Gamepay

Design is a broad concept that comprises various disciplines: , graphic design, interior design, and game design, to name but a few. As a rule, we think of them as totally separate domains; all these specializations have their own professional communities, experts, and best practices. This is a rather limiting view of design. UX/UI design In this article, I’ll explain why it is important to sometimes step outside your specialization and what different design specialists can learn from each other. The Specialism Trap By pushing designers to specialize, the industry solves its own problems. In the corporate world, a person is simply a function — the role of a specialist is to perform very specific tasks in their area of expertise. With narrow specialization, designers are trained to do only a default scope of standard work. As a result, we get design professionals who know how to create features but are not capable of creating experiences. This happens in all areas of design: an interior designer can make a home look attractive on paper, but uncomfortable to live in. That’s what happens when a designer doesn’t think about the experience, being focused too much on the task. And what if the client requested just that — a beautiful design for their home? The designer did what they were asked, so what’s wrong with that? Well, you have to consider that it may be hard to formulate a correct design request. A client may only have a vague idea of what they want to achieve. It is a designer’s job to get to the bottom of things and identify the true needs of a client or user. Of course, there is a risk of overcomplicating things, but this skill takes practice to master. In the meantime, we can speed things up a bit by looking closely at what our colleagues do in other areas of design. /What can we learn from them, you ask? As someone who’s into video games, I’ll use game design to illustrate my point. Let me tell you straight off: I think designing games is a lot more complex than designing interfaces. Also, I might not be fully familiar with all the ins and outs of game design, so my analogy could be somewhat superficial. Yet, being a gaming enthusiast, I’ll stick with it. Designing Experience Before we dive in, let me say this: anyone whose job is to tell stories and design experiences is a designer, no matter what their job title is. The role of a game designer is to design the gaming experience. They not only create the overall concept and structure of the game but also decide which emotions the player will experience at each stage. In this sense, a video game designer is very much like a director of a film. Or a product designer. Experience design is what these two types of designers ultimately have in common. A game designer works on scenarios in which the player finds themselves, just as a product designer develops user scenarios. Next time you play a video game, pay closer attention to the character behavior and the storylines. And if you're not that much into video games, you can check out , a channel where the creators break down how some of the most popular games are made and how they work. We'll explore the connection between product and game design using the example of Hitman, which is reviewed in this episode: Noclip YouTube How the Simulation of a Hitman Level Works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjvrTa6IKW8&embedable=true If you are familiar with the Hitman game series, you know it's a stealth action game with an assassin as the main character. Yet, the creators themselves have also defined its genre as a puzzle. For instance, say, you, as a character, have a gun. Does it mean you absolutely have to use it? Not necessarily. Using it could be too straightforward or even crude. There probably is a more elegant and less obvious way to solve the task at hand. This solution is also a lot more rewarding for the player, making them feel smart and accomplished when they figure it out. Similarly, this is what product designers can do for their users. The first takeaway is to look deeper into the mechanics of user behavior in the interface. Hitman is also like a sandbox game where the player has a set of goals and tools to achieve them. Sound familiar? This is how interfaces work as well. In the video I mentioned earlier, the game creators let slip one of Hitman's secrets — the game environment itself is designed to help the player solve tasks and complete missions. In each episode, it gives the player hints, and pushes them toward certain decisions so that all the puzzle pieces fall into place. I'm not saying e-commerce platform interfaces are exactly like puzzles, but at times they are very similar. Well, we need to create an "environment" in the interface that nudges users toward certain actions, making it clear how different elements fit together. And, of course, we mustn't forget about the emotions that simple interaction with the product can bring. How can this help us, product designers? Finally, let's talk about story design in Hitman. Basically, the game is designed to guide the player toward their objectives using short, well-crafted stories. There is no user onboarding or tutorial provided — the player doesn't get explicit instructions. Instead, they have the opportunity to interact with the game world themselves, through the stories. This example best illustrates my main point. We should let people solve problems through stories and scenarios, allow them to make mistakes, and provide guidance instead of setting limitations. Designing Emotions The second important thing to consider is emotions. From this perspective, video games have come a long way, considering that modern games are designed to evoke emotions in players. Nowadays, games are just as complex a form of entertainment as movies or books and can include educational, entertaining, and emotional components. When it comes to interface design, though, the last thing that comes to mind is emotions. Pressing buttons in a hypothetical CRM or Excel is nobody’s idea of fun. So how do we compare games and interfaces? Let's start by examining game mechanics and diving into a subject that may seem subjective at first glance: how video game interaction impacts the player. Take, for instance, the simple act of jumping in classic platform games like Mario. Did you know that the sound of the jump changes from low to high frequencies, cleverly conveying the sensation of rapid upward movement? Or when you successfully jump on the flagpole at the end of the level, the frequency rises, indicating that you've completed the level. Fascinating, isn't it? If you're interested in learning more about this, check out Koji Kondo's “Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack”. So what am I trying to say? Perhaps a game could do without all that. You can see the character jump, so what's the point of all these fancy sound effects? Yet, without this skilled sound design, the game experience would definitely feel incomplete. This is precisely what makes the emotional design stand out from the ordinary design. In combination, these small details fundamentally change the perception of the game or product. Interface designers must take into account this emotional component, even when designing a seemingly mundane product like a CRM. Creating responsive interface elements and enhancing them with animation and sound effects can make a big difference. Some may argue that there's no real value for the user, but let's not forget that back in the day the entire interface was just a command line. Why did we need to enhance that? Games as a Source of Inspiration In conclusion, I could offer you tips on how to notice and work with the subtle design elements I've described. Or perhaps suggest alternative sources of inspiration for those who are not much into games and have little experience playing them. But I don't have any of that for you. In my opinion, it's important to understand the main principle: approach your work with an open mind, be curious, and find new sources of inspiration. Who knows, maybe one day we'll see more articles about how one industry inspired another to create something totally new and cool. Lately, I’ve stopped looking for inspiration only in interface design. I also get inspired by related industries instead—video games, architecture, music, or sound design. They all have one thing in common; they tell stories to people and shape experiences. That’s why one should challenge the boundaries of their specialization. It's important to broaden your perspective on design, to notice and use new techniques so that the stories we tell evoke emotions and form meaningful user experiences.

