Non-fungible tokens hosted on Ethereum have been the top most traded NFTs this October. In the past 30 days, Ethereum-based NFTs have recorded a trading sales volume of $170 million. Ethereum NFTs have fallen 18.27% this month from the previous month.

NFT Sales Fall 23% In October – Here’s The NFT Market Prediction For November 2023

According to our DMarket price prediction, DMT is forecasted to trade within a price range of $ 0.004023 and $ 0.004024 this week. DMarket will increase by 0.00% and reach $ 0.004024 by Oct 16, 2023 if it reaches the higher value target. What is the ...

DMarket (DMT) Price Prediction 2023, 2024, 2025–2030

The NFT market has showcased light signs of making a comeback anytime from now, with the number of collectors trading NFTs rising more than 15% this week.

The NFT Market Analysis: No Of Investors Trading NFTs Is Up 15% In The Past 7 Days

In the ever-evolving landscape of online gaming, Rust has emerged as a prominent player in the multiplayer survival genre. With its gritty realism and intense gameplay, Rust has captured the hearts of millions of gamers worldwide.

Exploring Rust Trading Sites In 2023

Are you a dedicated Rust enthusiast with a stash of skins you're ready to part with? If you're keen on selling Rust skins for real money, this guide is tailor-made for you. Here, we'll delve into the best platforms available for selling Rust skins,

How To Sell Rust Skins For Real Money: Top 6 Sites

Solana-based NFT sales fell 26% in September, while Immutable X NFT sales rose 3.82%. DMarket, an NFT collection from the DMarket NFT marketplace hosted on the Mythos Chain network, has been the most traded NFT collection in the past month. In the past 30 ...

NFT Sales Fell 33% In September – Will October Bring Back An Upward Trend?

The non-fungible token market has recently experienced a decline in value, which has caused great concern among collectors and investors.

NFT Investors Buying NFTs Have Increased By 17% This Week – Is The NFT Bear About To End?

Game Asset Trading Platform Market Financial Performance, Strategic Developments & Key Insights 2023-2030 | Dmarket, OpenSea, Enjin by Herald Keeper September 25, 2023 8:13 AM | 5 min read

Game Asset Trading Platform Market Financial Performance, Strategic Developments & Key Insights 2023-2030 | Dmarket, OpenSea, Enjin

The non-fungible token market has yet to recover from the recent crash that left many of its NFTs floor prices plunging more than 70% of their value.

NFT Sales Drop 13% This Week, As Bitcoin Ordinals Pump 18% In Sales

The NFT market has tumbled 30% in sales volume in August from the previous month. Here is what you should expect in the coming September.

NFT Sales Dip 28% In August – Here’s What You Should Expect In September

DMarket

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ABU DHABI, UAE, November 4th, 2024/Chainwire/--NEXPACE, an innovative blockchain company, has officially announced the date for the second Pioneer Test of MapleStory Universe. The Open Beta Test will commence on November 20, running for 10 days, with the aim of optimizing system stability and gathering user feedback ahead of the game’s official launch. To celebrate the commencement of its first-ever Open Beta Test, MapleStory Universe has prepared several exciting in-game events and with an estimated in-game reward of up to 5 million NXPC. NXPC is a utility token used to facilitate interactions and enhance the user experience within the MapleStory Universe. With the event expected to be expanded in size of the first Pioneer Test in July, Participants can look forward to: NXPC Events: Earn NXPC for gameplay achievements, such as completing daily logins and trading NFTs. In-game points earned during this period may be redeemed for NXPC after the official launch, subject to applicable terms.
Make Special Name (IGN event): Play MapleStory N to collect letters and be the first to secure your desired In-Game Name (IGN).
Pioneer Swag: Complete the survey and quests to unlock an exclusive outfit. The first Pioneer Test, which ran from July 24 with more than 1,000 testers for 10 days, delivered impressive performance metrics. 92% of testers actively participated throughout the entire test period, resulting in an 82% retention rate. Testers logged over 45,000 hours of gameplay, averaging more than six hours per user daily. Additionally, the ecosystem processed 195,046 transactions without the presence of a premium cash shop, demonstrating the viability of its economy. Sunyoung Hwang, Executive Director of NEXPACE, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming test,"The results of our first Pioneer Test exceeded our expectations, and we are excited to scale up for this second Pioneer Test. As we introduce blockchain technology to the 21-year-old MapleStory IP, our goal is to further ensure ecosystem stability and enhance user experience as we prepare for the full launch.” ​MapleStory Universe is a virtual world ecosystem designed to host a variety of applications built on the backbone of the MapleStory IP. This ecosystem serves as a hub for creativity, collaboration, and community engagement, supported by integral components that form a comprehensive ecosystem. MapleStory IP boasts over 250 million+ registered users globally and thanks to the extensive resource pool from 21 years of live operations, MapleStory Universe is building a robust ecosystem where users can engage with in-game items enhanced by blockchain technology to enrich community interaction. For more information about the MapleStory Universe’s Pioneer Test, users can visit the Official Website, Discord, X, Facebook and Medium. About NEXPACE NEXPACE, an innovative blockchain company based in Abu Dhabi, pioneers an IP-expansion initiative powered by blockchain technology and NFTs to build a community-driven ecosystem. With a mission to redefine interactive entertainment, NEXPACE creates a vibrant space for exploring, sharing, and engaging with diverse content and gameplay crafted by community members. At the heart of NEXPACE’s ecosystem are principles of transparency, security, and trust, empowering creators to freely share their ideas and enabling users to enjoy immersive experiences.community By fostering a culture of creative expression, NEXPACE envisions a secure, collaborative environment that unites ecosystem participants in a thriving digital community. Contact Global PR Bee Shin Wachsman This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here ABU DHABI, UAE, November 4th, 2024/Chainwire/--NEXPACE, an innovative blockchain company, has officially announced the date for the second Pioneer Test of MapleStory Universe. The Open Beta Test will commence on November 20, running for 10 days, with the aim of optimizing system stability and gathering user feedback ahead of the game’s official launch. To celebrate the commencement of its first-ever Open Beta Test, MapleStory Universe has prepared several exciting in-game events and with an estimated in-game reward of up to 5 million NXPC. NXPC is a utility token used to facilitate interactions and enhance the user experience within the MapleStory Universe. With the event expected to be expanded in size of the first Pioneer Test in July, Participants can look forward to: NXPC Events: Earn NXPC for gameplay achievements, such as completing daily logins and trading NFTs. In-game points earned during this period may be redeemed for NXPC after the official launch, subject to applicable terms. Make Special Name (IGN event): Play MapleStory N to collect letters and be the first to secure your desired In-Game Name (IGN). Pioneer Swag: Complete the survey and quests to unlock an exclusive outfit. NXPC Events: Earn NXPC for gameplay achievements, such as completing daily logins and trading NFTs. In-game points earned during this period may be redeemed for NXPC after the official launch, subject to applicable terms. Make Special Name (IGN event): Play MapleStory N to collect letters and be the first to secure your desired In-Game Name (IGN). Pioneer Swag: Complete the survey and quests to unlock an exclusive outfit. The first Pioneer Test, which ran from July 24 with more than 1,000 testers for 10 days, delivered impressive performance metrics. 92% of testers actively participated throughout the entire test period, resulting in an 82% retention rate. Testers logged over 45,000 hours of gameplay, averaging more than six hours per user daily. Additionally, the ecosystem processed 195,046 transactions without the presence of a premium cash shop, demonstrating the viability of its economy. Sunyoung Hwang, Executive Director of NEXPACE, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming test,"The results of our first Pioneer Test exceeded our expectations, and we are excited to scale up for this second Pioneer Test. As we introduce blockchain technology to the 21-year-old MapleStory IP, our goal is to further ensure ecosystem stability and enhance user experience as we prepare for the full launch.” Sunyoung Hwang, Executive Director of NEXPACE, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming test,"The results of our first Pioneer Test exceeded our expectations, and we are excited to scale up for this second Pioneer Test. As we introduce blockchain technology to the 21-year-old MapleStory IP, our goal is to further ensure ecosystem stability and enhance user experience as we prepare for the full launch.” ​MapleStory Universe is a virtual world ecosystem designed to host a variety of applications built on the backbone of the MapleStory IP. This ecosystem serves as a hub for creativity, collaboration, and community engagement, supported by integral components that form a comprehensive ecosystem. MapleStory IP boasts over 250 million+ registered users globally and thanks to the extensive resource pool from 21 years of live operations, MapleStory Universe is building a robust ecosystem where users can engage with in-game items enhanced by blockchain technology to enrich community interaction. For more information about the MapleStory Universe’s Pioneer Test, users can visit the Official Website , Discord , X , Facebook and Medium . Official Website Official Website Discord Discord X X Facebook Facebook Medium Medium About NEXPACE NEXPACE, an innovative blockchain company based in Abu Dhabi, pioneers an IP-expansion initiative powered by blockchain technology and NFTs to build a community-driven ecosystem. With a mission to redefine interactive entertainment, NEXPACE creates a vibrant space for exploring, sharing, and engaging with diverse content and gameplay crafted by community members. At the heart of NEXPACE’s ecosystem are principles of transparency, security, and trust, empowering creators to freely share their ideas and enabling users to enjoy immersive experiences.community By fostering a culture of creative expression, NEXPACE envisions a secure, collaborative environment that unites ecosystem participants in a thriving digital community. Contact Global PR Bee Shin Wachsman This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here here here

