What was Web 1.0?

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“If people remember their original AOL account, it was an ability to look in a curated ‘walled garden’ at a set of content that was not interactive, but was presented to you on AOL, the way that Time Magazine used to show you the articles they wanted you to see inside of their magazine, just you could see it on a screen.” - Brian Brooks, CEO of Bitfury, in a speech to US Congress

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Web 2.0 came next with more public access Internet forums like Craigslist. Later, countless new websites and marketplaces such as Amazon and of course, how can we not mention social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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In this version, YOU became the product, as web giants harvested and sold your personal information. Your phone and computer began watching you and listening to you, marketing specifically to you, based on things you typed in or even said out loud, when your phone, computer, or TV were nearby. The Federal Trade Commission made Facebook pay a $5 billion fine in 2019 for using your privacy in this way. It was the largest fine of its kind ever.

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We are still “controlled” and monitored in this way, using Web 2.0. This is why we’re excited about Web3. Web3 is decentralized, which means everyone can own their own piece (and keep their own data private.) Platforms and apps built on Web3 won’t be owned by a central gatekeeper, but rather by users...you.

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This is where the term NFT comes in. NFT stands for Non-Fungible Token. Think of it as a membership card or even a trading card that allows you access to a community. Non-fungible means it is completely unique and can never be replicated. Only the holder can have that specific “card” or token. If you want to be part of a group of investors, you buy that kind of NFT or token. If you want to play a game in an online community, you buy that kind of token.

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And of course, if you want members only access to content created by your favorite musician, artist, or creator of any kind (like for instance the author of a series of fantasy novels, where everything happens in an elaborate universe, created from the mind of a visionary writer), then you buy that token.

 

You get something in return too, typically. It might be a book along with a one of a kind piece of artwork for instance. Instead of just buying the book, you’re joining a community of people like you, who love the world created in the series and have an interest in seeing where the stories and characters go in the past, present, and future.

 

You get access to members only content, sneak peeks, animations, short stories, things that no one else in the broader market may ever even get to see. Because your NFT makes you an owner in the franchise. And if for some crazy reason, you ever get tired of being in the community or want to trade it for some other community, you can do that too. The NFT can be sold to someone else who wants to join the community. But only a specific, small number of these tokens can ever be created.

 

Once they are in circulation, no more like them can ever be created. That’s built into the Web3 system too. The term used for this is “blockchain,” which you’ve surely heard of by now. It means that a program is written to create the tokens with a “smart contract.” And after they are created, no more can ever be created. They are a completely unique and limited series of tokens.

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Now how does all this relate to the Metaverse? Well, as Web 3.0 develops, many companies are creating an online world where the holders of these NFT’s can interact with one another. Think of it as a giant Facebook or Pinterest (without the selling of your private data), where groups can get together in a virtual format, to share information and experiences based on their interest.

 

In our little creative space for instance, you’ll go to a specific place on the web where you’ll find all things Harmon Waite and The Celestial Wars. Get to know your favorite characters, up close and personal. See where they live. Experience new adventures with them. Read, listen, or watch stories from their past, present, and future. Explore the locations you’ve read about in the books. See different artists’ renditions of the characters’ pictures, battle scenes, love interests, Smoke’s Hudson Hornet or Harmon’s BMW. Watch Eirian’s swordplay. You name it. The whole Celestial Wars universe, in a virtual, online format.

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And THAT’S why we’re excited about this new move to Web3 and the Metaverse for Harmon, Eirian, Smoke, Molly, Noble, Abaddon, and the whole crew from The Celestial Wars. And that’s why we hope you’ll join us there too.

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~ Dan Johnson

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