Why Designers Should Venture Outside Their Industry for Inspiration

Gaming hype shouldn’t be dismissed as the unheralded catalyst for Web3 adoption Troubled times and consumer adoption Let it not be said that I’m always writing about the bad and taking the piss on the crypto industry. I work in gaming, and we want to use blockchain and crypto, so we have to accept that we are part of that industry. So as I start on a title like “100 million people into Web3” I’m actually not trying to put random numbers out there. 100 million, relative to the number of gamers out there (billions), isn’t a pipe dream, is it? Some context first. As the crypto market is still experiencing a troublesome downtrend, many cryptopreneurs decided it was time to lay low during the incoming crypto winter. Hard times have never been a good period to take on bold business-related moves. However, not everyone shares that opinion. Sometimes it might not be wise to just wait for the storm to pass. A similar opinion was recently expressed by , the co-founder of Framework Ventures. It was a sentiment that spread over the internet rapidly. Anderson stated that, on the contrary, this might be the best time to invest in new projects and start-ups, specifically in crypto gaming and Web3 projects. He explained it by stating that gaming is the number one category that is going to bring at least 100 million people into Web3. Michael Anderson While the crypto market is suffering, the gaming industry is checking out the blockchain technology and novel monetization possibilities it brings to the table. Blockchain presents a new and interesting platform to build on, and according to some, the only platform for gaming in the future. The power of consumer adoption The main point of Anderson’s statement can be traced to the force known as consumer adoption. As a term used in relation to marketing strategies, is basically a process by which consumers adapt their purchasing patterns in relation to new products or services. For example, a company launches a new product or service as an alternative to the existing ones, and people start to purchase and use it as soon as it hits the market. That’s consumer adoption indeed. consumer adoption If we dig deeper into the economic sphere, we may find out that there are five stages of consumer adoption that end up with the adoption stage when users change their behavioral patterns in response to changes in external conditions. Back in 1962, Everett Rogers postulated the diffusion of innovation theory by explaining how a particular product spreads roots in society through divergent components of the general population. Starting slowly with early adopters and innovators, a true minority of the population, it gains traction and spreads exponentially to the early majority followed by the late majority, and finally, finds the way to the last group characterized by its resistance to change. When talking about blockchain and consumer adoption, many believe that we are now in the stage of growth. While the NFT hype has attracted many customers who wanted to find new monetization opportunities and revenue streams, there is no doubt that the gaming industry played a huge part in blockchain’s consumer adoption and that it will continue to play that role when it comes to the massive adoption of Web3. early majority The blockchain gaming alliance during the crypto winter https://twitter.com/ZssBecker/status/1617995786591297537?embedable=true The gaming industry has been associated with the crypto community and blockchain tech for a while now. With the increased usage of cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens, many predict that the partnership will become even more connected in the upcoming year. As gaming platforms grow, they are compelled to seek and incorporate technological innovations and provide their consumers with more options. That is to say, the widespread gaming industry has proven to be a top ally for the incorporation of blockchain technology. Even though the blockchain gaming market is still relatively small in relation to consumer adoption, a number of broad players on the gaming scene such as Ubisoft, have begun stepping into the blockchain gaming territory. Currently, the total gaming market is expected to grow by 2023, along with that 77% of 2023 spending amount will be on in-game assets and the global market of gamers surpassing the 3 billion mark. The broad user base of the gaming industry could lead to the massive adoption of other tech advancements such as Web3. Just as Anderson predicted. $218 billion Newzoo’s forecast When talking specifically about blockchain gaming, it is obviously filled with some standing in the way of massive consumer adoption. However, blockchain technology is reconstructing the gaming industry by providing new layers of security, digital ownership, decentralization, and most importantly, a direct line of open communication between developers and gamers. Might that be just enough to pass relatively unscathed through the crypto winter? obstacles The way I believe: Community-driven adoption Talking to my colleagues at , I find that we all strongly believe that blockchain is giving a new definition to the gaming industry. Unlike traditional video games, namely pay-to-play games that include a central authority, blockchain games enable players to own in-game assets in a decentralized environment and to play the game securely. Cradles While we agree that the success of a product or service is intertwined with large consumer adoption, our governance system and in-game economy have been slowly constructed around a community-driven approach. Unlike traditional video games, crypto games are established even before the birth of the game, providing community users with a voice in the entire process of creating the game. A strong community is the cornerstone of any blockchain-based game. During our recent pre-alpha, we felt that the interest and active response from our community of Cradians, which included a whole lot of new members from existing gamer communities and guilds, only provided more evidence that community must be at the centre of our game. While others pay for testers, we had volunteers spend hours delving into Cradles, coming back to Discord to provide real-time feedback on bugs and other problems, transparently for everyone to see. We changed the design and even mechanics on a rolling basis, understanding that the experience is better when feedback from gamers improves it. You probably wonder: what do we say we are giving back to our community? If we want to get technical, then I point to what we call a scheme that we hope enables community members to participate in the creation of the gaming environment, along with allowing community players to master the rules and methods which may increase profits. Further, our plan is to create an efficient influencer platform, meaning that anyone can offer game content to the game, and if approved, receive game content profit that would be distributed properly. Flatten and Income Rise Governance (FAIR-G) Founded strictly on the community concept, I hope players, developers, and designers will join our virtual space to add their own genuine touch to the game. We believe that our community-driven approach will lead to more uptaken and will help in the adoption of other technological advancements such as the Web3. Blockchain has already revolutionized the gaming industry, and there is no doubt that blockchain-based gaming will open the doors for new endeavours as our community grows.

