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Scientific American, Vol. XXXVII.—No. 2. [New Series.], July 14, 1877 by Various, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . SETTING LOCOMOTIVE SLIDE VALVES. here SETTING LOCOMOTIVE SLIDE VALVES. BY JOSHUA ROSE. E. G. asks: "How can I set the slide valves of a locomotive when she is on the road?" J. H. S. asks: "What is the method of setting locomotive slide valves from marks on the slide spindle?" And F. O. asks: "How are the valves of inside cylinder locomotives set, since the back ports are out of sight and you cannot measure the lead?" Our correspondent will find these questions answered in full below. It is presumed that the lengths of the eccentric rod, reverse rod, and other parts are correct, and they are properly connected and oiled so as to be in working order. The first thing to do is to place the reverse lever in the forward full-gear notch of the quadrants, or sectors, as they are sometimes called. The next procedure is to place the crank on its forward dead center as near as can be ascertained by the eye, and loosening the set screw of the forward eccentric, that is to say, the eccentric which connects with the upper end of the link, move that eccentric round on the shaft until the valve leaves the port at the front end of the cylinder open to the amount of whatever lead it is desired to give the valve. In moving the eccentric round on the shaft, it is necessary to move it in the direction in which it will turn when in operation. This is done in order to take up any lost motion there may be in the eccentric straps, in the eccentric rod eyebolts, or other working parts or joints between the eccentric and the slide valve rod or spindle. If the eccentric was turned backward instead of forward, all the lost motion would operate to vitiate the set of the valve, because, when the eccentric begins to move, its motion will have no effect in moving the slide valve spindle, until all the lost motion in the various parts is taken up by the eccentric movement. In considering this part of the operation, we must bear in mind that, to set the valve, we must move the wheels of the engine, it being impracticable to move the piston itself. Now, in moving the wheels, we are confronted with the fact that the crank pin is pulling the connecting rod; hence, if there is any lost motion in the brasses at either end of the connecting rod, the piston will not be at the end of its stroke when the crank is on its dead center. Suppose, for instance, that we have moved the driving wheel forward until the crank stands upright at a right angle to the bore of the cylinder, the resistance to motion of the piston and crosshead has caused the crank pin to bed against the half-brass nearest to the cylinder, all the play or lost motion is then between the other half-brass and the crank pin. When, however, the engine is at work and the piston is driving the crank pin, instead of being driven by it, the lost motion will exist between the crank pin and the half-brass nearest to the cylinder, and the contact will exist between the crank pin and the other brass. The difference in the position of the piston, caused by this lost motion, may be ascertained by moving the piston back and forth until the crank pin contacts with first one and then the other half-brass. It is sometimes attempted to remedy the defect due to this lost motion by moving the crank pin past the dead center and then moving it back to the dead center, so that while on that center the play or lost motion in the connecting rod is taken up. This is all very well so far as the connecting rod and piston is concerned, and will cause them both to stand on their respective dead centers with the lost motion taken up; but, in moving the wheel back to the dead center, we have given full liberty to all the lost motion in the various parts of the valve motion or gear, as already explained, in reference to moving the eccentric upon the shaft. As there are so many more parts in the valve gear, in which lost motion may occur, it is manifestly preferable to take up that play by moving the driving wheel in a continuous direction, rather than to move the latter back to accommodate any play there may be in the connecting rod. The crank being placed by the eye upon its forward dead center, and the eccentric connected to the top of the link being moved round on the axle (in the direction in which the wheels will run when the engine is going forward) until the steam port at the front end of the cylinder is open to the amount of the lead, we fasten the eccentric to hold in that position. We then throw the reverse lever over into the last notch at the other end of the sector, lifting the link up so that the eccentric connected to the lower end of the link may be approximately adjusted, which is done by moving the eccentric round upon the axle (in the direction in which the axle will revolve when the engine is running backward) until the crank stands upon the same dead center, and the front port is open to the amount of the lead. This being done, we have the eccentrics approximately adjusted and may proceed to the final adjustment, in which the first thing to do is to find the exact dead centers of the crank. It is obvious that a line drawn through the center of the crank pin and the center of the wheel axle, will stand horizontally true and level when the crank is on either of the dead centers, but the presence of the crank pin makes it impracticable to draw such a line. We can therefore draw one which will be parallel to those centers; and to do this we draw a circle upon the end of the wheel axle (and from its center) of the same diameter as that of the crank pin, and then resting a straight-edge upon the bearing of the crank pin (taking care to avoid the round corner upon the pin, if there is one), we place the other end of the straight-edge even with the top of the circle drawn upon the