Maplestory Universe Announces Second Pioneer Test Date With Exclusive Events And In-game Rewards

Maplestory Universe абвяшчае другую дату выпрабаванняў Pioneer з эксклюзіўнымі падзеямі і ўзнагародамі ў гульні

Maplestory Universe anuncia la segunda fecha de prueba de Pioneer con eventos exclusivos y recompensas en el juego

Maplestory Universe دومین تاریخ آزمایش Pioneer را با رویدادهای انحصاری و جوایز درون بازی اعلام کرد

Maplestory Universe anuncia a segunda data de proba de Pioneer con eventos exclusivos e recompensas no xogo

מייפלסטורי יקום מכריז על תאריך מבחן חלוץ שני עם אירועים בלעדיים ותגמולים במשחק

メイプルストーリーユニバースが第2回パイオニアテストの日程を発表、限定イベントとゲーム内報酬も

Maplestory Universe эксклюзивдүү окуялар жана оюн ичиндеги сыйлыктар менен экинчи пионердик тесттин датасын жарыялайт

Maplestory Universe Esakoli Date Ya Test Ya Deuxième Pionnier Na Ba Events Exclusifs Na Ba Recompenses Na Jeu

Maplestory Universe ປະກາດວັນທົດສອບຜູ້ບຸກເບີກຄັ້ງທີ 2 ດ້ວຍກິດຈະກຳສະເພາະ ແລະ ລາງວັນໃນເກມ

Maplestory Universe kondigt tweede Pioneer-testdatum aan met exclusieve evenementen en in-game beloningen

Maplestory Universe shpall datën e dytë të testimit të Pioneer me ngjarje ekskluzive dhe shpërblime në lojë

Maplestory Universe ประกาศวันทดสอบผู้บุกเบิกครั้งที่สอง พร้อมกิจกรรมพิเศษและรางวัลภายในเกม

