Summary

1. About this Report
2. Proposal-Info
3. ANALYSIS
1. ■Impact on the Ecosystem
2. ■Governance Compliance
3. ■Cost-Benefit Ratio
4. ■Transparency and Traceability
5. ■Track Record and Credibility
4. Evaluation
5. Voting

About this Report

vonFlandern has developed a methodology to analyze and evaluate OpenGov proposals as objectively, effectively, and transparently as possible. The goal is to create clear and structured decision-making foundations for our own voting—and to make these visible to the community.

Proposal-Info

Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE)

Track: 33 | Origin: MediumSpender | Amount: 80.000 USDT

Summary of the proposal

Core Issue

The high technical complexity of Substrate’s storage layer and the need for Rust expertise create significant barriers for game developers building on-chain games on Polkadot, limiting ecosystem growth in the gaming sector.

Ecosystem Impact

The lack of accessible game development tools hinders Polkadot’s adoption and innovation in on-chain gaming, preventing stakeholders from leveraging its technical advantages in a growing market.

Proposed Action

Ajuna Network proposes developing SAGE, an open-source framework simplifying on-chain game creation. Deliverables include core development (60,000 USDT) and two playground games (20,000 USDT), executed over four milestones by Cedric Decoster’s team.

Expected Outcomes

SAGE will lower entry barriers, increasing developer participation and hackathon engagement. Long-term, it will foster a vibrant gaming ecosystem, enhance Polkadot’s leadership in blockchain gaming, and boost on-chain activity.

■Question 1 of 19

Does the proposal measurably contribute to the long-term development, adoption, resilience, or relevance of Polkadot?

The Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal measurably contributes to Polkadot’s long-term development, adoption, resilience, and relevance by simplifying on-chain game development, attracting developers, and diversifying the ecosystem. By providing accessible tools and educational games, it fosters community engagement and positions Polkadot as a leader in blockchain gaming. Success depends on developer adoption, but the proposal’s strategic alignment ensures sustainable growth.

Justification

The SAGE proposal addresses the high technical barriers of Substrate, which deter game developers, by offering an open-source framework that abstracts complexities, enabling focus on gameplay. This could increase developer participation and on-chain projects, boosting adoption and transaction volume. The playground games support hackathons, enhancing community engagement. By diversifying applications into gaming, SAGE strengthens resilience and relevance in a growing market. The proposal’s milestones, with 80% progress in some areas, and Ajuna’s track record ensure deliverability. However, limited community feedback and dependence on adoption introduce uncertainty, though the open-source approach aligns with Polkadot’s decentralized ethos, supporting sustainability.

Score: 8/10

■Question 2 of 19

What sustainable added value does the proposal bring to the Polkadot ecosystem in the long term, beyond the immediate project duration?

The Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal delivers sustainable added value to Polkadot by establishing an open-source framework that simplifies on-chain game development, fostering long-term developer growth and ecosystem diversity. It enables reusable game logic, supports ongoing hackathons, and strengthens Polkadot’s position in blockchain gaming, ensuring lasting innovation and adoption beyond the project’s duration.

Justification

SAGE’s open-source nature ensures perpetual accessibility, allowing developers to build and iterate on-chain games without proprietary constraints, aligning with Polkadot’s decentralized ethos. Its modular design enables reusable game mechanics, reducing development costs and fostering cross-game composability, which can sustain a vibrant gaming ecosystem. The playground games, designed for hackathons, provide enduring educational resources, encouraging continuous developer onboarding. By positioning Polkadot as a leader in blockchain gaming, SAGE enhances network relevance. Ajuna’s prior contributions, like the Polkadot Unity SDK, suggest reliability in maintaining open-source tools. However, sustained value depends on community adoption, and limited feedback introduces uncertainty, though the proposal’s alignment with ecosystem goals supports its long-term impact.

Score: 7/10

■Question 3 of 19

Is an existing structural weakness addressed?

The Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal addresses an existing structural weakness in Polkadot by tackling the high technical complexity of Substrate, which deters game developers from building on-chain applications. By providing an accessible framework, SAGE lowers entry barriers, fostering developer participation and strengthening the ecosystem’s gaming sector.

Justification

Polkadot’s Substrate framework, while powerful, presents a steep learning curve, particularly for game developers unfamiliar with Rust or blockchain storage models, as noted in the proposal. This complexity limits developer onboarding, hindering growth in the gaming vertical. SAGE directly mitigates this weakness by abstracting Substrate’s intricacies, enabling developers to focus on gameplay. The framework’s open-source tools, like the playground games and Unity integration, provide practical entry points, as demonstrated by the rapid prototyping of Full House Fury. Ajuna’s experience underscores this structural issue, making SAGE’s targeted approach relevant. However, the proposal’s impact depends on adoption, and limited community feedback slightly tempers confidence in its full resolution of the weakness.

Score: 8/10

■Question 4 of 19

Does the proposal promote interoperability, user retention, or parachain development?

The Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal promotes interoperability and parachain development by enabling cross-game asset composability and flexible deployment across Polkadot’s parachains. It indirectly supports user retention through engaging on-chain games, fostering developer activity and ecosystem growth, though direct retention mechanisms are less emphasized.

Justification

SAGE’s design allows game assets to be portable and composable across multiple games and parachains, enhancing interoperability within Polkadot’s ecosystem, as highlighted by its asset-based state-transition model. This flexibility supports parachain development by enabling developers to deploy games on any parachain without proprietary constraints. The proposal’s focus on open-source tools, like the Polkadot SDK for Unity, encourages developer engagement, which could drive user retention through compelling gaming experiences. However, user retention is not directly addressed, relying on the quality of games built with SAGE. Limited community feedback and dependence on adoption slightly reduce certainty, but the proposal’s alignment with Polkadot’s interoperable architecture ensures significant contributions to ecosystem connectivity and growth.

Score: 7/10

■Result category 1

Total score: 30/40 | Average: 7.50/10 (75%)

■Question 5 of 19

Does the proposal clearly fall within the scope of the chosen origin (Treasury, Tipper, Spender)?

The Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal clearly falls within the scope of the Treasury origin, specifically the Medium Spender track, as it requests 80,000 USDT, equivalent to approximately 19,320–23,592 DOT, for ecosystem development. This aligns with the Treasury’s purpose of funding community-driven projects to enhance Polkadot’s ecosystem.

Justification

The SAGE proposal seeks 80,000 USDT to develop an open-source framework and playground games, fitting the Treasury origin’s role in Polkadot OpenGov for allocating funds to ecosystem projects. Based on recent exchange rates (1 DOT ≈ 3.39–4.14 USDT), the request translates to 19,320–23,592 DOT, within the Medium Spender track’s 100,000 DOT limit. This track suits substantial funding requests, unlike Tipper tracks for smaller amounts or other origins like Root for protocol changes. The proposal’s focus on development funding, not tips or retroactive rewards, ensures alignment with Spender track parameters. Limited community feedback does not indicate scope issues, supporting governance compliance.

Score: 9/10

■Question 6 of 19

Are there previous proposals with comparable content, and if so, what were their outcomes?

Previous Polkadot Treasury proposals with comparable content to the SAGE proposal include the Polkadot Unity SDK, funded with 42,685 DOT in 2023, and the Dot Play Bounty, approved for 400,000 DOT in 2024, both targeting gaming and developer tools. The Unity SDK was successfully implemented, enhancing developer access, while the Dot Play Bounty advanced gaming adoption. The Mythos Foundation proposal, funded with 1 million DOT, faced mixed reception but passed, contributing to gaming growth. These outcomes contextualize SAGE appropriately.