Crypto Gaming Will Bring 100 Million People Into Web3

Why the Metaverse is Broken and How it Can be Fixed — Chapter 3

Por qué el metaverso está roto y cómo se puede arreglar — Capítulo 3

Pourquoi le métaverse est cassé et comment il peut être réparé — Chapitre 3

मेटावर्स क्यों टूटा हुआ है और इसे कैसे ठीक किया जा सकता है - अध्याय 3

メタバースが壊れている理由とその修復方法 — 第 3 章

Por que o metaverso está quebrado e como ele pode ser consertado — Capítulo 3

Tại sao Metaverse bị hỏng và Làm thế nào nó có thể được sửa chữa - Chương 3

元宇宙为何崩溃以及如何修复 — 第 3 章

To state the obvious, GameFi is one of the most appealing sectors for newbie users within the crypto space. It successfully attracts users who are not into the complex technological solutions of DeFi projects. Secondly, GameFi has given retail investors more opportunities to enter the market. However, crypto enthusiasts should be careful when selecting projects to invest their money in as there are so many fraudulent platforms out there. There are a series of decisive factors that can help to determine whether a play-to-earn game is worth your attention or not. Development team In my opinion, the first thing you should look at in a game is its core development team. Successful top–notch projects are built by professionals from a variety of spheres, not money. Research the professional biographies of the and make sure that they have already taken part in the creation of some decent platforms or games. At the very least, check to see if they have any high-profile cases of fraud. team members Also, while exploring play-to-earn projects, give preference to authoritative sources like . If the team retains anonymity, that's serious grounds for questioning the prudence of investing your money in this project. CMC and CGC websites Tokenomics Aside from the team, you cannot neglect the economic model of the project. Basically, this is a key aspect of any good play-to-earn game, as profits directly depend on the project’s tokenomics. Learn about the of the project, get to know who the are that are putting their assets into the fledgling game – they play a huge role in the success of the platform. funding big investors It is investors who bring traffic and recognition to the game, which directly affects its overall market performance. Also, do not forget about the project’s , which should contain basic information about its token distribution mechanism and cover other critical aspects. whitepaper Gameplay & Ideas Needless to say, the originality and uniqueness of the platform’s concept and the implementation of these qualities at the also play a huge role in the platform’s success. Players have a desire to tap into something that’s never been seen before. gameplay level The development team and I managed to create a project that fits the bill. The game was designed by a large number of experts from different spheres — blockchain, DeFi, game development and NFT art. Bringing their experience and creative ideas together, we put our efforts into launching an evolutionary, WebGL, AAA-level, Play-to-Earn, NFT and RPG game and are stunning the world with our brainchild. SIDUS HEROES The users of SIDUS will have the chance to: Start playing from any device, without downloading the application, just using an internet browser. This is possible because of the unique WebGL technology that the SIDUS team has been working on for 3 years. The technology supports high-quality 3D art and a high-efficiency engine. Become farmers and grinders to collect resources from mines, fields or while traveling through space, so they can sell them on the marketplace for coins. Craft equipment (like spaceships) and the components for them (e.g. ammunition, weapons and medicine) to sell manufactured products to fighters. Fight with other players in the Battle Arena, participate in tournaments and build fighting legions to try and rise to the top as one. Try themself as scientists that explore new technologies and discover new resources to figure out how to modernize life in the universe. Our technicians, who between them possess extensive experience, have built a versatile solution that immerses players all over the world in a well-developed universe. Focused on popularizing the GameFi space in general, we believe that our revolutionary game can make a buzz in the industry, attracting new members to our strong community as well as big investors. Marketing Strategy Last, but not least, do not underestimate the importance of devising a good marketing strategy. Spend some time going through the game’s . Pay attention to its who talk about the project publicly. social media platforms community, advisors and influencers It is impossible to think of a well-known project that hasn’t adopted a proper marketing approach because that’s ultimately what forms a platform’s audience. Obviously, even the coolest project is absolutely useless without users helping to evolve it. Conclusion Summing up, both investors and gamers should pay attention to the aspects I mention here. Think critically, choose only proven projects and do not allow yourself to become a victim of fraud!