The modern gaming industry is booming. However, as capitalization increases, major companies frequently stick to safer routes. This has a direct impact on game design, especially its creativity. Today, we'll discuss how game design has changed in the past few years and why many gamers argue that creativity has died. The Changing Landscape of Game Design Over the past five years, the gaming industry has witnessed explosive growth. Studios have generated tens of billions of dollars more than was forecasted. The market has expanded both horizontally and vertically. Although there was a temporary revenue drop of around 4% in 2022 due to an overall economic downturn, the future of the gaming market looks quite promising in terms of profit growth. It's predicted to grow from $179 billion in 2020 to $211 billion by 2025. That's about 3.5% growth each year! Here are some : statistics Let's look at all the AAA releases from recent years. A vast majority belong either to the sequel category (like God of War, Horizon, Far Cry 6, Hitman 3, etc.) or to the category of remakes, remasters, and re-releases (like Resident Evil, Final Fantasy 7, Demon's Souls, The Last of Us, Halo, you name it.). There are still brilliants like Cyberpunk 2077 or Elden Ring, but these quickly become exceptions rather than the rule. The abundance of sequels, remakes, remasters, and re-releases tells us that significant developers have changed their approach. They're not looking for originality or new franchises, but rather a way to generate revenue quickly and safely. This mindset also spills over into game design. Developers either carry over old game mechanics or upgrade them. As a result of these changes, the gaming community is placing a stronger emphasis on graphics over gameplay. The demand for better graphics has been steadily rising since 2017. According to recent studies, say their main motivation to upgrade is to enhance their gaming experience. More powerful hardware not only improves their current gaming experience but also provides many players access to games with higher requirements. Over 60% of gamers consistently upgrade their equipment. This is a significant shift from , where only 10% of players invested in high-performance computers. nearly three-quarters of dedicated PC gamers 2016 stats Developing video games is a unique endeavor. Games offer players an experience that no other art form can replicate. You can't just broadcast a game playthrough on TV and expect it to evoke the same emotions as playing it yourself. Yet, modern AAA studios are so fixated on graphic realism, crafted by teams of thousands, that they shy away from game mechanics. Games today are trying hard to be like movies. But in doing that, they lose the special touch that makes them unique. The Role of Boredom in Game Design Researchers from William & Mary University say that our society is facing a so-called " ," where levels of creative thinking continue to decline. This is attributed to the constant stimulation of the brain and the lack of boredom. Interestingly, boredom is a key element in . And you might not know this, but it's often used as a game design tool. creative crisis nurturing imagination While it may sound odd, moments of calm, stillness, and even boredom can boost player engagement and enrich the gaming experience. In game design, pacing is as crucial as in storytelling. Downtimes or less exciting tasks give players time to think, strategize, and anticipate what's coming next. Consider survival games: players frequently engage in mundane tasks like resource gathering and crafting. The main goal of introducing "boredom" in games is to allow users to be creative, experiment, and interact with the game world in unique ways. This leads to fresh gaming moments that not only enhance the experience but also evolve the genre. For instance, if you compare the open world of Elden Ring, which I believe is excellent, with that of Assassin's Creed Odyssey or Valhalla, you'll spot a key difference. It highlights the contrast between a more traditional game design and a newer approach. Elden Ring opens a world that allows for long travels without significant events or encounters. If you wish, you can explore for hours without fighting or engaging in any activities. The game lets you set your own pace. But when you're ready, it offers layers upon layers of worlds. The occasional monotony of exploration amplifies the anticipation of the next discovery, stimulates imagination, and lets you fill in the lore. In contrast, Assassin's Creed Valhalla crams its spaces with endless activities. You can't stroll through a location without being sidetracked by another point of interest. Even when sailing, new markers keep popping up on your screen. When creating Dark Souls and Elden Ring, Miyazaki . Bored, he often read books he couldn't fully comprehend as a child, filling in the gaps with his imagination. This is the experience he aims to convey to his players. Similar game design decisions are seen in games like . If you pause, the world freezes with you. Most of the gameplay revolves around moving across the map and collecting resources. This repetitive task starkly contrasts the strategic depth of battles or city management. drew from his childhood experiences Heroes of Might and Magic III Modern game design tends to . Cyberpunk 2077 certainly plays with narrative pacing, but its primary goal is to ensure the player is never bored, not even for a second. Calls from NPCs, on-screen notifications, and blinking interface elements - all keep the player stimulated. When planning to clear an area in the game, chances are you're testing a new augmentation or skill rather than approaching it creatively. Although to give credit where it's due, the game does offer several ways to tackle a challenge. minimize elements of boredom Large studios are so fearful that players might get bored with their new releases that they often opt for one of two paths: either inundate their games with a surplus of secondary content or tap into nostalgia. The New York Times published an on how vintage tech is selling ever-increasingly, with prices of items considered junk skyrocketing just a few years ago. People are reverting to using Polaroids and playing with Tamagotchis. Filmmakers are reviving old characters, and game studios heavily invest in remakes. extensive piece Even players are terrified of getting bored. According to a psychological study conducted by the University of Virginia, most contemporary individuals would rather self-harm than be left alone with their thoughts. Hence, the modernization of game design in such a manner seems inevitable. Forces Shaping Modern Game Development The new generation of gamers has grown up in this evolved game design paradigm and are mostly unaware of how it has transformed. To them, elements of boredom don’t just evoke existential dread but are also associated with mobile game design tools. Mobile games, by the way, generate more revenue than PC and console games combined. Mobile game design often weaponizes boredom as a monetization tool and as pressure on the player. Free-to-play projects craft slow progression periods as a tactic to encourage in-app purchases. For instance, players might be offered an item or currency to expedite a task that would take a long time. A prime example of this strategy is " ." To fully level up a character squad to level 90, maximize their talents and weapons, and obtain the necessary artifacts without using any in-game purchases can easily stretch out for more than a year. Genshin Impact But it’s not just the overabundance of secondary content that characterizes the declining dynamics of creativity in modern game design. There is a more destructive reason. And this reason is money. The sandbox game is a quintessential example of contemporary game design. These are vast, open worlds where the task of entertainment falls squarely on the player, often through mechanics that repeat those found in mobile gaming. The exhaustive grind for resources, the real-time crafting, and the independent search for crafting recipes are all elements that stretch the gameplay experience, making each stage more labor-intensive. Titles such as " ," " ," and the initial release of " " could easily frustrate players who grew up with a different kind of creativity from developers—one that didn't require such monotonous repetition. Conan Exiles V Rising No Man's Sky This trend isn't confined to sandbox games. It became increasingly common to see the launch of bare-bones games in content, relying on basic, repetitive mechanics that are refined over years post-release. This approach has become so normalized that it no longer raises eyebrows, but it does raise questions about the evolution of game design and the expectations set for both developers and players. The transformation of game design from a creative pursuit to a monetization strategy is a significant factor in the evolution of modern gaming. Here is the elephant in the room: . In the early days of gaming, the transaction was straightforward: you paid for a game and got the full experience. There were no hidden fees or additional purchases necessary to unlock the game's full potential. This model was simple and consumer-friendly, but as the industry grew, so did its ambition for profit. the financial incentives that have reshaped the game design landscape Initially, these were seen as ways to extend the life of a game, offering new adventures and experiences beyond the original scope. However, as these monetization strategies became more sophisticated, they began to influence the very core of game design. Introducing microtransactions and DLC marked the beginning of a new era. Today, games are not uncommon to be designed with monetization as a primary focus. From the get-go, developers are considering integrating loot boxes, time gates, and in-game currencies to encourage players to spend more. This shift has given rise to games intentionally designed to be grind-heavy, leveraging the psychology of reward to increase players towards making purchases that offer a shortcut. The strategies employed by modern games are not just about extracting money; they're about understanding and influencing player behavior. Let's take the example of " " mode. Here, players are encouraged to build their dream team, but the catch is that the best players are often locked behind loot boxes—randomized packs that may or may not contain the desired characters. This system taps into the same psychological triggers as gambling: the thrill of chance and the allure of a potential reward. It's designed to keep players returning, spending more money hoping to strike it lucky. FIFA Ultimate Team Games like " " implement fatigue systems that limit how much a player can do within a specific timeframe, nudging them towards microtransactions to bypass these . This design preys on the player's impatience and the fear of missing out, creating a sense of urgency that can lead to unplanned spending. he psychological impact of these strategies is significant. They can lead to , where the satisfaction of playing is replaced by the . Games are no longer just a form of entertainment; they become a loop of investment and return, where the return is not guaranteed, and the investment is not just financial but emotional. Moreover, these tactics can create an uneven playing field, where players who spend more money gain a competitive edge. This undermines the skill-based nature of gaming, where success is supposed to be determined by mastery of the game rather than the depth of one's pockets. V Rising artificial barriers T addictive behaviors compulsion to spend Understanding why the gaming industry has leaned so heavily into aggressive monetization tactics requires a look behind the curtain at the forces shaping game development. The reasons are multifaceted, involving economic pressures, player expectations, and the very nature of the digital marketplace. Let’s go back again. Games like "FIFA Ultimate Team" have demonstrated that players are willing to spend vast amounts of money on in-game items, mainly when those items give status or competitive advantages. This has not gone unnoticed by industry executives, constantly pressured to maximize shareholder value and quarterly profits. The result is a business model that prioritizes recurrent user spending over one-time sales. One of the primary drivers is the sheer profitability of microtransactions and loot boxes. Another reason is the increasing . According to the CMA's report, a . As games become more complex and the expectations for high-quality graphics and content rise, so does the cost of producing them. This has led developers to seek additional revenue streams to recoup their investments and fund future projects. Microtransactions offer a solution by providing a steady income long after the initial game purchase. cost of game development modern AAA game with a recently approved development budget and a launch window of 2024–2025 typically costs $200 million or more The transition to digital distribution has also played a role. With games being sold through online platforms rather than physical stores, publishers have more control over pricing and sales strategies. This has led to the normalization of in-game stores and the gradual acceptance of ongoing spending as part of the gaming experience. Now, we have a situation where to help design game mechanics that encourage habitual play and spending. This clearly indicates the industry's shift towards a model that views players not just as consumers but as ongoing sources of revenue. developers employ psychologists The must also be addressed. With thousands of games released yearly, developers are under immense pressure to make them stand out. Monetization tactics such as exclusive content, early access, and special editions are ways to create buzz and incentivize purchases. competitive nature of the gaming market Lastly, the rise of free-to-play games has significantly impacted monetization strategies. These games rely entirely on microtransactions for revenue, which has led to the refinement of techniques to convert free users into paying customers. As these tactics become more sophisticated, they inevitably spill over into paid games, further blurring the lines between revenue models. The aggressive monetization strategies infiltrating modern gaming have not gone without their share of drama and community backlash. This tension between profit-driven game design and player satisfaction has led to several controversies, which serve as cautionary tales for the industry. A notable example is the uproar surrounding " " at its launch. The game featured a progression system heavily criticized for its reliance on loot boxes, which many players felt was a pay-to-win. The backlash was so severe that it caught the attention of lawmakers worldwide, leading to discussions about the regulation of loot boxes and microtransactions in games. This incident, while not covered in the videos we've discussed, is emblematic of the kind of drama that can be born when players feel a game's monetization is unfair. Star Wars Battlefront II Moreover, the industry's reputation has suffered due to these practices. The perception that games are becoming less about fun and more about profit has led to a growing disillusionment among players. This, in turn, can block innovation, as developers may hesitate to take creative risks for fear of failing to meet monetization targets. In conclusion, we must face the somber reality that the relentless pursuit of monetization in gaming casts a long shadow over the industry's creative spirit. Many modern games stand as a testament to this troubling trend. The game's mechanics, which heavily stimulate time or financial investments, indicate a broader movement away from creativity. The game's design, while it could be engaging, is marred by the specter of monetization that looms over the player's experience, subtly coercing them into a cycle of spend or grind. This shift towards monetization at the expense of creativity is not just a business model but a cultural shift within the industry. In this darker narrative of gaming's future, the challenge for the industry is profound. It must navigate the treacherous waters of financial necessity while keeping creativity alight. But I stay with the hope that the future game industry can be a place where creativity and player experience will be based on the joy of discovery.