Justification

The SAGE proposal, requesting 80,000 USDT for an open-source game development framework, aligns with prior Treasury proposals under the Medium Spender track, as per Polkadot OpenGov’s governance structure, which supports ecosystem development. The Polkadot Unity SDK proposal, aimed at integrating Polkadot with Unity, was approved and led to verified tools, boosting developer onboarding. The Dot Play Bounty, focused on gaming ecosystem expansion, was funded and implemented, supporting tools like Unreal Engine integration. The Mythos Foundation proposal, though controversial due to tokenomics concerns, was approved, enhancing Polkadot’s gaming presence. These precedents, identified through governance records, demonstrate a history of supporting gaming initiatives, with generally positive outcomes, confirming SAGE’s contextual fit within Treasury scope. Limited feedback on SAGE itself slightly tempers certainty, but prior successes ensure strong alignment.

Score: 8/10

■Question 7 of 19

Is the governance system being used meaningfully or burdened?

The Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal meaningfully engages Polkadot’s governance system by leveraging the Treasury origin to fund an ecosystem-enhancing project. It aligns with the Medium Spender track, requesting 80,000 USDT for game development tools, without overburdening the system. The proposal’s clarity and strategic fit ensure effective use of OpenGov processes.

Justification

The SAGE proposal, submitted under the Treasury origin, appropriately utilizes Polkadot OpenGov’s governance framework, which is designed to allocate funds for community-driven projects. Requesting 80,000 USDT (approximately 19,320–23,592 DOT), it fits the Medium Spender track, which supports significant ecosystem development within a 100,000 DOT limit. The proposal’s detailed milestones, clear deliverables, and alignment with Polkadot’s goal of fostering innovation demonstrate a meaningful engagement with the governance process. It does not introduce unnecessary complexity or misuse resources, as evidenced by its structured funding breakdown and Ajuna’s track record with prior Treasury-funded projects like the Polkadot Unity SDK. Limited community feedback does not suggest governance strain, and the proposal’s scope avoids overburdening the system, ensuring compliance with OpenGov’s purpose of facilitating impactful proposals.

Score: 8/10

■Result category 2

Total score: 25/30 | Average: 8.33/10 (83%)

■Question 8 of 19

Is the requested amount proportionate to the potential or demonstrated benefit?

The requested 80,000 USDT for the Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal is proportionate to its potential benefits, as it funds an open-source framework and educational games to simplify on-chain game development. This could drive developer adoption and enhance Polkadot’s gaming ecosystem, offering significant value relative to the modest cost.

Justification

The SAGE proposal’s 80,000 USDT (approximately 19,323–23,599 DOT at 1 DOT = 3.39–4.14 USDT) supports core framework development and two playground games, aligning with Polkadot’s goal of ecosystem growth. Compared to the Polkadot Unity SDK (42,685 DOT) and Dot Play Bounty (400,000 DOT), SAGE’s request is modest for its broader scope, including cross-platform tools. The cost, covering 12 FTE-months at roughly 6,667 USDT per month, is efficient for blockchain development. Potential benefits include increased developer participation and hackathon engagement, as evidenced by the rapid prototyping of Full House Fury. Ajuna’s track record enhances credibility, though adoption uncertainties and limited community feedback slightly temper confidence. The open-source model ensures long-term value, making the cost proportionate.

Score: 7/10

■Question 9 of 19

Is the budget framework reasonable compared to similar proposals?

The budget framework of the Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal, requesting 80,000 USDT, is reasonable compared to similar Polkadot Treasury proposals. Allocating 60,000 USDT for core development and 20,000 USDT for two playground games, it aligns with the scope and costs of prior gaming and developer tool initiatives, offering efficient resource use for significant ecosystem impact.

Justification

The SAGE proposal’s 80,000 USDT (approximately 19,323–23,599 DOT at 1 DOT = 3.39–4.14 USDT) covers 12 FTE-months across four milestones, equating to roughly 6,667 USDT per FTE-month, which is cost-effective for blockchain development. Compared to the Polkadot Unity SDK, funded at 42,685 DOT for platform-specific integration, SAGE’s broader framework and educational games justify its budget. The Dot Play Bounty, at 400,000 DOT, was significantly larger, indicating SAGE’s modesty. The budget’s breakdown, with clear deliverables like Rust pallets and hackathon templates, mirrors successful predecessors. Ajuna’s track record enhances credibility, though limited feedback on adoption introduces minor uncertainty. The budget’s alignment with similar proposals ensures reasonableness for the proposed impact.

