The VeVe app, for instance, is a digital platform allowing collectors to buy, sell and trade digital collectibles, all through the ease of your mobile phone or desktop app, using your credit card or Apple Pay. VeVe focuses primarily on licensed digital IP from popular franchises such as Marvel, DC Comics, Universal Studios, Lamborghini, and STAR WARS.
Why though, as a parent & corporate executive with so many daily responsibilities, have I latched onto digital collecting? After all, I’ve been a collector of ‘physical things’ ranging from bottle caps to sports cards, Star Wars toys to comic books since my pre-teens, so I'll explain why in (4) primary reasons below - enjoy!
First, the NOSTALGIA RE-SPARK!
"Nostalgia Re-Spark," coined by MrktSmart
Vader Set Complete!
On Saturday, April 29th, I posted a tweet thanking VeVe for the opportunity to own a fully animated, AR-Enabled DARTH VADER digital collectible - my favourite Star Wars character.
It took me a year to acquire this piece, where I found a mint number related to the March 1971 release of George Lucas’ directorial debut, THX 1138. An incredible connection that helped pave the way to the Star Wars universe we know and love, where the thrill I have researching dates aligning to mint numbers makes this even more memorable to me.
I thanked VeVe “For this amazing Nostalgia Re-Spark,” which started a small trend of fellow collectors suddenly using that as a hashtag (#nostalgiarespark) in their posts. I remain truly honoured and humbled that others now add this social hashtag to help describe their passions and wins, and why not? We are so early to this space, it’s a thrill to watch others grow their holdings and share their stories!
Second, THE FIRST TO OWN FIRST APPEARANCES
The VeVe app has revolutionized the way people collect. An ENORMOUS draw of collecting in the VeVe or DCNFT apps is the thrill of owning first-appearance digital IP, which are extremely rare and hold potential to be equally valuable. After all, VeVe / DCNFT are the platforms to distribute the assets their major IP partners also believe are the future of collecting.
Think of VeVe like Apple's iPhone - the distributor of the apps consumers download, purchase & enjoy. In the case of VeVe / DCNFT (among others) though, you actually own what you purchase and can resell at any time!
Star Wars, A New Hope, FA Blockchain Posters
Star Wars #1, VeVe FA Digital CollectibleTo clarify, First-Appearance Digital IP refers to the first time a character, item, or location appears in a particular franchise. For example, Batman's FA in Detective Comics #27 or Spidey's FA in Amazing Fantasy #15. These are highly sought after by collectors in the physical world and that now holds true for digital collectibles.
In the VeVe app, you can even enjoy that nostalgic HUNT by researching FA dates, then pairing them with the mint numbers found in the app for those items. A few days after finding my March '71 THX 1138 reference mint #, the market presented another HUGE win for this Star Wars fan, Vader mint #5771. IYKYK, but for those new to the Star Wars Fandom, May (25) 1977 was the 1st Official US Release Date for one of the most famous fiction flicks of all time. Finding this asset was genuinely "another nostalgia re-spark!" My Dad (who I now miss so much) and I were at a theater on opening day, which I will never forget. Audiences gasped in fear when Vader appeared, while cheering when Luke hit that exhaust port. It was simply exhilarating, and kept me hooked to this brand for the rest of my life.
FA Luke Skywalker Digital CollectibleAs with any collectible, the value of FA digital IP can fluctuate over time. However, unlike physical collectibles, digital NFTs can be easily tracked and verified on the blockchain, do not degrade nor require the efforts of physical grading or selling. Within the VeVe platform, collectibles cannot be lost or stolen (such as from a fire or flood).
This adds an extra layer of security, value, and authenticity to these items, so collectors can rest assured that they are getting what they paid for.
Own & READ your very own FA Star Wars #1, VeVe Digital CollectibleFurther, collectors can also use the marketplace to buy, trade, and sell their assets and even participate in auctions, which can be highly competitive and drive up the value of rare items.
Third, THE FANDOM FUN
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Collecting FA digital IP on these apps can be incredibly social. The VeVe app has a strong community of > 1/4 MILLION collectors who share their passions with others regularly. VeVe fans connect with each other to share interests, stories, concerns, flag errors, seek help (yes - the VeVe team DOES monitor social feeds to help improve their offerings), participate in events or challenges & even show off incredible digital portfolio collections (‘vaults’), bringing this surging community together.
