Written in Partnership with Amir BakianIt’s no secret that the entertainment industry has undergone transformational changes over the years. Still, few have had as much impact as Tom Bilyeu, a former film school student turned entrepreneur, now leading Impact Theory. Tom’s journey into business was driven by a desire to control the narratives being told, a goal that seemed unattainable at the outset. His vision was clear – to establish his voice publicly and put himself out there, even if it meant being wrong, especially when it came to the possibility of gaming becoming an integral part of everyday life.
Witnessing the evolution of video games from their humble beginnings to their current dominance, Tom’s perspective on gaming has also evolved. When Tom was a kid, parents used to say that video games were a waste of time. But as Tom watched gaming overtake filmmaking as the dominant form of storytelling and entertainment, he realized that not only are they not a waste of time, they are the most consequential mass art form.
Impact Theory, a purpose-driven studio, wholeheartedly devotes itself to empowering individuals and advocating for the widespread adoption of a growth mindset through ideas and education with a primary focus on ages 11-15. Under the leadership of Tom and his team, the project leverages the potential of the gaming medium to cultivate personal development, skillfully integrating profound concepts and compelling narratives within the gaming environment. As a multifaceted studio, they meticulously craft a vast spectrum of empowering content, encompassing fiction and nonfiction realms, including comics, graphic novels, books, television shows, films, and enlightening interview talk shows.
The exceptional fusion of storytelling and gaming that defines their endeavors is perhaps most prominently showcased in their outstanding project, “Project Kyzen.”
Project Kyzen, a groundbreaking blockchain-powered 3D digital experience built inside Unreal Engine, allows users to create customizable avatars, participate in challenges and mini-games, and experience an ever-expanding real-time game world. Seamlessly bridging the virtual and physical realms, Project Kyzen invites users to explore, interact, and forge meaningful online connections in their real lives. Utilizing blockchain technology, the platform’s assets boast unparalleled uniqueness, are securely stored on the blockchain, and are architected to ultimately allow for a seamless transition between the game world, the real world, and back again.
With the concept of borderless entertainment, Project Kyzen marks the beginning of a significant change in the entertainment industry. Specifically, Tom envisions a groundbreaking convergence of virtual and real worlds, transcending conventional platforms such as virtual reality, consoles, and personal computers. Through a combination of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and advances in game development tools, they are building a hyper-responsive, ever-present game world that creates a much more immersive game world that players will truly inhabit. With this vision, a living, breathing digital universe is promised that will allow players to express themselves and engage with the story world wherever they are, creating an entirely new class of entertainment.
Tom is quick to point out that Borderless Entertainment is an emergent phenomenon born of the unique technological advancements of this moment, but that even this new form of entertainment will still focus on timeless themes and issues relevant to the human condition. In fact, the stated goal of Impact Theory is to tell one kind of story over and over from a thousand different angles – classic stories of empowerment. So while the storytelling will be achieved through pioneering AI-driven characters, personalized experiences, and blockchain-backed assets, the end result will still be emotionally grounded and relevant to today’s audiences.
The unveiling of Project Kyzen follows a meticulously planned rollout strategy comprising a series of well-defined phases, with the initial phase already achieving remarkable success. In Phase 1, which has garnered invaluable user feedback, the spotlight is on the revolutionary avatar creation engine. With this cutting-edge technology’s help, users can construct personalized 3D avatars using digital assets securely stored on a blockchain. This phase is distinguished by the ability to mint successfully and un-mint avatars in a gasless environment, allowing users to flaunt their avatars to the world through dynamic profile pictures.
Peering into the future, Phase 2 of Project Kyzen is slated to launch around August this year. For the first time, the virtual realm will be opened up, evoking a multi-player online role-playing game constructed with unlimited possibilities that can be assembled as building blocks. Players will engage in an immersive story mode and explore breathtaking gameplay experiences, among other exciting features.
Project Kyzen’s Phase 2 Trailer
Just in time for the holiday season, Phase 3 is expected to arrive amid mounting anticipation. As part of this pivotal phase, Project Kyzen is introducing a refined game loop and intricate mechanics that allow players to engage in competitive clashes that will further enhance the already engaging gaming experience. The realization of these ambitious undertakings owes much to the dedication of a team of developers boasting illustrious backgrounds, hailing from esteemed entities like Riot Games, Blizzard, Disney, and others. As their passionate efforts continue to breathe life into Impact Theory’s grand vision of borderless entertainment, its manifestation, in reality, is imminent.
In Tom’s vision, Project Kyzen stands tall as the central pillar of Impact Theory’s extensive repertoire, recognized for its potential to serve as the vital link that unites current content with future collaborations and alliances. This seamless integration endows users with a distinctive and captivating experience that mirrors Impact Theory’s overarching mission of empowering people to realize their full potential. Tom eloquently underscores this sentiment: “All of us start weak, but we can get stronger by acquiring skills and putting time and effort into it.” This profound mantra resonates harmoniously with the immersive, engaging, and interactive universe meticulously crafted by Project Kyzen, which cultivates an environment where personal growth and self-empowerment flourish.
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.