Nfts
Evil Genius Games owner promotes NFT technology despite company policy opposing it
A new tabletop company is mired in an NFT controversy. Some are marketing stunts like Physical NFTs of Exploding Kittens. Others are dubious scammers like Wonders of the First. Then there are conflicts of policy and position, like Dave Scott, owner of Evil Genius Games, promoting NFT and Web3 technologies despite the company’s code of ethics opposing their use .
Owner of Evil Genius Games and NFT
According to a ENworld reportScott had participated in a pitch competition at Consensus 2024. Consensus 2024 is held in Texas and is led by Coindesk, one of the largest media and data companies dedicated to the global crypto markets, blockchain and Web3 technology.
Want your Pacific Rim character turned into a token? Me neither.
In his pitch, Scott presented a future of TTRPG offerings that would utilize blockchain and NFTs. This pitch involved creating turn-based RPGs on-chain, creating items, character sheets, adventures, and NPCs as tokens that could be bought, sold, and traded on-chain.
Scott’s pitch included a video presentation and an in-depth Q&A session. The video contained artwork of a possible NFT future for Evil Genius Games’ tabletop offerings, showing off characters and ideas from their D20 Modern-inspired project. Everyday heroes. During the Q&A session, Scott said the technology was not in place but they were starting to put the infrastructure in place.
Ultimately, Scott’s pitch for a future NFT-based TTRPG won the pitch competition.
Scott’s advocacy and promotion of NFTs and Web3 technology opposes Evil Genius Games’ code of ethics. On their official website, article number 2 of their code of ethics states that the company will not use blockchain or Web3 technology as part of its technology platform.
Notably, Evil Genius Games’ code of ethics on NFTs and Web3 is accompanied by a disclosure note. It says one of the company’s investors is the Blockchain Founders Fund, which invests heavily in Web3 startups. The note explains that an agreement is in place and that Evil Genius Games will not use blockchain technology.
A position which is becoming more and more doubtful in light of recent events. After the trial regarding their annulment Rebel Moon TTRPGemployees had started resigning from the company citing ethical concerns. These concerns included salary issues, concerns related to the use of certain technologies, as well as interpersonal pressures.
Overall, Scott’s presence at Consensus 2024 and the working environment of Evil Genius Games calls many things into question. The policy says one thing while the owner does the opposite. Employee departures are due to ethical conflicts exacerbated by the involvement of certain investors.
All around a very controversial technology potentially being incorporated into the distinctly analog hobby of TTRPGs.