Score: 8/10

■Question 10 of 19

What specific added value does the Treasury or network gain in return for this expenditure?

The Polkadot Treasury and network gain specific added value from the 80,000 USDT expenditure on the Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) through an open-source framework that simplifies on-chain game development, two educational playground games, increased developer onboarding, enhanced hackathon support, and a strengthened gaming ecosystem, driving long-term adoption and innovation.

Justification

The SAGE proposal delivers a modular framework that abstracts Substrate’s complexity, enabling developers to create on-chain games efficiently, thus attracting new developers to Polkadot. The playground games, Full House Fury and Casino Jam, serve as educational tools, fostering hackathons and community engagement, as demonstrated by the rapid prototyping of Full House Fury. These deliverables, funded at 60,000 USDT for core development and 20,000 USDT for games, align with Polkadot’s goal of ecosystem growth. The open-source nature ensures perpetual access, amplifying value through community contributions. Ajuna’s track record, including the Polkadot Unity SDK, supports deliverability. While adoption remains a variable, the potential for increased on-chain activity and Polkadot’s leadership in blockchain gaming justifies the expenditure’s value.

Score: 7/10

■Question 11 of 19

Were cheaper alternatives considered?

The Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal does not explicitly detail whether cheaper alternatives were considered for the requested 80,000 USDT. However, the budget’s efficiency, aligned with similar Polkadot Treasury proposals, suggests a lean approach to delivering an open-source framework and educational games, implying cost-conscious planning.

Justification

The SAGE proposal’s 80,000 USDT budget, covering 12 FTE-months across four milestones, equates to approximately 6,667 USDT per FTE-month, reasonable for blockchain development. While the proposal does not mention exploring cheaper alternatives, its modest request compared to the Polkadot Unity SDK (42,685 DOT) and Dot Play Bounty (400,000 DOT) indicates a streamlined scope. Ajuna’s prior investment, with milestones at 40–80% progress, suggests efforts to minimize costs. The open-source framework and reusable game modules further enhance cost-efficiency by enabling community contributions. However, the lack of explicit discussion on alternatives and limited community feedback slightly weaken the evaluation, though the budget’s alignment with deliverables supports reasonableness.

Score: 5/10

■Result category 3

Total score: 27/40 | Average: 6.75/10 (68%)

■Question 12 of 19

Is it clearly communicated how and for what purposes funds will be used—including KPIs, milestones, metrics?

The Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal clearly communicates how the 80,000 USDT will be used, detailing four milestones with specific deliverables, timelines, and funding allocations. While qualitative outcomes like developer onboarding are outlined, specific numerical KPIs and metrics are less explicit, slightly limiting evidence-based evaluation.

Justification

The SAGE proposal allocates 60,000 USDT for core framework development and 20,000 USDT for two playground games, with a roadmap specifying milestones: Milestone 1 (15,000 USDT, reference implementation, 80% complete), Milestone 2 (30,000 USDT, Rust framework, 60% complete), Milestone 3 (15,000 USDT, UI/SDK, 40% complete), and Milestone 4 (20,000 USDT, games, 40% complete). These milestones, with FTE allocations and progress updates, ensure transparency and traceability. Expected outcomes, such as simplified developer onboarding and cross-game composability, serve as qualitative KPIs, but lack precise numerical targets like developer numbers or transaction volumes. This omission slightly weakens evidence-based tracking, though Ajuna’s track record and open-source deliverables support accountability.

Score: 7/10

■Question 13 of 19

Are budgets, timelines, and work packages clearly specified?

The Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal clearly specifies budgets, timelines, and work packages, providing a detailed roadmap with four milestones. Each milestone outlines funding, duration, full-time equivalent allocations, and deliverables, enabling evidence-based tracking. Progress updates further enhance transparency, ensuring the Polkadot community can monitor resource use and project advancement effectively.