Future phases include a fully-immersive "VeVeVerse," which is a digital gallery allowing holders to showcase their wares in incredible detail, which will undoubtedly bring enormous attention to this space.
I ADORE a recent example of community engagement below...VeVe recently launched its Master Collector Program (MCP), where points are awarded for holding assets, special mints, sets of items, etc. Being the Star Wars fan I am, seeing my 'collector rank' made it to MASTER status, I jokingly asked the VeVe team to add 'JEDI' to the naming structure.
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Moments later, realizing the VeVe team was probably busy preparing for an enormous 1st-ever THANOS INFINITY GAUNTLET burn-&-crafting mechanism drop (discuss more on this SUPER FUN experience later!), fellow VeVe-er USA_VeVe helped out by making my day, hilariously posting the version below. You see, COLLECTING IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN. "It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the collecting galaxy together." Thanking Obi-Wan & Star Wars for this famous quote, it really holds true when you experience these interactions firsthand!
VeVe Temp "Jedi" MasterAs mentioned above, the VeVe team crafted a unique gamification aspect for their collecting fans. Collectors can earn points in its "MASTER COLLECTOR PROGRAM (MCP) by completing challenges and achievements.
These points can be used to unlock exclusive content and items, adding an entirely new layer of fun and engagement to the collecting experience, while encouraging collectors to stay active on the app. A built-in incentive program!
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Those major brand IP partners mentioned earlier? They LOVE this aspect! Join the #VeVe Community on Twitter for instance, where you will see THOUSANDS of posts showcasing achievements, purchases, set completions, wicked mint numbers and more, all referencing the social handles of those brands.
@starwars, @marvel, @bobafettfanclub, @lucasarts…referencing the artists providing unique, EXCLUSIVE-TO-VEVE variant comic book cover art, tagging artists like Ron English and Patrick Hughes…if you think these contributors aren’t BEYOND THRILLED to have this level of exposure, think again. Damn…even CAPTAIN JAMES T. KIRK (William Shatner) shown below is heavily into this space - ‘NUFF SAID?
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@VeVeMeister interacts with Cap'n Kirk!
The Enterprise Visits Hawaii's @TheRealHinano
Below are more samples of what I mean - a community so enjoying this experience they can’t help but shout it out to the world! Further, as these collectibles are AUGMENTED REALITY-ENABLED; collectors are placing them into real-world settings or photos to enhance physical, real-world experiences. And it’s just getting started…
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@OMI__Homie Star Wars NFT Mint-Matching
And (MAY) Fourth, THE PHYGITAL FUN!!!
I cannot stress this enough - I AM HAVING AN ABSOLUTE BLAST(ER) of a time throughout this entire experience! From the friends I’ve made, to those who take the time to read these blogs, to the sheer fun of playing around with these digital (toys) collectibles, VeVe has changed my life. This is the 4th of 4 key points...
It #nostalgiaresparked not only my former love of physical comic collecting, but also a lost passion for writing. It led me to GoCollect, who were so incredibly kind to give me a shot at putting these blogs together, allowing another format to share my passions, and helping me connect with and educate more people about a wondrous opportunity to grow in a brand new asset class. And of course, I also forgave my dear Mum for handing over most of my Star Wars toys to a neighbour's kid when I moved out of the family home.
My Vader Tie-Advanced...Still Have It!
My PHYGITAL Vader Tie-Advanced, Hovering in the Neighbour's Yard!
A Star Wars Kid-in-the-Candy-Store!
WRAPPING THIS UP…
There is no ’sales pitch’ or financial advice here. I’m just a guy who loves collecting digitally, which keeps my wife thrilled, as we don’t need added storage solutions to hold all these new items - VeVe & my iPhone now easily take care of that!
My message is a simple one - continue to collect what you love, but in the meantime, don’t avoid looking into this for fear it’s too difficult, complex, a fad, or left to the confines of crypto/techie audiences. I’m in my 50s; I figured this out quickly, as can anyone. If you like it, try it. If you don’t or aren’t quite ready, that’s fine too! This ultimately won’t be for everyone, no different than how some prefer to collect coins, stamps, comics, cars, and now, digital assets.
Image courtesy of heroichollywood.comOr, in the case of Marvel's THE COLLECTOR, even SuperHeroes and creatures from across all those galaxies far, far away...
As always, thank you for sharing your time, and MAY THE PHYGITAL PHORCE BE WITH YOU, ALWAYS!
