Case Study: Star Symphony — An Interactive Visual Novel and Membership Gating System
Star Symphony is an innovative blockchain-based play-to-earn rhythm game supported by MDEC, focused on building a sustainable, user-driven content economy for the music community. By collaborating with music artists worldwide, the project celebrates talent and creativity, creating a platform that bridges music, gaming, and blockchain technology.
ELVTD.io was tasked with creating a cutting-edge interactive visual novel website that gated Discord access via a unique invite code system and managed whitelist spots for patrons. Our work included developing the platform from scratch, syncing audio and video seamlessly, and optimizing the experience for a global user base.
Highlights
- 25,000 unique users acquired from over 100,000 visits (25% conversion rate).
- Average user handling rate: 10,000 users per hour.
- Oversubscribed by 56% across 264 wallets, showcasing strong engagement and market validation.
- Reduced hosting costs by 95% through optimized media distribution.
The Challenge
Developing an interactive visual novel presented unique challenges that required a balance of technical expertise, creative problem-solving, and optimization:
- Audio and Video Syncing:
With dynamic scenes featuring different animations, audio, and video content, ensuring precise synchronization across all devices — desktop and mobile — was critical. - Performance Optimization:
The large volume of media content (audio and video) resulted in slow page loads and high data usage. This was further complicated by the platform's global reach, with users accessing the site from various regions. - Discord Membership Gating:
The project required a system to generate unique Discord invite codes and distribute them securely to users after they completed the visual novel. This needed to integrate smoothly with Discord APIs while ensuring each user received a one-time-use code and couldn’t be botted. - Scalability and Cost Management:
Given the platform’s high traffic, we had to handle over 10,000 users per hour without exceeding Vercel’s limits or incurring prohibitive hosting costs. This required efficient content delivery and smart resource allocation.
Our Approach
Developing the Interactive Visual Novel
We built the visual novel system from scratch, incorporating forms & validations to ensure each user would only get one whitelist and access to the private Discord. This required careful integration of blockchain logic, user authentication, and seamless UX design. Ensuring the audio and video were perfectly synced was a top priority, especially for dynamic scenes that involved unique animations and transitions.
Building the Discord Invite Code System
To ensure a seamless user journey, we developed a system that generated unique Discord invite codes for users who completed the visual novel. The process was automated, with the backend securely creating and assigning one-time-use codes that integrated directly with Discord’s API. This feature ensured smooth onboarding while preventing duplicate or unauthorized access.
Optimizing Media Content
To address performance issues, we compressed audio and video files without sacrificing clarity. This significantly reduced the initial load times and data usage, making the platform more accessible to users with varying internet speeds and devices.
Leveraging AWS for Cost-Effective Media Delivery
Recognizing the strain on Vercel’s hosting limits within hours of deployment, we quickly migrated the media to AWS S3 and distributed it globally using CloudFront. By analyzing user location data through platform analytics, we strategically placed CloudFront edge servers near high-traffic regions. This not only reduced latency but also cut hosting costs by 95%, ensuring scalability while maintaining a smooth user experience.
Real-Time Monitoring and Quick Iteration
We deployed robust monitoring tools to track traffic and performance metrics from the moment the platform went live. Within the first few hours, our team identified potential cost and scalability issues and swiftly implemented solutions, demonstrating our commitment to delivering a reliable and cost-effective product.
The Outcome
Star Symphony’s interactive visual novel platform launched to widespread success, achieving the following milestones:
- Engagement and Conversion: Over 25,000 unique users engaged with the platform, with a 25% conversion rate from over 100,000 visits.
- Market Validation: The platform was oversubscribed by 56% across 264 wallets, reflecting strong user interest and demand.
- Performance Excellence: With an average user handling rate of 10,000 users per hour, the platform operated flawlessly, thanks to optimized media delivery and scalable infrastructure.
- Cost Savings: By migrating to AWS S3 and CloudFront, we reduced hosting costs by 95%, ensuring the project remained sustainable at scale.
The success of the initial launch exceeded expectations, earning praise from the Star Symphony team. They were so impressed with the platform’s performance and user experience that they returned to us to develop Version 2 of their web experience. This ongoing collaboration underscores the trust and satisfaction we’ve built with our clients.
Reflections and Learnings
This project was a testament to the power of collaboration and technical innovation. By combining blockchain expertise, media optimization, and real-time problem-solving, we delivered a platform that exceeded expectations.
One of the most valuable lessons was the importance of analytics in guiding infrastructure decisions. By leveraging user data, we were able to deploy resources strategically, ensuring both performance and cost efficiency.
Star Symphony highlighted our ability to adapt to challenges quickly, delivering high-quality solutions that balance creativity, technology, and scalability.
Let’s Elevate Your Vision
At ELVTD.io, we specialize in building innovative blockchain solutions that push boundaries and create meaningful user experiences. If you’re ready to bring your vision to life, contact us today — let’s build the future of Web3 together.