The Dying Art of Boredom in Game Design: The Toll of Monetization on Creativity 

দ্য ডাইং আর্ট অফ বোরডম ইন গেম ডিজাইন: দ্য টোল অফ মনিটাইজেশন অন ক্রিয়েটিভিটি

Die sterbende Kunst der Langeweile im Spieledesign: Der Tribut der Monetarisierung an der Kreativität

El arte moribundo del aburrimiento en el diseño de juegos: el costo de la monetización en la creatividad

L’art mourant de l’ennui dans la conception de jeux : le bilan de la monétisation sur la créativité

गेम डिज़ाइन में बोरियत की ख़त्म होती कला: रचनात्मकता पर मुद्रीकरण का प्रभाव

ゲームデザインにおける死につつある退屈の芸術: クリエイティビティに対する収益化の代償

게임 디자인에서 죽어가는 지루함의 기술: 창의성에 대한 수익 창출의 대가

A arte moribunda do tédio no design de jogos: o preço da monetização na criatividade

Умирающее искусство скуки в игровом дизайне: плата за монетизацию творчества

Oyun Tasarımında Ölen Sıkıntı Sanatı: Para Kazanmanın Yaratıcılığa Etkisi

Nghệ thuật chết dần của sự nhàm chán trong thiết kế trò chơi: Tác hại của việc kiếm tiền đối với sự sáng tạo

游戏设计中无聊的消亡艺术：货币化对创造力的影响

Is a Career in Game Development Right for You? 

গেম ডেভেলপমেন্টে ক্যারিয়ার কি আপনার জন্য সঠিক?

Ist eine Karriere in der Spieleentwicklung das Richtige für Sie?

¿Es adecuada para usted una carrera en desarrollo de juegos?

Une carrière dans le développement de jeux est-elle faite pour vous ?

क्या गेम डेवलपमेंट में करियर आपके लिए सही है?

ゲーム開発のキャリアはあなたに適していますか?

게임 개발 경력이 당신에게 적합합니까?

Uma carreira em desenvolvimento de jogos é ideal para você?

Подходит ли вам карьера в разработке игр?

Oyun Geliştirmede Kariyer Size Uygun mu?

Nghề phát triển trò chơi có phù hợp với bạn không?

游戏开发职业适合您吗？

The journey from pixels to profits requires more than just passion and artistry; it demands the strategic deployment of analytics. With the power of data-driven insights, game developers can unlock the secret codes that propel their creations to new heights of revenue generation. Understanding User Behavior To create games that captivate audiences, developers must first understand their players. Analytics offers a treasure trove of data-driven insights, enabling them to decode the intricate puzzle of user behavior. By examining metrics such as playtime, session length, and player progression, gain a panoramic view of how players engage with their creations. developers Mapping Player Journeys Analytics helps identify pain points and moments of delight in the gaming experience. Developers can optimize game mechanics, ensuring seamless progression and enhanced engagement for players. Psychology of Engagement Understanding what hooks players, such as challenging levels or gripping storylines, enables developers to refine game mechanics and keep players enthralled. Personalization for Player Delight Segmenting players based on preferences and behavior allows for personalized experiences. Tailored in-game offers and unique challenges enhance player satisfaction and revenue potential. Uncovering Monetization Opportunities helps identify strategic in-app purchases, cosmetic upgrades, and subscription models that align with player preferences and spending habits, striking a balance between profitability and satisfaction. Analytics Anticipating Player Needs Predictive analytics leverages historical data and machine learning to anticipate player needs. By providing targeted content and offerings, developers foster anticipation and keep players engaged, driving revenue growth. Pricing Strategies and Revenue Optimization When it comes to pricing strategies, the key is to understand the value players place on your game. Analytics offers an enchanting crystal ball, revealing insights into player behavior, preferences, and spending patterns. By tapping into the magic of data-driven decision-making, developers can set prices that resonate with their audience. Dynamic Pricing: Crafting a Personalized Experience With analytics, developers can implement dynamic pricing, tailoring costs to individual players. Personalized discounts and bundles boost revenue and deepen player engagement. The Power of Discounts and Promotions Analytics guides developers in determining optimal timing, duration, and magnitude of discounts. Limited-time sales, seasonal offers, and special events become revenue-boosting opportunities through data-driven strategies. Upselling and Cross-Selling: A Game Within a Game Analytics reveals opportunities for strategic upselling and cross-selling. By presenting targeted offers, developers transform players into loyal patrons, increasing revenue and enhancing the gaming experience. Balancing the Magic: Monetization Without Sacrificing Fun The true art of pricing strategies lies in striking the perfect balance between revenue and player enjoyment. Analytics serves as the wise mentor, helping developers gauge player sentiment, monitor monetization metrics, and identify potential pain points. With this knowledge, game creators can fine-tune their pricing models, ensuring players feel the value while developers achieve financial success. In-App Purchases and Virtual Economies By harnessing the power of analytics, game developers are now strategically crafting virtual worlds that captivate players' imaginations while simultaneously boosting their bottom line. Unleashing Player Spending Power In-app purchases have revolutionized the gaming landscape, empowering players to personalize their experiences and support their favorite games. By analyzing player spending patterns and preferences, developers can create compelling offerings that strike the perfect balance between value and affordability. Crafting Irresistible Digital Marketplaces Virtual economies flourish when meticulously designed to captivate players. Analyzing data on player behavior and engagement allows developers to craft immersive digital marketplaces, brimming with desirable virtual goods, upgrades, and exclusive content. By providing unique and meaningful experiences, developers can drive player engagement and fuel their desire for in-app purchases. Balancing the In-Game Economy Building a thriving virtual economy requires finesse. By leveraging analytics, developers can maintain an equilibrium between player progression and monetization. Careful consideration of in-game currency systems, reward structures, and pricing can foster a sense of fairness while enticing players to participate in the economic ecosystem. Live Operations and Content Updates These powerful strategies allow game developers to evolve their creations, delight players with fresh experiences, and boost revenue. Staying in Sync with Player Expectations In the past, games were often static experiences that offered limited replayability. However, with live operations, developers can adapt and respond to player expectations in real-time. By actively listening to the community and analyzing player data, developers can identify pain points, introduce new features, and fine-tune the gameplay experience. The result? A game that stays relevant and keeps players coming back for more. The Power of Content Updates Content updates inject new life into games, breathing excitement into even the most well-established titles. These updates introduce fresh narratives, challenging levels, and thrilling gameplay enhancements. By carefully planning and executing content updates, developers can create a sense of anticipation and keep players eagerly awaiting the next installment. The result is a sustained player base, increased engagement, and, ultimately, a healthier bottom line. Building a Bridge Between Developers and Players Live operations and content updates are not just about delivering new content; they are about fostering a vibrant relationship between developers and players. Developers can tap into player feedback and community-driven ideas to shape the direction of the game. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of ownership among players, leading to increased loyalty and advocacy. By valuing player input and actively engaging with the community, developers can create a thriving ecosystem that drives the success of their game. Maximizing Monetization Opportunities Live operations and content updates also present exciting opportunities for monetization. By introducing limited-time events, exclusive cosmetics, and enticing in-app purchases, developers can capitalize on player enthusiasm and drive revenue. These strategies are not just about making a quick buck; they are about offering value to players and creating a win-win situation. When executed thoughtfully, monetization efforts within live operations can enhance the player experience while contributing to the financial sustainability of the game. Measuring Success The beauty of live operations and content updates lies in their measurability. Through robust analytics, developers can track the impact of their initiatives, gathering valuable insights into player engagement, revenue generation, and user retention. Armed with this data, developers can fine-tune their strategies, identify areas for improvement, and optimize future content updates. The iterative nature of live operations enables developers to continually learn and grow, fostering a cycle of success. Role of MIKROS Analytics Tracking Purchase Events MIKROS Analytics allows developers to effortlessly monitor and log player purchases, providing insights into popular in-app purchases. Developers can then adjust monetization strategies based on this data, creating targeted promotions and bundle deals to increase revenue. Analyzing Conversion Rates By tracking the player journey and analyzing conversion rates, developers can identify bottlenecks and optimize their game's monetization flow. Adjustments such as limited-time discounts or enhanced value propositions can boost conversion rates and revenue. Personalizing Offers enable developers to collect player-specific data and deliver personalized in-app promotions and discounts. By tailoring offers to individual player preferences, developers can increase the likelihood of conversion and revenue generation. Log Preset Events Iterating and Optimizing MIKROS Analytics provides actionable insights for continuous iteration and optimization. Developers can experiment with different monetization strategies, measure their effectiveness, and refine them based on data-driven findings to maximize profitability. Conclusion In the world of game development, analytics has become the secret weapon to boost revenue. By understanding player behavior, optimizing pricing strategies, and maximizing ad revenue, developers can turn pixels into profits. Analytics empowers developers to make data-driven decisions, personalize experiences, and create thriving virtual economies. As the gaming industry evolves, embracing analytics is essential for success. Let the power of data drive your revenue game and transform your passion for games into a profitable business. Are you ready to level up with analytics?