Justification

The SAGE proposal allocates 80,000 USDT, with 60,000 USDT for core development and 20,000 USDT for two playground games, across four milestones. Milestone 1 (15,000 USDT, 1 month, 2 FTEs, 80% complete) focuses on reference implementation. Milestone 2 (30,000 USDT, 2 months, 2 FTEs, 60% complete) develops the Rust framework. Milestone 3 (15,000 USDT, 2 months, 1 FTE, 40% complete) covers UI and SDK integration. Milestone 4 (20,000 USDT, 2 months, 2 FTEs, 40% complete) delivers Full House Fury and Casino Jam. These specifics, combined with progress tracking as of March 2025, align with Polkadot’s governance expectations for transparency, though minor details like exact task breakdowns could be clearer.

Score: 8/10

■Question 14 of 19

Are there success criteria for later evaluation?

The Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal provides qualitative success criteria for later evaluation, including simplified developer onboarding, cross-game asset composability, and hackathon support. However, it lacks specific numerical metrics, such as target developer numbers or transaction volumes, which slightly limits precise evidence-based assessment of outcomes.

Justification

The SAGE proposal outlines expected outcomes as success criteria, such as enabling game developers to build on-chain games without Substrate expertise, supporting asset lifecycle management, and fostering community engagement through playground games like Full House Fury and Casino Jam. These qualitative goals, aligned with Polkadot’s ecosystem growth objectives, allow evaluation of impact through developer adoption and project usage. Milestones with progress tracking (e.g., 80% for Milestone 1) enhance traceability. However, the absence of quantitative KPIs, like specific developer or game counts, reduces clarity for precise evaluation. Ajuna’s track record and the open-source framework’s potential for community contributions support the criteria’s relevance, but the lack of numerical targets tempers full fulfillment.

Score: 6/10

■Question 15 of 19

Is documentation or reporting planned?

The Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal indicates that documentation is planned, particularly for developer tools and playground games, but does not explicitly detail ongoing reporting mechanisms. Progress updates for milestones suggest some reporting, enabling partial evidence-based tracking, though a comprehensive reporting plan is not clearly outlined.

Justification

The SAGE proposal includes documentation as part of its deliverables, notably for Milestone 1 (80% complete), which mentions completing documentation alongside bug fixing and testing. The playground games and developer portal imply user guides or technical documentation to support onboarding, aligning with Polkadot’s transparency expectations. Progress updates, such as 60% for Milestone 2 and 40% for Milestones 3 and 4, suggest periodic reporting to track advancement. However, the proposal lacks a specific plan for regular reporting, such as community updates or final reports, limiting clarity on how outcomes will be communicated post-completion. Ajuna’s track record with open-source projects supports the likelihood of documentation, but the absence of a detailed reporting strategy reduces full fulfillment.

Score: 6/10

■Result category 4

Total score: 27/40 | Average: 6.75/10 (68%)

■Question 16 of 19

Have the proposers or involved organizations made verifiable, traceable contributions to the ecosystem?

Ajuna Network, the proposers of the Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal, have made verifiable and traceable contributions to the Polkadot ecosystem. They developed the Polkadot Unity SDK, won the Polkadot Winter Hackathon with Hexalem, secured parachain slots on Polkadot and Kusama, and launched the AJUN and BAJU tokens, demonstrating credibility and capability to implement the proposal.

Justification

Ajuna Network’s contributions include the Polkadot Unity SDK, funded by a 2023 Treasury proposal and verified in the Unity Asset Store, enhancing developer access. Their hackathon win with Hexalem showcases on-chain gaming expertise. Securing parachain slots via crowdloans and launching AJUN and BAJU tokens, listed on exchanges, reflect long-term commitment, verifiable through governance records and Subscan data. Their SDK and toolchain, documented on GitHub, simplify blockchain development, aligning with SAGE’s goals. Community engagement, evidenced by partnerships with Animoca Brands and CMCC Global, further supports credibility. These traceable efforts, coupled with 40–80% progress on SAGE milestones, confirm Ajuna’s capacity, though adoption impact remains partially unquantified.