Secrets of Successful P2E Projects from a Blockchain Game CEO

Doesn't that sound like a fantasy? What if I tell you that it is more likely that the gaming scene of the future will look like this. HOW DO OBJECTS GET THEIR PRICE TAG? In essence, any object's value, material or virtual can only be determined by its Kin and no one else. Since the world is becoming more and more specialized, a tool useful to you can be really a worthless item for someone else. A gimbal for example is useless for a normal person but of high value for a cinematographer. So, the value of 'objects of the future' cannot be determined through a common man's perception. The value of a gimbal can only be determined by a cinematographer and can range for $60 to $5000 depending on its function and usability. The same analogy goes for specialized software like MATLAB which is of use only to the engineers and of which annual license for a single user costs $10,000. This software is used to write code and solve complex equations but a normal man a $10 calculator would do just as good of a job. Let's call these groups of people with similar goals as Kin. In essence, any object's value, material or virtual can only be determined by its Kin and no one else. The strategy of catering to the Kin is equivalent to targeting a niche audience. Due to the over-saturation of companies which pander to a wide range of audience, a start-up sees success only when they target a niche audience. Not only this is within their financial constraints but also such a strategy generates them profit like no other. WHAT IS VIRTUAL OR MATERIAL, IF YOU CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE? What if, the skins you unlocked or bought with fiat were indeed NFTs and you can resale them if you wish so? The excitement when people unlock skins in games like Counter-Strike: Global Offense and Fortnite is telling of the fact that the human brain cannot distinguish between the value of material and virtual objects. Just like material goodies help them to brag in front of strangers in real life, virtual objects help to flaunt in front of their fellow Kin. The price of the virtual objects is similar to the price of as explained above since they are highly subjective and are determined solely by the Kin. specialized material objects The only problem with these virtual items from the aforementioned examples is that, they are based on an archaic philosophy of game designing where only the game developers are allowed to earn money, off the game. Therefore, the items in these games (more on this later) and are . can only be purchased with USD not resalable This is immersion-breaking for the player who spends their time playing the game only to realize that the only thing that holds actual value is the fiat currency. This also motivates them to stop doing what they truly enjoy and go find a "real" job like everyone else. Now imagine, if this was not the case. What if, the skins you unlocked or bought with fiat were indeed NFTs and you can resale them if you wish so? This changes the game altogether, no pun intended. Axie Infinity which is traded as $AXS is an NFT-based game like Pokémon where each monster is an NFT. The common monsters which you can catch will of course have no value. But the monsters you mix and breed will. This token is running quite hot now and is backed by the billionaire and Shark Tank's famous Mark Cuban. A SLIGHT DETOUR Twitch isn't for everyone but crypto is. Websites like Twitch make it possible for gamers worldwide to monetize their time playing video games with a decent PC and a webcam. This is another way of how gamers all over the world would earn money without indulging in immersion-breaking activities. This service is a unique blend of streamers who are also content creators and their viewers, a special type of people who enjoy watching others playing a game. Every single genre of video games create their Kins. Genres like -- Fighting, Souls-likes, Horror, Adventure, Puzzle, Racing, etc. There are also different tiers of subscriptions and the Twitch Channel offers special benefits like unique emojis based on inside jokes and profile tags to their subscribers belonging to higher tiers. This creates a sense of community and loyalty towards the streamer. The only problem with Twitch is that while it's good for streamers and their subscribers aka viewers, most gamers are not content creators and they usually prefer anonymity while playing their favorite games and prefer chatting over talking. Twitch isn't for everyone but crypto is. IN-GAME ECONOMIES Think of the game as, like a country using ISK as its legal tender. Games like Eve Online allow gamers to earn ISK (Interstellar Kredits) just by trading in the game. You can be anyone from a Starfleet commander, an asteroid miner, or even a pirate. An asteroid miner, for example, earns ISK by selling the minerals they acquired by mining in-game. These minerals won't regenerate and the miners would have to find another source after the present asteroid depletes. The generated ISK can be converted into USD and that is how many players who play the game, earn their livelihood. The game has a running economy similar to our real world and the exchange rates keep on changing depending on who does better. Think of the game as, like a country using ISK as its legal tender. The game often makes headlines due to the money lost in millions caused by in-game wars in opposing factions but news related to its booming economy and increasing interest of new players always take a backseat. To regulate the in-game economy, the game developers have hired economists who are tasked to regulate it. This has never been heard of in a video game and mixes FinTech with online gaming. WHY SHOULD WE PAY FOR THEIR MISMANAGEMENT? If the developers can implement a better currency and help themselves as well as the player in the process, why should they not? The fiat currencies have their own share of trouble. Not only they are old in technology and backed by thin air, but also mismanaged by their respective central banks since their value only depreciates with time. So, what if an independent entity creates their well-managed, decentralized currency and NFTs, for their Kin, backed by modern technologies like blockchain? Cryptocurrencies are the currencies of the future. Their values are backed by the service they provide (except meme tokens), and they use very clever deflation strategies like setting a hard limit for minting and token burning. For the uninitiated, this basically means that the price of these currencies will rise even if they lie idle in your wallet. The use of cryptocurrencies in video games will be easy to implement since many popular games are free to download and run on in-app purchases model, already. If the developers can implement a better currency and help themselves as well as the player in the process, why should they not? METAVERSE AND BEYOND Recently in the Epic vs. Apple hearing, the term metaverse was used very often for describing the future of games like Fortnite and Roblox. What Tim Sweeney, head of Epic Games, thinks of this addictive game's destiny is a similar form of the world that won't only have an economy but a social playground for the Kins to hang out in while maintaining their anonymity. The money generated in the process of playing the game can not only be used on in-game items, but also converted into any fiat currencies and used to pay bills and buy groceries. Platforms such as have already developed a voxel-based metaverse where gamers and developers alike can create 3D playable characters and objects which are also NFTs and thus, have a resale value. As the technologies are becoming more and more immersive with the advent of VR, AR and Brain-Computer Interfaces in the future, as pointed out by Valve's Gabe Newell, the fantasy of living in a metaverse is going to become ever compelling. The Sandbox This article is part of The hosted by HackerNoon in partnership with Gaming Metaverse Writing Contest . The Sandbox Submit your today for your chance to win up to $2000. #gaming-metaverse story