From Pixels to Profits: Boosting Revenue with Analytics in Game Development

Combining all of the assets in Unity is always exciting and difficult because it rarely goes as planned on the first try, but we can't help but laugh when the most bizarre bugs show up. Given that even AAA that are currently available to the general public have these bugs, such as the eagerly awaited Cyberpunk, which gained notoriety for having weird errors that made the game unintentionally humorous, you can imagine all the things you need to be careful of once we start adding all the assets to Unity. games If you've been following our previous devblogs, you'll notice that we've been focusing on different elements of the FPS game so far: weapons on , the first character on , and the map itself on . DevBlog 3 DevBlog 4 DevBlog 5 However, we have not yet merged all of the assets, which we will cover in today's DevBlog. Before importing it to the map, we animated how the character wields each different weapon while walking and running. Because each weapon weighs differently and requires a different grip, we must change where the hands should be positioned as well as how quickly the character can move. It was all fun and games until the character was actually imported into the game, as that's when we started experiencing issues, since we had to consider both the player's viewpoint and how the other players would see the character. We quickly discovered that, from the user's perspective, the weapon was occasionally shown within the character's body rather than appropriately positioned in its hands. Aside from walking and running, it was also necessary to make the character crouch and adjust to the users' viewpoint, as well as to reduce the character's movement. We added the weapons shown at to the map after the character movement was stable enough. The problem here, as previously said, was to adapt each distinct weapon to the character animations (reloading, firing, and weapon movement when walking/running). Some weapons, like the Colt, the character will hold with one hand, whereas rifles will be held with both hands. Not to mention the Katana, which, although having its own style of being held, will also increase the character's movement speed. DevBlog 03 The sniper rifle is a little more challenging because it has an aim. The sniper's aim would continually alter based on the surroundings, but we also wanted to make sure it would follow the weapon's animations, especially while reloading the rifle, which was a bit difficult, as you can see below. Last but not least, the most difficult challenge is aligning the weapon's aim to where the bullet will end up, as well as how far each weapon can fire. As you can see in the GIF below, the sniper weapon is not shooting where it is supposed to. We will be enhancing all of the animations and weapon accuracy in the following months, which will be covered in upcoming development blogs, so that we can have a basic idea of the game and conduct the first internal testing to collect feedback and eventually do public testing with the community in the future. Would you like to be among the first to play the FPS game? Join our and channels and let us know what you think. Discord Telegram

Bug or Feature? The First In-Game Interactions of Our Blockchain FPS

¿Error o característica? Las primeras interacciones en el juego de nuestro Blockchain FPS

Bug ou fonctionnalité ? Les premières interactions en jeu de notre FPS Blockchain

बग या फीचर? हमारे ब्लॉकचैन एफपीएस का पहला इन-गेम इंटरैक्शन

バグまたは機能?ブロックチェーン FPS の最初のゲーム内インタラクション

Bug ou Recurso? As primeiras interações no jogo do nosso FPS Blockchain

Lỗi hoặc Tính năng? Tương tác trong trò chơi đầu tiên của FPS trên Blockchain của chúng tôi

