Why Blockchain Gaming?

An important question with an even more important answer. In short, we believe this is the future of the gaming industry...

What is Blockchain Gaming?

"Blockchain Gaming" is an umbrella term used to indicate the use of blockchain technology in an attempt to improve some aspect of a video game. Video games need to be creative, secure, and enjoyable to retain a player-base, so how how does blockchain tech help with any of this?

A very common use-case for blockchain gaming would be the creation of an "on-chain" game. Think about all of the code that goes into making a video game, an on-chain game puts all of that written code on a blockchain. This means it can be viewed and interacted with by anyone. Some enjoy this transparency, as they are able to see what exactly happens as they play the game. Considering many of these on-chain games can early cryptocurrencies, with attached monetary value, the transparency means a lot to the audience. However, this use case can present security concerns if the developers are inexperienced and deploy code with security weaknesses. Anything put on the blockchain cannot simply be removed, so editing their bug-filled code is not a simple take.

An increasingly popular use for the blockchain in the gaming industry comes from the use of NFTs, or Non Fungible Tokens. NFTs can be simply thought of as a digital license that says you own something. That license exists on the Blockchain, making it viewable/accessible to all, and indisputably belonging to its owner. Now, consider in-game assets, such as skins or cosmetics. Almost all video games have some sort of customization system that allows players to personalize their in-game avatar with purchasable cosmetics. The developing studio determines if these players actually own their assets. This, in a way, is sufficient, but can be exponentially improved through Blockchain integration.

NFTs as In-Game Assets

If the current system for purchasing and validating in-game assets is sufficient, why fix it? As stated above, the dynamic in which players purchase and use cosmetics can be greatly improved, and in a way that benefits both parties.

Consider a new video game with five available skins that may be purchased as NFTs. These five skins are limited in supply, meaning they will no longer be available after a certain period of time, and they will be replaced by other skins, which will also be replaced eventually. The players who purchased those skins are in complete ownership of their newly acquired digital assets, as they exist on the blockchain, and not on the servers of the developing studio. Assuming the game increases in popularity over time, these early players will be in possession of rare assets that have low supply.

Most NFTs have the ability to be traded on the blockchain (there are some exceptions), in a sort of open-market. This market can be tapped into indefinitely by the developing team in the form of royalties. If one of the previously stated, highly-valued NFTs is traded for "X" amount, the developers are able to dictate a fee of "Y" percent. Of course, these royalties would be viewable my patrons of the open market. This leaves a team with many things to consider. Should they incorporate these royalty fees at all? If they do, should they reduce initial costs? Most importantly, what degree of initial price and royalty percentage will result in maximum returns while also remaining fair to the players of the game. See **** to learn how we plan to best utilize these strategies.

A Rough Start

Blockchain gaming has gained a terrible reputation, and for good reason. Predatory tactics from "developers" resulted in patrons paying exorbitant prices for premium memberships, redeemed as NFTs, to games that either were incomplete or were never delivered.

In late 2021 into early 2022, P2E (play to earn) gaming had gained incredible popularity. Simple games had bolstered incredible monetary returns. In some cases, these returns came from quite literally doing nothing. However, this trend crashed as a result of the two key realities:

Inflationary Economies: Players were earning at a rate the developers either has not prepared for, or did not care to adequately correct. In some cases, developing teams highly incentivized players to hold onto their earnings, which would then garner them interest. This resulted in an incredibly high supply of "tokens", with a stable/declining level of demand, and thus the earnings became worthless.
Lackluster Games: The games themselves were not engaging or enjoyable. These games were incredibly enticing when they offered high monetary returns. When the possibility of profiting became absent, these early P2E games could not hold their community with their gameplay.

With the above considered, we still believe P2E gaming is the future of the industry.

Our Solution

First and foremost, for a game to be successful we believe it must incorporate three things:

Non-Intimidating Onboarding Experience - The first time a player jumps into a game, it should not feel overwhelming. Key features like controls, the UI/HUD, and objective should all be somewhat obvious to get started with.
Enticing Gameplay Loop - Players should feel compelled to continue playing a game. Features like achievements, multiplayer/social play, rank progression, and unlock-able rewards retain an audience and keep them wanting more.
A Learning Curve - Players should understand they may not be the best when they first play a game. However, even in their first match they should be aware of the potential to learn more. There are features to the game they do not yet know, and as they continue to play and improve, they can master these features as well.

If blockchain gaming is to succeed, the community needs to produce high-quality projects. Not high-quality relative to other Blockchain Games, although that may be sufficient for some, but high quality period. High quality does not necessarily mean a million dollar project with AAA graphics, but games should feel thought out, secure, unique, and follow the three above-stated rules.

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Last updated 2 years ago

A Rough Start

Inflationary Economies: Players were earning at a rate the developers either has not prepared for, or did not care to adequately correct. In some cases, developing teams highly incentivized players to hold onto their earnings, which would then garner them interest. This resulted in an incredibly high supply of "tokens", with a stable/declining level of demand, and thus the earnings became worthless.

Lackluster Games: The games themselves were not engaging or enjoyable. These games were incredibly enticing when they offered high monetary returns. When the possibility of profiting became absent, these early P2E games could not hold their community with their gameplay.

With the above considered, we still believe P2E gaming is the future of the industry.

Our Solution

First and foremost, for a game to be successful we believe it must incorporate three things:

Non-Intimidating Onboarding Experience - The first time a player jumps into a game, it should not feel overwhelming. Key features like controls, the UI/HUD, and objective should all be somewhat obvious to get started with.

Enticing Gameplay Loop - Players should feel compelled to continue playing a game. Features like achievements, multiplayer/social play, rank progression, and unlock-able rewards retain an audience and keep them wanting more.

A Learning Curve - Players should understand they may not be the best when they first play a game. However, even in their first match they should be aware of the potential to learn more. There are features to the game they do not yet know, and as they continue to play and improve, they can master these features as well.