NFTs and Crypto: Earning Money by Playing Video Games

**SAN FRANSCISCO, United States, April 4th, 2024/GamingWire/--**Cloudborn, the latest release from Antler Interactive, successfully demoed at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco last week. Featured in both the Inworld and BGA booths, the first-of-its-kind Web3, RPG, MMO, AI, PC-based game proved to be more than just a lengthy combination of acronyms. Constantin Berthelier, Narrative Designer at Antler Interactive, led the demonstrations and game tests for attendees at this year’s show. “We had testers of all sorts, some big names from big studios and publishers. Others were devs mostly curious about our title,” he explained. Attendees appeared most curious about Cloudborn’s use of AI-backed Non-Playable Characters (NPCs), something rival titles are racing to implement. With the first mover’s advantage, the team from Antler Interactive was able to drum up significant interest in their AI-NPC character, Zero. Constantin recounted, “I had anticipated that most GDC attendees were privy to the recent updates on the AI scene and would be somewhat blasé when interacting with our characters. But no, it did provide the wow effect! Most users were overwhelmed that they had the liberty to tell Zero all they wanted,” he said, then adding “Zero remained relevant and on character no matter what the testers would tell him.” Cloudborn is a Web3 gaming title, meaning various game elements utilize blockchain technology to give more control and self-ownership to gamers. This is presumed to open doors to many opportunities in a rapidly evolving and competitive technology space. Constantin shared that “The executives of big publishers, like NetEase, Square, Enix, and Amazon, all thought this [the web3 aspect] would be interesting, and even more so when I explained what it could allow.” Cloudborn encompasses a unique mix of AI and web3 technologies, aiming to improve the gaming experience. Using advanced, gameplay-focused AI - developed by their partners, Inworld - Cloudborn introduces a world that evolves as players make their moves, making environments and characters change in real-time, leading to a more immersive and personal game. Oliwer Svensson from Antler Interactive notes, “This goes beyond simple data; it's about the unpredictable ways AI shapes your character.” The use of blockchain means players truly own their characters, items, and achievements. Those testing the new title at the Game Developers Conference described it as “beautiful”, “unique”, and “fresh”, while also remarking on the “well-made UI”. One attendee is quoted as saying that Cloudborn has designed “the best UI possible to contain the AI prompts and feedback”. Attending the conference has proven to be a catalyst for Antler Interactive’s developmental charge, as they look to make Cloudborn a market leader. During the event, they opened early partnership discussions with several game producers, developers, artists, narrative designers, technologists, Web3 experts, and more, taking away considerable connections to support their growth. What was most interesting for the Cloudborn team was that while there was a noticeably big web3 presence at GDC there were no direct rivals to their title at the event. “There was one other Web3 game, but offering a very different concept. AI companies were present too, but they weren’t exploring narrative in the same way we are, in creating dynamic NPC personalities. One gaming project was looking at narrative development and AI but on a non-live model”. Cloudborn left the event feeling satisfied by the feedback and the knowledge that they have a unique proposition of a Web3 game that pushes ownership, experience, AI NPCs, and advanced trading. About Anter Interactive Antler Interactive is a Swedish gaming studio renowned for its innovative approach to gaming. Focusing on cutting-edge technologies, Antler Interactive strives to create immersive and involving experiences that captivate players worldwide. Antler, a multi-award-winning gaming studio, won the Binance Launchpool project of the year for My Neighbor Alice. Antler Interactive is a subsidiary of ChromaWay. More information can be found at antlerinteractive.com and cloudborn.game. Contact PR Manager Ramsey Shallal GELO ramsey@gelocubed.com This story was distributed as a release by Gamingwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here. **SAN FRANSCISCO, United States, April 4th, 2024/GamingWire/--**Cloudborn, the latest release from Antler Interactive, successfully demoed at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco last week. Featured in both the Inworld and BGA booths, the first-of-its-kind Web3, RPG, MMO, AI, PC-based game proved