错误或功能？我们的区块链 FPS 的第一次游戏内交互

The last decade has seen an increase in microtransactions and games and the controversy surrounding them. There is also the issue of in-game ads. In-game ads tend to be a regular occurrence for free-to-play or freemium games, especially mobile games. It’s time to explore the pros and cons of in-game advertisements versus microtransactions, why they are so hated, and if they are a necessary evil. THE ALLURE OF MICROTRANSACTIONS Regardless of how you might feel about microtransactions, it’s undeniable that microtransactions are a nice additional revenue stream for game publishers. However, that also makes microtransactions a system that is rife for abuse. For example, the mobile video game, Fallout Shelter from Bethesda Softworks, is free to play. In 2017, the game reached $100 million in player spending on iOS and Android. That’s for a free-to-play game. That means the free game had in-app purchases or microtransactions for various items or cosmetics. That also means a game that’s “free-to-play” can still bring in game developers and publishers' major business from just microtransactions. reportedly The problem in recent years with microtransactions is when major, full-price AAA games start to incorporate them. They try to entice players into buying items they don’t want, or they put content behind a paywall. Maybe the item is unlockable after a certain amount of hours. But if you spend real money on in-game currency or a loot box, you can buy it right away. This is a system that has received criticism for predatory practices by game publishers with the way it attempts to allure players to spend more money on a game they’ve already purchased. Now, the pro of microtransactions is that game designers and publishers can make money on a free-to-play product. It gives them a system to profit off of a free product. Technically, you don’t have to pay for anything to play the game, but some microtransactions can be purchased to get bonuses or in-game items. This is a way for smaller publishers or developers who made a free-to-play product to earn a profit off of their work. The cons are that major game publishers have taken the microtransaction idea too far. They’ve incorporated it in games that do not need it or shouldn’t have it. A game that costs full price shouldn’t have locked content behind a paywall or a quick fix. It also shouldn’t have “pay to win” bonuses or microtransactions either. A gamer already paid full price for that game, so they should receive the full experience. The golden standard of a AAA game release is CD Projekt RED’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Case in point, the game had a free DLC program. Every piece of DLC was free. Every new set 7of armor, every new weapon, and every cosmetic in the game was either free or could be discovered or earned in-game. Nothing was paid. The only paid aspects for The Witcher 3 were two massive story expansions: Hearts of Stone and Blood & Wine. These were not mere DLC. These were massive expansions and additions to the game, on top of all the free downloadable content and updates. If you have a full-price, AAA game release, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the standard that all game publishers should follow. You aren’t paying to win for anything. ADS IN GAMING Some arguments can be made for in-game ads for video games. For example, if a game is free to play, having ads in the game is a way for creators to monetize that product to keep the game at a free or low price. In-game ads are not unusual to see in free apps or free-to-play mobile games. Having some type of free tier that supports in-app or in-game ads makes sense. You are enjoying the services or content for free, in doing so, it seems fair and reasonable that some mandatory ad breaks are the trade-off. The downside is when publishers or developers are trying to sneak in in-game ads for a premium service. Fans are willing to pay a premium, and in doing so, they should not have to put up with ads. The product has already been sold, so forcing mandatory ads is a mistake. Netflix has already put out information that the streaming service’s ad-supported tier will cost $6.99. Meanwhile, Disney+ will have its own basic ad-supported tier at $7.99. So basically, users will still be paying for a premium subscription service, but now they will be forced to endure ads they weren’t subjected to before. If they want their service to remain ad-free, they will have to pay a higher subscription rate. Paying a premium subscription fee for ad-supported content makes no sense. Crunchyroll only forces users to watch ads for its free content. That makes sense. Paying a subscription fee for an ad-supported service risks premium subscription services from becoming anti-consumer and losing their customer base. Previously, the allure of content on Disney+ and Netflix is that it does not have ad breaks. You get to watch and enjoy all the content without the doldrums of commercials. This could be a problem if it comes to gaming. It means that game publishers might force gamers to endure and put up with excessive and intrusive ads or ad breaks for products they’ve already paid for. Interrupting games with ads could hurt the flow of a game. Intrusive ads could also hurt or take away from the immersion of the in-game experience. The problem with in-game advertisements is who is there to regulate or stop game publishers or tell them when to stop or that it’s become too much? Game publishers have already proven they cannot help themselves when it comes to microtransactions for full-price games or trying to use pay-to-win bonuses. As such, can game publishers truly be trusted with a system as volatile for abuse as in-game ads? Look at the film, “Ready Player One,” when Ben Mendelsohn as Nolan Sorrento, the CEO of Innovative Online Industries, is trying to sell the executives on filling up to eighty percent of a game screen with ads, noting, “Once we roll back some of Halliday’s ad restrictions, we estimate we can sell up to 80 percent of an individual’s visual field before inducing seizures.” Yes, this was a fictional story, and this scene was a bit of a gag. But how long have we seen corporations and corporate executives make similar decisions at the expense of customers to make money? As Sorrento states about corporate shareholders in the film, “It’s not our job to make ‘em happy. It’s our job to make ‘em money.” This should serve as a cautionary warning for allowing big corporations to start putting in-game ads for major video games. Once the floodgates are open, they will never stop unless restrictions are placed on them, just like with microtransactions. Sure, buying a new costume, skin, or cosmetic sounds fun, but it also sends the wrong message to big-time corporate publishers. They will make things bigger and bigger until you are forced to endure intrusive in-game ads or pay-to-win microtransactions. At some point, players and developers have to put their feet down, especially when it comes to respecting the integrity of an in-game experience, and the players. About two years ago, there was an instance of an intrusive in-game ad The feature was seemingly added after the game’s launch. After fans started addressing the controversial feature on Reddit, it was quickly removed. popping up in EA Sports UFC 4. https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/imm8cu/ea_decided_to_add_fullon_commercials_in_the/ Ultimately, EA Sports removed the feature in EA Sports UFC 4. Players were not happy about this considering EA Sports UFC 4 is a full-price game and not free-to-play. EA Sports’ Corey SA eventually addressed the issue in a , stating the following: Reddit post “I’m part of the Community team here at EA and I wanted to post here and give you all an update on this situation. Earlier this week, the team turned on ad placements in EA SPORTS UFC 4 that appeared during the “Replay” moments in gameplay. This type of advertising inventory is not new to the UFC franchise, though we have typically reserved displaying ads to specific main menu tiles or Octagon logo placement. It is abundantly clear from your feedback that integrating ads into the Replay and overlay experience is not welcome. The advertisements have been disabled by the team and we apologize for any disruption to gameplay that players may have experienced. We realize that this should have been communicated with players ahead of time and that’s on us. We want to make sure our players have the best possible experience playing EA SPORTS UFC 4, so ad integration in the Replay and overlay experience will not be reappearing in the future. Thank you for your continued feedback on EA SPORTS UFC 4.” This is another example of major corporate publishers attempting to overstep the boundaries of what’s acceptable for gamers in trying to put in in-game ads for a full-price game. If players do not soundly reject features, then major corporate interests will once again try to step over the line and try to get away with worse, more intrusive features. At the end of the day, in-game ads and microtransactions for premium products look to be a way to reward big companies for bad behavior, especially when you have already invested money into a premium product. Ultimately, gamers have a voice and a way to vote with their wallets. It’s up to them to choose what they are willing to stomach, even when it comes to microtransactions and in-game ads. But their power and voice are stronger than they think.

In-Game Advertisements vs. Microtransactions: Which is the Lesser of Two Evils?

Anuncios en el juego frente a microtransacciones: ¿cuál es el menor de dos males?

Publicités dans le jeu vs microtransactions : quel est le moindre de deux maux ?

इन-गेम विज्ञापन बनाम सूक्ष्म लेन-देन: दो बुराइयों में से कौन कम है?

ゲーム内広告 vs. マイクロトランザクション: 2 つの悪のうち、どちらが小さいか?

Anúncios no jogo versus microtransações: qual é o menor dos dois males?

Quảng cáo trong trò chơi so với Giao dịch vi mô: Cái nào ít hơn hai tệ nạn?

