer shapes to create better-animated objects. It adds complexity to the 3D model building Decentraland process with the result of making more realistic animations and scenes.
Building Scenes
After purchasing LANDs, a designer can begin building or redoing a scene for them.
This process is purely technical, as it requires expert architects to build a functional scene while still looking like a polished model. Naturally, the building process has a few aspects to bear in mind.
Decentraland provides a set of editing tools. These programs are specifically made for building on that platform and come with a few restrictions. For example, LANDs have a specific number of spaces within them and the model has to respect how many images and animations a LAND supports.
Moreover, scenes have to interact properly with animations. That means collisions and animations must merge will with users’ avatars and with other animated objects. It’s a demanding task that, if left untreated, can ruin the whole LAND, as it’ll seem buggy and faulty for users.
Lastly, shade and color palette are essential elements of 3D models. They are make-or-break features. Every inch of a 3D object has to react to light accordingly. Should a model lack proper lighting and color design, the project will seem bland at best.
Is It Possible to Import Custom 3D Models?
The answer is a profound yes, but there are two prerequisites to fulfill before doing so.
Scene Limitations
Decentreland, as any other metaverse platform, has strict limitations that a designer can’t possibly bypass. Even if the format is the same and the model somewhat fits LAND space, if the project doesn’t meet these requirements, the design won’t render.
Some restrictions may seem too farfetched, like the 15MB file size limit on each LAND’s parcels. Nonetheless, disregarding these details messes up with Decentraland’s inner structure, which is why they must be respected.
On top of that, the features of the imported 3D object, the lighting settings, and the texture must agree with Decentraland’s specifications. There’s a limit to how personalized a design can be on the platform.
Matching Aesthetics
Simply enough, each metaverse follows a distinct aesthetic design. Decentraland is no exception to this design principle.
To give a few examples, The Sandbox has a geometrical feel to it, while Horizon World follows a realistic yet cartoonish style. Decentraland is more lenient towards the latter.
For that reason, imported custom 3D models can be neither too realistic nor too unreal. If that were the case, the builders will have to adapt to the platform’s fashion and change the whole style of the model.
Nevertheless, this is not a restriction imposed by the game. Yet, it’s an advisable practice to enhance the appeal of a LAND.
Why Companies Build In Decentraland
Decentraland was made around 2016, but only after a few years have companies started taking a shine to the idea of digital worlds. Although the reasons are many, only a few sprung such an overwhelming interest.
Meta’s Announcement
The news about Facebook’s metaverse made the whole cyberspace industry change in just a few hours.
All of a sudden, many brands, including renowned companies like Microsoft, began taking metaverse and blockchain technology seriously. The reason is simple: not only are cryptocurrencies a lasting trend, but digital worlds can be applied to many industries, too.
Real state, retail, and even education can benefit from the technological development of metaverses. They are all-in-one spaces that provide many features that engage all kinds of users. It’s such a fascinating prospect that companies are trying to set their foot on it without missing a beat.
Zuckerberg’s enthusiasm for metaverses made it clear that investing in metaverses is the next hit. As a consequence, 3D model building Decentraland became one of the most popular business investments.
Community Building
Metaverses are community-driven platforms. Their nature offers a good shot at strengthening one’s customer loyalty.
Marketing can take many forms, and one of them is community building. Metaverses give the perfect format for that. Brand partnerships, events, and rewards are commonplace in the NFT market. These advertising strategies highly enhance community engagement.
The main benefits are expanding the reach of a business’s products whilst awarding regular customers. With digital worlds, firms can assess many needs at the same time without forsaking a percentage of their target audience.
Profitability
Metaverses are in their baby steps. Thus, they still have a way to go in technology and potential uses.
Virtual worlds are expanding to new fields. This broadening trend is what makes different industries invest in the metaverse. The quicker a company decides to build in a digital space, the more profitable the investment becomes.
In addition to that, since metaverses can be implemented in many industries, brands can heighten their reach with them. For instance, a retailer company can develop a game that boosts their products’ visibility.
In that example, such a practice can make gamers look at the company’s products while customers may consider playing the brand’s metaverse. It’s a win-win scenario for both sides of a firm.
Now is the perfect moment to capitalize on virtual worlds!
Conclusion
There are good reasons why one would take on a project such as 3D model building Decentraland. It’s a legitimate strategy that can award diversified audiences, extensive influence, and substantial profit to a firm.
The metaverse has come here to stay, and building in them is one of the best ways to make the most out of them. However, instead of having a go at unfamiliar projects, a healthier approach would be to leave the designing process to the experts and buy your decentraland 3D house.
