This is such a weird response to me.
As arbiters of the DOA and its funds, you would expect people to want something that is beneficial for the DOA. Your position is one of little to no value with no risk to you. All the risk would be assumed by the DOA with no reward. The likelihood of you attracting "millions" of players is just as likely as you attracting no one.
To disregard genuine concerns and frame it like you are doing Splinterlands a favor is a bit naive. If anything, Splinterlands has done the hard part for you by providing you hundreds/thousands of assets.
Nowhere in the world can you get an interest free loan. Why would you expect to get one here?
Good Luck, but I voted no as the proposal makes no business sense.
It appears many others feel the same way.
I think you are being harsh. Interest free loans are offered all the time. For example I was offerred and took one up from my bak a few years ago.
For university education expenses Australia offers interest free loans that are only payable back through the tax system when you earn over minimum wage.
There are plenty of examples in the real world of what this proposal is asking for.
If the proposal adds value to the Splinterlands ecosystem then it adds alue to the DAO.
The DAO in isolation is worthless and focusing on direct financial return to it is wrong headed.
But it's not even remotely guaranteed that it will add value to the ecosystem. The only example you have given is one of student loans. I'm not aware of any others.
You either get a loan that you have to pay back with interest, or you sell a stake in your company to investors who are willing to risk not getting their investment back, for the chance of handsome rewards if it succeeds, but this proposal expects a loan they might not have to pay back, but without offering a % cut if it does. Have cake and eat it. No thanks
I can rephrase if it makes you happier. In the business world, as far as I'm aware, interest free loans are nonexistent. You either give up equity or you pay back the loan with interest.
The proposal doesn't add value, that's the problem. They are reusing Splinterlands assets and claiming they have layed a golden egg. The DOA/community has no obligation to bear the development costs of this game just because they are using Splinterlands assets and may or may not bring additional people to the game. They have no idea of knowing and their sample size is entirely too small to be making any claims.
While I agree the DOA in isolation is worthless, I disagree that focusing on financial return is wrong. While the DOA can be charitable, it isn't a charity. If it doesn't guarantee it's longevity via financial success, it won't be around very long.
Interest free loan, I think is okay, if you have a portfolio that can back up your promise. To make my argument much easier to chew, let's make a hypothetical situation that instead of Splinter Royale asking for the said funds for investment, it was actually Nintendo. Not a fake Nintendo company but the REAL Nintendo, in a kind-of collab scenario.
So, DAO would be producing the $50k and Nintendo would be willing to develop a Splinterlands mobile game called Splinter Royale, which is like Super Smash bros but with Splinterlands element like characters, rules, elements and other stuff. You will be creating your own team of 6 up to the allowed mana and you will fight in a side scrolling battle.
EVEN IF you don't see DAO getting back any $ from that investment, since the name "NINTENDO" is creating it and people know they've made good games, I think DAO and the community will agree and pass that proposal.
I think SplinterRoyale is selling off their possible game in the same concept that people will be willing to play it but the clear difference between their name and Nintendo, as a company, is that Nintendo's name has merits. And people would be willing to put money in order to be in their games or them making other's games.