Score: 8/10

■Question 17 of 19

What projects have been successfully implemented so far?

Ajuna Network has successfully implemented several projects within the Polkadot ecosystem, including the Polkadot Unity SDK, the Hexalem game, parachain slots on Polkadot and Kusama, and the launch of AJUN and BAJU tokens. Additionally, they developed the Awesome Ajuna Avatars game and completed a multi-block storage migration, demonstrating their capability to deliver impactful contributions.

Justification

The Polkadot Unity SDK, funded in 2023 and verified in the Unity Asset Store, simplified game development integration, as evidenced by community adoption in Game Jams. Hexalem won the Polkadot Winter Hackathon, showcasing Ajuna’s gaming expertise. Securing parachain slots via crowdloans, with the 2022 Kusama crowdloan raising over 33,000 KSM, established operational infrastructure. The AJUN and BAJU tokens, with BAJU listed on MEXC in 2022, support network services. Awesome Ajuna Avatars, launched in 2023, enhances community engagement. The 2024 multi-block storage migration for Bajun Network, noted in community posts, reflects technical proficiency. These verifiable projects, documented on GitHub and governance platforms, confirm Ajuna’s implementation success, though adoption scale is partially unquantified.

Score: 8/10

■Question 18 of 19

Are there publicly accessible references (e.g., code repositories, publications) or community feedback supporting the proposers’ credibility?

Ajuna Network’s credibility is supported by publicly accessible references, including GitHub repositories for the Polkadot Unity SDK, Ajuna SDK, and SAGE-related code, as well as community feedback affirming their contributions. Their successful projects, like Hexalem and parachain slots, are documented, though community feedback on the SAGE proposal itself remains limited, slightly tempering the depth of validation.

Justification

Ajuna Network maintains open-source GitHub repositories for the Polkadot Unity SDK, verified in the Unity Asset Store, and the Ajuna SDK, detailing blockchain development tools, ensuring transparency. SAGE’s repositories, including core engine and playground games, are publicly accessible, showcasing ongoing development. Their hackathon win with Hexalem and parachain slots, secured via crowdloans, are recorded in Polkadot’s governance platforms and community announcements. Community feedback on prior projects, such as the Unity SDK’s adoption in Game Jams and partnerships with Animoca Brands, validates their impact. However, feedback on the SAGE proposal, with only 12 comments on Subsquare and no detailed discussions as of April 17, 2025, is sparse, limiting direct validation. Ajuna’s documented contributions and repositories strongly support their credibility.

Score: 7/10

■Question 19 of 19

Is the team capable of delivering the promised outcomes?

Ajuna Network, the team behind the Substrate Asset Game Engine (SAGE) proposal, appears capable of delivering the promised outcomes, leveraging their proven expertise in developing the Polkadot Unity SDK, winning the Polkadot Winter Hackathon, and securing parachain slots. Their ongoing progress on SAGE milestones further supports their technical and organizational capacity.

Justification

Ajuna Network’s track record includes successfully implementing the Polkadot Unity SDK, verified in the Unity Asset Store, demonstrating their ability to deliver complex developer tools. Their hackathon win with Hexalem showcases proficiency in on-chain game development, directly relevant to SAGE’s objectives. Securing parachain slots on Polkadot and Kusama via crowdloans reflects organizational competence and long-term commitment. The SAGE proposal’s milestones, with 40–80% progress as of March 2025, indicate active development, supported by a team with 12 FTE-months allocated. Public GitHub repositories for SAGE and prior projects ensure transparency and technical validation. While community feedback on SAGE is limited, Ajuna’s history of delivering verifiable contributions, including token launches and partnerships, strongly suggests capability, though adoption remains a variable.

Score: 8/10

■Result category 5

Total score: 31/40 | Average: 7.75/10 (78%)