Hey creators! 
Thank you to everyone who joined our live Q&A on Discord about the Buildersā Challenge 3 (BC3)! We had a lot of great discussions, and we know that not everyone could attend, so weāre sharing a summary of the key questions and answers from the session.
If you still have questions, feel free to ask in this thread or check out the BC3 information hub and FAQs!
Key Topics Covered
General BC3 Changes & Goals- Reward System & Transparency
- Anti-Cheat & Fair Play
- Technical Questions & Participation
- Final Takeaways & Next Steps
General Questions
What are the key changes from BC2 to BC3?
- No leaderboards ā Rewards arenāt measured up against other creators.
- Shorter duration ā BC3 lasts 4 weeks instead of 10.
- No boosters ā Rewards arenāt influenced by any additional multipliers.
- Updated reward structure ā Focused on fairness and quality engagement.
- New anti-cheat measures ā Stricter detection and enforcement.
What are the long-term goals of BC3?
- Encourage sustainable UGC monetization beyond competition-based earnings.
- Ensure fair, engagement-driven rewards that support quality creations.
- Reward creators who focus on great experiences, not artificial tactics.
Reward System & Transparency
Why isnāt there a public formula? How do we know rewards are fair?
- We need to balance transparency vs. integrity ā a fully public formula is much easier to exploit.
- Rewards are based on engagement trends, not arbitrary decisions.
If the prize pool is unfixed, why is there a 50,000 SAND cap per experience?
- An unfixed pool takes the pressure of competition off the creators, allowing you to focus on your own successes without worrying about potential cheaters taking away from your earnings.
- The 50K cap ensures balance and budget sustainability while allowing overall earnings to scale.
- Note that each creator can earn more than 50K, however, as each experience is evaluated independently.
How can creators track their earnings during the event?
- No, you will not be able to at this time. The decision to reduce transparency was made to help solve issues around cheating and competition. We recognize that the lack of transparency is challenging for those who want to implement Play-to-Earn strategies.
- We encourage creators to explore new strategies which focus more on player engagement or reward strategies which are less tied to your earnings in the event (read more below).
How can creators plan leaderboard-based competitions without knowing exact earnings?
Since rewards are confirmed after the event, here are some alternative strategies you could explore:
Community-Based Engagement (Beyond SAND)
- Exclusive in-game rewards (NFTs, equipment, collectibles, passes).
- Giveaways (gift cards, Steam codes)
- Recognition & shoutouts (feature top players in-game, Discord, or social media).
- Personalized content (statues, NPCs, or areas named after top players).
Performance-Based Competitions
- Tiered Unlocks: Reward participation milestones instead of fixed payouts. (Example: āIf we hit X players, we unlock [insert reward]!ā Take inspiration from websites like Kickstarter, where supporters unlock reward goals).
- Post-Event Revenue Sharing: Distribute rewards after payout is received. (Example: āLeaderboard winners will get a share of our final earnings!ā You could consider pairing this with milestone rewards, increasing the rev share cut based on Leaderboard goals or other).
As the ecosystem and tools evolve, so do your games. We encourage you to explore strategies which engage players by providing a fun and engaging experience that they want to play (and replay!). Consider rewarding players through other means than a direct cut of your earnings, such as giveaways, milestones, and more.
Anti-Cheat, Fair Play & Multiple Entries
How does The Sandbox detect bots and artificial engagement?
While we do not disclose our exact methods in an effort to prevent exploitation, here are some methods we use to detect suspicious behavior.
- Engagement Pattern Analysis ā Detects unusual, automated behavior.
- Cross-Checking Multiple Metrics ā Prevents manipulation based on single data points.
- Manual Review Process ā Ensures fair evaluation if flagged.
- The community still plays a role in reporting suspicious activity (find out more about reporting in BC3 here).
Can creators be penalized if a guild, or other third party, manipulates engagement without their knowledge?
We take context into account before applying penalties:
First-time issues ā Warning & data adjustment.
Repeated issues ā Disqualification from BC.
Severe manipulation ā Ban from future Buildersā Challenges.
How to protect yourself:
- Be transparent about promotions.
- Report suspicious activity in your experience immediately.
- Maintain clear records when working with third parties.
Please make sure to read our Rules & Eligibility guidelines, where you will also find more detailed information on this process.
How will The Sandbox handle duplicate, template, or empty experiences?
- No automatic bans will be issues on these ā But rewards are based on engagement, not quantity.
- Publishing multiple experiences wonāt guarantee more rewards unless each experience genuinely attracts and retains players.
- If copies lack meaningful differences, they are highly unlikely to earn much but they are not disallowed.
Technical & Participation Questions
Will creators have enough time to update/test experiences before launch?
- We recognize concerns with the short timeline and the new Game Maker 0.11 release. While we cannot change this timeline for BC3, we will consider extending this for future events.
- If there are critical issues with GM 0.11, please report them as soon as possible so fixes can be prioritized.
What happens if my experience is broken due to a Game Maker update?
- Your experience still qualifies, but if itās broken, it likely wonāt generate much player engagement, resulting in little or no rewards.
- We recommend testing thoroughly before publishing.
Final Takeaways & Next Steps
BC3 prioritizes fair engagement and sustainable UGC growth.
The anti-cheat system is a safeguard, not a punishment tool.
Feedback is always welcome!
BC will continue to evolve at a faster pace in 2025 with a collaborative approach and a stronger feedback loop to ensure alignment between platform goals and creator needs.
What is The Sandboxās hope for this Buildersā Challenge?
- More high-quality, community-driven experiences that engage players over time.
- A stronger creator ecosystem where rewards reflect skill, effort, and engagement.
Questions? Continue the Discussion Below!
- If you still have questions, drop them in this thread!
- Stay updated on Gitbook for information and guides to help you achieve success.
- If you experience technical issues, report them in [bug report forum/thread].
This is a step toward making a sustainable UGC future on the platform. We strongly believe that 2025 will be a significant year for the evolution of the Buildersā Challenge and look forward to working more closely with the creator community. Keep the feedback coming, and letās build!