游戏内广告与微交易：两害相权取其轻？

Running a successful online application is an exciting journey, But it is also full of challenges. It starts from product-market fit (PMF), continues with distribution challenges, pricing, optimization, and maintenance. Traditional ways to optimize games rely on a long exploration process, which holds a few significant cons: Executing a valid AB test requires proper product and technological capabilities to expose different groups of users to the different game experiences, make sure these groups don't mix, and that there were external or additional product changes that could affect the test results. Tests should be significant; otherwise, the results might be miss leading especially when measuring paying customers. Given an average of 5% paying customers, and let's say we need 200 paying customers in each group, means overall 8000 users in the test. In the User acquisition world, that could be anywhere between $20,000-$40,000 media spent. Also, small/medium-sized companies are limited with the amount of testing the run due to its limited DAU. The thing about AB tests is that the data gets more interesting a few weeks after the test is off and not on its early days. This long waiting time is expensive. A simulation approach and data-sandbox strategy is taking these barriers and makes them redundant: - simulation methodologies relays on data volume only on the training part, where the 'customer behavior' has been analyzed and different segments have been created. Statistical Significance While simulation has been executed, the number of users been imitated is basically unlimited, so every leaf on this huge decision tree( the product flow) gets a proper representation. There are numerous ways to build a simulation, which can provide the solution to rich and poor data environments. - while real-world testing relies on users volume(marketing is the biggest spent for online companies), in the sandbox approach, the Cost moves to IT(ML) and relies mostly on data processing, training, and execution. Lower Cost Efficient modeling with a scalable infrastructure can reduce the Cost by 100X. - applying a test to a live and running game contains risk - underperforming test results, time-consuming, in PvP games, the latest can break the fairness mechanism. No-Risk In the Sandbox, everything is possible. The limitation can be found mostly in creativity and operational barriers, like limited ability to expose different gameplay to different segments. AB testing has been, mostly, on a liner order with a limited pipe due to many reasons( some were described here). Using a simulation strategy enables measuring hundreds(!!) of different scenarios and evaluating the results within minutes to hours. Faster time to decision - I see that a lot, that once considering making changes in monetization features or economy objects in general, there are many concerns of 'braking something' or even disrupting a working money generating process. Nonstop Innovation - The power of Sandbox means that product and monetization teams can constantly look for creative ways to increase both retention, engagement, and monetization without interfering with a running product. true, this is the elephant in the room. Working with a simulation strategy means getting a good understanding of the potential impact of decisions taken. It is also clear that a simulation will never be 100% accurate, but 75%-85% accuracy provide a great horizon and limit potential mistakes. Accuracy -

6 Reasons to Utilize Sandbox Technology in Game Development

Video games are, by their very nature, a social experience. They’re something that people like to play together, be that sitting next to each other on the sofa or – more commonly, today – online. In order to play together, users need to be able to communicate digitally. While this can be done with text chat, that’s not as immersive or as convenient as simply talking. Voice chat is natural; it not only allows players to focus on the game but also keeps their hands free to use their controller, mouse, and keyboard, phone, or whatever hardware they are using. This method of communication also means that consumers don’t need to step out of the experience or stop what they are doing in order to type out a message. According to research from Tencent Cloud, . 90.6% of consumers use the built-in voice chat function when playing a game, with 38.4% saying that they use the voice chat function often. When a title doesn’t have an in-game voice communication system in place, 73.7% of these players say they turn to a third-party service instead. over 90% of Chinese gamers prefer to interact with other players in an experience Data from chat platform Vivox also shows that people who use in-game voice chat play games not only more but also more often than those who do not. Globally, voice chat within video games has grown massively in popularity in recent years. Perhaps the most ubiquitous platform in the market right now is Discord, which has managed to attract over 250 million users between its 2015 launch and May 2019. As of the end of 2020, the company boasted at least more than 140 million monthly active users, double the engagement it had 12 months prior. While this growth was no doubt aided by people wanting to communicate and connect with people during the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns, as opposed to purely playing games, it does speak to the modern tendency to want to use voice chat to engage with people online. With online worlds becoming increasingly prevalent – and as talk of the metaverse builds – giving users the ability to communicate using voice chat is of utmost importance. The massive success of titles like Fortnite, Roblox, and Among Us show that people not only want to spend time playing games; they want to do so with other people. Video games are no longer products that people spend time with with intention of playing; they are places that users head towards to socialize, to hang out with friends. Titles like Fortnite are a digital destination not dissimilar to shopping malls or playgrounds. As a result, it’s vital that developers and publishers give players the tools to communicate as naturally as possible. The most obvious way of doing this is by implementing voice chat into their games. Finding Your Voice Of course, there are some challenges that might put developers off building voice chat into their projects. For one, due to the number of voice chat services out there, the quality that consumers expect from such a service is incredibly high. They won’t stand for long and noticeable latency times, nor will they be happy with connection problems that cause audio to freeze. Depending on the type of game, having positional audio is also vitally important. This allows a player to know what direction their friends or foes are in relation to them; something that can mean life or death in genres like battle royale. Either not having this kind of functionality in your game’s voice chat – or it being present, but implemented poorly – will likely result in frustration from users and has the potential to stop them from playing altogether. Developers might also be cautious about building their own voice chat systems for games that are cross-platform due to the additional work that this might bring with it. For example, creating voice chat for Sony’s new PlayStation 5 console – and making sure it works – is different to make sure your system works with the numerous Android mobile phones that are out there in the wild. Making sure that these different platforms can communicate properly with one another introduces a wealth of additional frustrations, too. Similarly, the global nature of online video games means that there is pressure on developers to make sure that whatever systems they implement in their games work around the world. Transmitting anything from one side of the planet to the other comes with its challenges and audio is no exception. As mentioned already, users want voice chat that is free of lag and with quality that never drops. That’s without mentioning the localization work required to make sure your service is optimized and easily understandable by players from every corner of the world. All in all, while creating your own in-game voice chat solution is undoubtedly worth it, doing so not only comes with a huge number of pitfalls but can also be a huge cost to developers, in terms of both time and money. Thankfully, there are ready-to-use solutions out there, such as Tencent Cloud’s Game Multimedia Engine (GME). Learn more about GME and download the complete whitepaper or visit the . here GME product page Also published on: https://intl.cloud.tencent.com/resources/whitepaper/100203/

