The Real Node LA- an Upland Community

Inspiration

The Real Node LA was born from a vision to elevate digital land ownership, cultural storytelling, and immersive metaverse experiences starting in Upland’s El Sereno and expanding into platforms like Meta Horizon. Inspired by LA’s rich racing history and the power of community-driven design, we wanted to create a persistent, evolving space that combines blockchain utility, gaming, and collaborative creativity.

What it does

The Real Node LA is a metaverse district where users can explore a race-themed park, interact with community assets, experience comic-linked storylines, and participate in events like giveaways and multiplayer races. It connects Upland’s virtual property system with immersive 3D spaces in Meta Horizon and beyond.

How we built it

We used Unity to create a custom immersive environment that mirrors Upland’s El Sereno map. Assets were exported, optimized, and uploaded to Meta Horizon via Horizon Worlds Desktop Builder. We integrated real-time logic using Unity Multiplayer Services and began experimenting with Web3 wallet integration for future economic layers. Community coordination was handled through Google Sheets and Discord.

Challenges we ran into

• Exporting textured models from Blender to Unity and then into Meta Horizon without losing fidelity.
• Creating a seamless user experience between Upland and Meta Horizon, as the platforms have different capabilities and limitations.
• Coordinating real-time updates and asset contributions from multiple community members.
• Mapping real-world landmarks into stylized, performant assets suitable for mobile platforms.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Elected Mayor of Los Angeles in Upland’s first blockchain-based city governance vote.
• Successfully launched the Real Node LA in multiple metaverse spaces.
• Built community engagement through interactive racing scenes, giveaways, and public sign-up collaborations.
• Created a pipeline for importing Upland map data into immersive 3D environments.

What we learned

• Community-driven development creates deeper meaning and loyalty within virtual worlds.
• Cross-platform interoperability is challenging but incredibly rewarding when done right.
• Designing for both performance and creativity is a constant balancing act.
• The power of storytelling through comics and racing scenes helps unify and expand the world we’re building.

What's next for The Real Node LA – an Upland Community

• Expand the comic universe to tie into seasonal racing events and virtual plot storylines.
• Develop NFT-linked map assets with in-game utility.
• Enable multiplayer races synced to Upland property data in real-time.
• Partner with creators to develop theme districts (arts, commerce, racing) across Upland LA.
• Launch a creator residency program within The Real Node LA to empower community builders.

Built With

• horizon
• upland