to be more than just a lengthy combination of acronyms. Constantin Berthelier, Narrative Designer at Antler Interactive, led the demonstrations and game tests for attendees at this year’s show. “We had testers of all sorts, some big names from big studios and publishers. Others were devs mostly curious about our title,” he explained. “We had testers of all sorts, some big names from big studios and publishers. Others were devs mostly curious about our title,” he explained. Attendees appeared most curious about Cloudborn’s use of AI-backed Non-Playable Characters (NPCs), something rival titles are racing to implement. With the first mover’s advantage, the team from Antler Interactive was able to drum up significant interest in their AI-NPC character, Zero. Constantin recounted, “I had anticipated that most GDC attendees were privy to the recent updates on the AI scene and would be somewhat blasé when interacting with our characters. But no, it did provide the wow effect! Most users were overwhelmed that they had the liberty to tell Zero all they wanted,” he said, then adding “Zero remained relevant and on character no matter what the testers would tell him.” Constantin recounted, “I had anticipated that most GDC attendees were privy to the recent updates on the AI scene and would be somewhat blasé when interacting with our characters. But no, it did provide the wow effect! Most users were overwhelmed that they had the liberty to tell Zero all they wanted,” he said, then adding “Zero remained relevant and on character no matter what the testers would tell him.” Cloudborn is a Web3 gaming title, meaning various game elements utilize blockchain technology to give more control and self-ownership to gamers. This is presumed to open doors to many opportunities in a rapidly evolving and competitive technology space. Constantin shared that “The executives of big publishers, like NetEase, Square, Enix, and Amazon, all thought this [the web3 aspect] would be interesting, and even more so when I explained what it could allow.” Cloudborn encompasses a unique mix of AI and web3 technologies, aiming to improve the gaming experience. Using advanced, gameplay-focused AI - developed by their partners, Inworld - Cloudborn introduces a world that evolves as players make their moves, making environments and characters change in real-time, leading to a more immersive and personal game. Oliwer Svensson from Antler Interactive notes, “This goes beyond simple data; it's about the unpredictable ways AI shapes your character.” The use of blockchain means players truly own their characters, items, and achievements. Inworld Inworld Those testing the new title at the Game Developers Conference described it as “beautiful”, “unique”, and “fresh”, while also remarking on the “well-made UI”. One attendee is quoted as saying that Cloudborn has designed “the best UI possible to contain the AI prompts and feedback”. Attending the conference has proven to be a catalyst for Antler Interactive’s developmental charge, as they look to make Cloudborn a market leader. During the event, they opened early partnership discussions with several game producers, developers, artists, narrative designers, technologists, Web3 experts, and more, taking away considerable connections to support their growth. What was most interesting for the Cloudborn team was that while there was a noticeably big web3 presence at GDC there were no direct rivals to their title at the event. “There was one other Web3 game, but offering a very different concept. AI companies were present too, but they weren’t exploring narrative in the same way we are, in creating dynamic NPC personalities. One gaming project was looking at narrative development and AI but on a non-live model”. Cloudborn left the event feeling satisfied by the feedback and the knowledge that they have a unique proposition of a Web3 game that pushes ownership, experience, AI NPCs, and advanced trading. About Anter Interactive Antler Interactive is a Swedish gaming studio renowned for its innovative approach to gaming. Focusing on cutting-edge technologies, Antler Interactive strives to create immersive and involving experiences that captivate players worldwide. Antler, a multi-award-winning gaming studio, won the Binance Launchpool project of the year for My Neighbor Alice. Antler Interactive is a subsidiary of ChromaWay. More information can be found at antlerinteractive.com and cloudborn.game. Contact PR Manager Ramsey Shallal GELO ramsey@gelocubed.com This story was distributed as a release by Gamingwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here. This story was distributed as a release by Gamingwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here . here here