Why Every Multiplayer Game Needs In-Game Voice Chat

is blooming as a completely new direction in the digital recreation and entertainment industry. As one of the biggest selling points of decentralization – the inherent characteristics of blockchain technologies are playing into the hands of game developers, acting as near-irresistible allure for integrating such unique solutions into their platforms. Decentralized gaming But even more attractive than the technological possibilities opened up by decentralization is the financial aspect, which has been beating records on a near-daily basis. The Flow The hype around decentralized games started back in 2017 with the launch of on the Ethereum blockchain, ushering users to hoard digital kittens with unique characteristics. CryptoKitties But that time, the game lost its appeal rather quickly due to the simple fact that it had no continuity and engagement, which limited player interaction with both the in-game content and the possibilities of its resale and monetization on the secondary market. A new lease on life was handed to the digital gaming sector in late 2020 when the NFT craze kicked off and started attracting artists into the new medium of art and creativity with the possibilities embedded in the underlying Non-Fungible Tokens. It did not take long for the gaming industry to realize the potential of NFTs as both value and content carriers within in-game universes. And as the decentralized gaming arenas suddenly exploded from their confines into entire metaverses powered by blockchain and NFT monetization opportunities, venture capital, and institutional investors started jumping on board. The most recent data indicates that a total of 24 blockchain gaming companies raised a total of in funding, according to a report by released at the end of the first half of 2021. Such figures are indicative of the existing and potential volume of the decentralized gaming market, considering that the lion’s share of the funding was attracted by only three companies. $475 million Investgame The first is Forte with a round at a $1 billion valuation in May of 2021, the second – Animoca Brands with $88 million per round at a $1 billion valuation in the same month, and Mythical Games in the last place with a $75 million round in June of 2021. $185 million Such impressive investments have a considerable foundation in both the application field and in the potential that blockchain can yield for gaming as a whole in the long run, and considering its already burgeoning community of players. The New Genres Blockchain, and the adjacent markets and industries of digital currencies, have allowed games to turn from an isolated instrument of entertainment generation and payment for playing into entire universes that offer players the chance to start earning by engaging in the games with their own contributions. The cryptocurrency and NFT aspects have added content creation to the mix of , while the established crypto exchange and marketplace ecosystem has given players ample venues for selling their achievements and in-game items. monetization opportunities But the decentralized finance market has influenced the newest concepts of gaming more than any other. DeFi has launched an entirely innovative approach to revenue generation, one which game developers have incorporated into their products. The model is no longer applicable in decentralized gaming, as winning itself has become impossible. The ongoing and perpetual mode of blockchain gaming means that players can keep playing with no logical or story-based ending foreseen for the game’s premise. The goal of blockchain-based games is to keep playing and earning on the content generation and the actions committed within the games. Play-to-Win This transformation has led to the emergence of Play-to-Earn as the driving mechanism of blockchain-based games. Play-to-Earn is based on two core concepts that are seamlessly incorporated into the game’s premise and gameplay. The first is the scenario under which players create unique in-game items and content, such as weapons, power-ups, characters, and so on, in NFT format and sell and exchange it on marketplaces. The second scenario includes rewarding players with in-game cryptocurrencies for actions, achievements, feats, and other activities that are either preprogrammed in the game or are promotional by nature. Some games, like , allow players to create unique creatures, called Axies, in NFT format and sell them on marketplaces. Another game, MOBOX, encourages players to hold the native MBOX digital currency and earn rewards from staking. Axie Infinite Either approach to Play-to-Earn empowers gamers and hands them the reins of game progression and enrichment, leaving developers with the task of managing the game’s architecture and incentivizing communities to keep playing. The Use Cases The benefits of introducing blockchain in gaming are many, along with the digital currencies and NFTs that it supports. Among the most widespread applications for blockchain-based assets, in-game are the following. , as is the uniqueness of the items players hold or create in NFT format. This allows players to be sure that cheating, duplication, theft, or any other infraction in-game is rendered impossible. Ownership of in-game assets is ensured by blockchain technologies Sales are the biggest allure of blockchain’s application, as the swelling decentralized community is eager to tap into the liquidity on the market. In addition, the gamification mechanisms of earning allow blockchain-based games to yield considerable revenues for players in countries with low GDPs, acting as additional sources of income. The unlimited and endless nature of blockchain, ensured by its , means that such gaming metaverses can literally be endless in terms of space, content, supported players, and monetization opportunities. The task is now up to game developers to tap into both the technical and imaginative possibilities of blockchain-based gaming to allow the potential of the given industry to unfold. growing scalability Technologically speaking, blockchain allows the full deployment of such modules as Virtual and Augmented Reality in games thanks to the transition to Web 3.0. Said transition also makes it possible for brands of any kind to seamlessly merge into metaverses and present their products and services in such environments. The Prospects It is fair to say that the age of blockchain gaming has only just begun, as witnessed by the influx of investors and players into the space. “There’s an incredibly broad range of possibilities in terms of what’s happening and what will happen in the universe of crypto games. I think at the core of this movement is really the idea of giving more of the value and ownership in these game assets back to the players. That’s something that has historically been a problem. You might spend years and years building up your arsenal of skins or in-game assets, and then a game will change the rules, take some of your winnings away from you or do any number of things that can leave players feeling very disappointed and kind of ripped off. The idea with blockchain-based games is to make them more open and allow players to have actual ownership in the space themselves,” Arianna Simpson, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz In general, the evolution of games to the Play-to-Earn model was merely a matter of time, considering the stagnation in the overall gaming industry, which seems to have exhausted itself in terms of imagination and technological advancement. The price-high walls of new gaming consoles and the exuberant technical requirements of modern games that force players to invest immense amounts of funds into high-end gaming PCs are nudging players to seek entertainment elsewhere. With its convenient, profitable, accessible, mobile-based structure, blockchain gaming may well soon start ousting console games from the top charts. This article is part of The hosted by HackerNoon in partnership with Gaming Metaverse Writing Contest . 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Blockchain Gaming – A New Era of In-Game Content and Experiences for Gamers

For more than a decade, people have been hailing blockchain as the future of financial technology, and for exactly that same amount of time, others have scoffed at the idea of tokens as jumpy and unpredictable as cryptocurrencies ever replacing the precious dollar. Unfortunately, those people have a point. The crypto market is far from stable enough in its current state to be the sole system one hosts their finances on, and too few businesses accept payment through it. Not to mention, the average crypto holder is ultimately looking to turn a profit and eventually sell back to fiat currency anyway. Is blockchain still the future of finance? Sure, though it still may be a generation or more away. On the other hand, the blockchain domination of digital asset trading is coming. Fast. The Rise of NFTs Over the past year, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have erupted from a niche in the world of blockchain to a headlining topic in finance news, essentially as the technological age’s baseball card. For those unfamiliar, an NFT is a blockchain token, as are Bitcoin and Ethereum, but it differs from these cryptocurrencies in fungibility. A Bitcoin is a Bitcoin, meaning that your one Bitcoin is no more valuable than my one Bitcoin because they are fungible; they are the same. An NFT is non-fungible, meaning that two NFTs of the same collection or even two NFTs that appear identical can vary by orders of magnitude in value for any number of reasons. My CryptoPunk is not equal in value to your CryptoPunk, for example. NFTs allow people to tokenize anything and everything, but most importantly, they provide digital proof of ownership and are secured by blockchain technology in exactly the same way that cryptocurrencies are. As such, it is impossible to replicate an NFT and make it indistinguishable from an official one. This is why NFTs have exploded into this generation’s collectible card, why online event tickets and paid media are being tokenized, and why in-game assets are the next to be adopted by it. Consider this hypothetical. You’ve earned yourself a sick new Magnum skin in The Master Chief Collection on Xbox, and while it looks cool, it’s not a weapon you frequent. On the other hand, your friend absolutely can’t get enough of the weapon and wants the skin for himself but doesn’t really have anything in Halo that interests you. What he does have is an M4A4 skin in CS:GO for PC that you’ve been eyeing for a while, and you know that he doesn’t play that game much anymore. So how would you go about this trade? Exchanging cosmetics in different games on different platforms would typically require an honor system. For example, you send your Magnum skin, and you hope that he doesn’t shaft you by keeping his M4A4 skin and then blocking you. This issue would be even more prevalent when trading with randoms on the internet whom you’ve never spoken to. This could all be avoided, however, if ownership was established on the blockchain. If the skin ownership was established with NFTs, you could authorize a secure trade with anyone on the planet, knowing you can’t get shafted across any two games or platforms. If both parties agree to the trade, it goes through. Blockchain trading would also negate the need to worry about region locks and fees, developers reclaiming the rights to an NFT you own or dealing with third-party platforms like PayPal or Visa when purchasing assets in the first place. Developers could set prices with any cryptocurrency they want, including stablecoins like USDT (which is tethered in value to the US dollar), creating internationally fair prices. Those selling the cosmetic or item could also put up prices in cryptocurrencies of their choice or even trade them for NFTs outside of the gaming space entirely. Because these NFTs are stored within your own crypto wallet, they are actually OWNED by you. In contrast, most in-game assets are just licensed to you and can be revoked by developers at any time, especially after server closures. By having ownership after a purchase, the fate of that item falls strictly into your hands and cannot be taken away by companies or players who hack the game. You would even have the ability to burn the item, deleting it from existence entirely and increasing the scarcity (and thus the value) of other items of that type. Conclusion It’s hard to argue against the security, traceability, openness, and true ownership capabilities that the move to the blockchain would bring to the world of in-game asset trading. While gas fees and a fear of the environmental effects of blockchain technology may scare players and developers away, these issues are being churned out of the crypto world as layer-2 options come to fruition. With Ethereum 2.0 on the way, those high gas fees may fall to almost negligible amounts, while this same upgrade could cut down on carbon emissions caused by NFT trading by 99%. It’s not perfection, but it’s close to it. Thus it’s not a matter of if in-game assets move to the blockchain but a matter of when.

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