Captainz, Memeland’s main collection, hit 9,999 NFTs for 1,069 ETH each on January 4, 2023. Now, after months of anticipation, Memeland’s Captainz art has been revealed.
What stands out about the reveal is the customization, namely the freedom for holders to choose the gender, skin type and other properties of their NFT. All of these features were aimed at enabling holders to contribute to the Memeland ecosystem as owners, not just customers. Other expected huge benefits for Captainz NFTs include the company’s upcoming $MEME token and the rumored Treasure Islandz experience.
The revelation has drawn in a wide range of comments, with some praising the new unprecedented control over their digital identities and others criticizing the artwork itself.
A range of responses
Following the art’s unveiling on July 2, users flocked to Twitter to share their thoughts on the PFPs. Some users alluded to the designs being derivative and low quality, calling them “Fiverr art” or comparing them to Azuki’s. Elementals collection, which was also criticized for its currency. However, many were unaware that the NFT art functions as a base, capable of incorporating additional elements.
Other users called the project racist, citing a black avatar named Kong, whose name is reminiscent of King Kong. However, Ray Chan, the CEO of 9GAG, Memoland’s parent company, explained that the name is a tribute to CyberKongz NFTs.
Despite the loud critics, others found a very different meaning in the Captainz art reveal. Among the positive comments, some called the customizable PFP capabilities one of the most revolutionary parts of the collection. Holders can personalize their avatars on everything from skin type, hair, clothes and more.
Captainz also benefits from Memeland’s ERC-6551 protocol, which helps the ecosystem as a whole. ERC-6551 allows NFTs to have their own wallets, allowing them to hold a range of assets, including other NFTs.
If Memeland brings Captainz into the game world, this protocol will allow all character-related items, such as weapons, clothing, and in-game currency, to be owned by the NFT itself. This consolidates ownership, simplifies trading, and allows linked items to be transferred together in one transaction.
In those ways, ERC-6551 and Captainz can propel NFTs to new horizons. Captainz’s customizable NFTs symbolize the evolving meaning of owning a digital identity, a shift in philosophy that supporters say outweighs the quality of the art.
Moreover, Memeland offers a robust bug bounty program through Captainz that both rewards and encourages active community participation.
Consistent with the mixed response, less than one percent of Captainz is for sale at the time of writing; conversely, the bottom price has dropped from the recent highs of around 8 ETH to around 5.5 ETH. Still, Chan is optimistic, calling the revelation “a step toward our goal of building the greatest community company.”