Cloudborn Demo Takes GDC By Storm With Many Wowed By Gameplay

Why Developers Should Take A Gameplay-First Approach In Crypto Gaming Today, I am speaking with Roy Blackstone, and we will discuss the benefits of taking a gameplay-centric approach to game development. We'll also look at Roy's experiences with a gameplay-first approach to game development. Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do. I'm Roy Blackstone, driven by a passion for product design and innovation. I've successfully launched numerous ventures from the ground up, such as Doki Doki and Chainbinders. My enthusiasm is rooted in transforming the ecosystem and pushing cryptocurrency towards widespread acceptance. I am also SHADOW WAR's Creative Director and founder, a 5v5 third-person action game with Web3 capabilities. Can you share your perspective on prioritizing gameplay and world-building in crypto gaming, especially in contrast to pay-to-win schemes? It all comes down to player experience. Games in the Web3 space have been fairly basic and have not had players at their heart. Rather, they have been focused on a play-to-win model. This has not and will not attract Web2 gamers to the space; these people tend to ensure a game's longevity. Play-to-win games mainly attract people looking for a quick win and, therefore, have a different motivation. Although there is a place for the pay-to-win model, I believed there was a huge opportunity to build a game with the strength and depth you would expect from a more traditional title while utilizing the technological advantages of Web3. It is one that gives players ownership and financial opportunity in the play-to-win model while delivering a game they will truly want to play. By focusing on gameplay, creating a strong token model, and prioritizing world-building, we have built a game that brings the best of the web 2 and 3 spaces together, In your experience, how do players react to games that prioritize gameplay over those that largely depend on pay-to-win features? In a word, experience. It is all down to what motivates you. In a play-to-win model, you are financially rewarded for playing. Therefore, you are less focused on the game's depth and characters. Players of games with gameplay at the center will be looking for depth in the game and will want a strong overall gameplay experience—a game you want to come back to and play again and again because you enjoy it. What inspired the creation of Shadow War, and how does it differentiate itself from other games in the market? I have played games for almost two decades in competitions and with friends. I didn't feel the current crop of crypto games came anywhere close to capturing the true essence of gaming. SHADOW WAR will reset this. We want SHADOW WAR to be seen as a benchmark in the space, a title that combines gameplay and world-building while offering an innovative token model that rewards players. SHADOW WAR will be the first web3 game you want to play with your friends, run your competitions, test yourself against others globally, and come back, again and again, to play while being rewarded for the time and effort you put in. How do you approach development differently when prioritizing gameplay and world-building above pay-to-win models? We have a strong and diverse team, including individuals with proven track records with studios across the Web2 and Web3 space. Although SHADOW WAR is very much a Web3-enabled game, the studio is run like a Web 2 studio. From the start, we wanted to ensure that gameplay and world-building were part of the game's DNA. We challenge ourselves internally through weekly workshops and internal play tests to ensure we stick to this central focus. Everyone has a voice, everyone is heard, and everyone is equal. This internal work is supplemented by external outreach and engagement. We run open-play tests that anyone can sign up for. This is just one way we ensure that our partners, supporters, and future players are part of the development process, providing another means to keep us honest and focused on gameplay and world-building. Can you provide any instances of world-building elements in the game and how they relate to the overall experience? Much effort is put into areas most people will never see, such as character lore. There are pages and pages of backstory for each character and the environment. This helps develop the character narrative, creating characters that players can engage with and relate to. For me, the experience of any game is vastly enhanced when there is a real backstory to the characters, stories that have helped shape and model them into the ones you can now play in the game. What potential risks or drawbacks are associated with pay-to-win schemes in crypto gaming? Personally, there are two real stand-out ones. As a player, you can, and often do, lose your money. The game's longevity and survivability are purely down to the player economy. Could you explain how Shadow War rewards skill-based gameplay and gives free players ways to access higher-tier resources? We are implementing a reward-based token, much like a skill-to-earn model. As players increase their skills, they earn more tokens, unlocking more resources. This type of model, along with our skill-based matching, not only enables new players to join and start to skill up quickly, but it importantly rewards those players who have been playing the game for a while. What steps can developers take to maintain a level playing field for all players, especially when focusing on gameplay instead of pay-to-win mechanics? Developers should encourage people to play and grow their skill sets within the game. Crucial to this is the new player experience. That is why we have put in and will continue to put a huge amount of effort into ensuring that the experience for first-time players is engaging and rewarding. Can you discuss how the community of players has shaped the development of Shadow War and how their opinions have affected the game's evolution over time? We are proud of our community and their passion for the game. The key to this is ensuring they have the means to engage and support themselves and that their feedback is acted on. If I can give two quick examples: Firstly, we are about to launch Shadownet 2.0, our engagement platform. The pilot version was a huge success, with over 200,000 sign-ups and over a million tasks completed. The new version is being developed and rolled out based on the feedback we received from our community. Secondly, playtests are important for any serious game about community feedback and development. Our most recent one was last month, and players from over 60 countries participated. We have already opened up applications for our next playtest this month. Our community of players is not just supporting the game and the wider platform; they are part of the process and have been from the start. This will only increase as we conduct more play tests in the run-up to our launch and further develop our touch points and feedback loops with them. What challenges did the developers encounter while making Shadow War, and how did they fix them? When developing a game like SHADOW WAR, as you might imagine, there are often challenges. Rather than pick one, I felt it might be beneficial to highlight how we always approach a challenge internally and how we solve it. Firstly, we have an open internal ethos. If you are facing a challenge, we want you to share it. As a remote business, we don't want people to feel isolated. Having fresh eyes and viewpoints can speed up the process significantly. Secondly, we know we have the very best people in place leading in their respective areas, but we also know we are not all experts in all areas. This is where we focus on collective problem-solving. We have numerous weekly sessions where we can support each other and find solutions to individual challenges. We have often found that the best solutions are ones where we work together and discuss the issues faced. Thirdly, checking and testing. This is where the community comes in and is a crucial part of the process. Not only do they help find issues that need to be addressed, but they also often come up with feedback and solutions, providing a different take on a challenge that might be being faced. What advice would you give aspiring developers who want to create successful crypto games while taking a gameplay-first approach? Work with like-minded people. I feel extremely lucky to be surrounded by people with the same drive as me to ensure that gameplay is front and center. I feel we have the best team in the world for our project. We understand the market and see the opportunity that is afforded. Not only are we creating a game that we want to play, but through research, we know that others will want to play it. Knowing a real market opportunity helps you get funding and support. Finally, stay true to your passion. It is easy to follow a path that has already been walked, but it is much harder to forge a new one.

GAMEPAY

gamepay.sg

-- employees

Since n.d.

COMPANY RANKING

GAMEPAY

EVERGREEN INDEX #4757

Representing this company? Click here to claim and customize this page!

Gamepay WIKI

Apply to get your Tech Company News Page live on HackerNoon.com today!

GAMEPAY

gamepay.sg

-- employees

Since n.d.

COMPANY RANKING

GAMEPAY

EVERGREEN INDEX #4757

RELATED COMPANIESRANK

STORIES ABOUT GAMEPAY

Representing this company? Click here to claim and customize this page!

Gamepay WIKI

Apply to get your Tech Company News Page live on HackerNoon.com today!