axle; and then, using the straight-edge as a guide, we draw a line across the end of the axle and the wheel face. When this line is level the crank will be upon its dead center. This plan is sometimes employed, but is not a very accurate one, because the length of the line is very short as compared to the circumference of the driving wheel; hence, an error of the thickness of the line becomes one equal to several thicknesses of the line when carried out to the wheel circumference. Furthermore, if the line of the cylinder does not stand horizontally level, as is sometimes the case, the result of the whole proceeding will be inaccurate. Again, the connecting rod end and the coupling rod is in the way, rendering it awkward to both draw and level the line. A better and more accurate method to find the dead centers is as follows: Place the reverse lever into the end notch of the sector at the forward end, and then move the driving wheel forward until the guide block is within about a quarter of an inch of the end of its travel, then place a straight-edge against the end of the guide block, and draw, on the outside face of the guide bar, a line even with the end of the guide block. Bend a piece of wire (pointed at both ends) to a right angle, make a center punch mark either in the rail, under the driving wheel, or in some stationary, solid part contiguous to the wheel, or at such distance from it that when one end of the bent wire is placed in the center punch mark, the operator with the other end will be able to draw a line across the rim of the driving wheel. Here, however, arises another consideration, that it is better to set the valves with the wheel axle in its proper position in the pedestal shoes, and in order to do this the wheel should rest upon the rail with its proper proportion of the weight of the engine resting upon it. The springs will then be deflected to their proper amount, and the axle box will have passed its proper distance up the pedestals. It is obvious that if the engine is blocked up so that the driving wheels clear the rails (which is done in order to avoid having the weight of the engine to move while setting the valve), the axle boxes will drop in the pedestal and the valve will be set incorrectly, as the wheels are in a wrong position. To avoid this, and at the same time to avoid having to move the whole engine while setting the valve, the engine is blocked up from the rails, and the axle boxes of the driving wheels are wedged up so as to be lifted up into their proper position. In this case there is no very accurate means of ascertaining what is the exact proper height, save it be by first marking upon the outside faces of the shoes or pedestal a line even with the top of the axle box when the load is upon the wheels, and then, after blocking up the engine from the rails, wedging up the axle boxes till the face again comes even with the line. Whatever plan is pursued, one end of the piece of wire is rested in the fixed center punch mark, and with the other a line is drawn across the outside face of the wheel rim. The driving wheel is then revolved forward until the guide block returns, having passed to the end of its travel. When its end again stands exactly even with the mark made upon the guide bar, the piece of wire is again brought into requisition, one end being rested in the fixed center punch mark as before, and with the other end another line is drawn across the outside rim of the wheel. It is obvious that by taking a pair of compasses and finding a point exactly equidistant between the two lines thus marked upon the wheel rim, and then marking that point with a center punch mark, the crank will be upon its exact dead center, when one end of the piece of bent wire rests in the fixed center punch mark, the other end rests in the center punch mark upon the wheel rim. To find the other dead center, the wheel must be moved about halfway round and the process repeated with the motion block at the other end of the guide bars. Thus, whenever the piece of wire will stand with one end resting in the fixed center punch mark and the other end in either of the center punch marks upon the wheel run, the crank is upon a dead center. Having thus placed the crank upon either dead center, we measure the valve lead, and if in temporarily fixing our eccentrics we gave it too much lead, we mark where it stands upon the shaft by means of a line drawn on the axle and carried up on the side face of the eccentric; then move the eccentric back some little distance more than is necessary to make the adjustment, and then move it forward again a little at a time, noting when the valve has the proper amount of lead, and thus fasten the eccentric upon the axle by means of the set screw. The object of moving the eccentric too far back and then moving it forward is to make the adjustment so that the latter may be made with the lost motion of the valve gear all taken up. The next proceeding is to move the driving wheel halfway round and try the lead at that end of the stroke. If the lead at the two ends is not equal, it shows that either the slide valve spindle or the eccentric rods are not of the proper length and must be rectified; this being done, the crank must be again placed upon first one and then the other dead center, the valve lead being measured at each end. When the lead is equal at each end, the rods are of correct length, and the amount of the lead must be regulated by moving the eccentrics as already directed. If the link block does not come opposite the end of the eccentric rod when the reverse lever is in the end notch of the sector, the length of the reverse rod is wrong and should be corrected. If the link block comes right, under the above conditions, for the forward but not for the backward eccentric rod, the notches in the sector are not cut in their proper positions, or the link hanger is not of the proper length. In either case the error may be remedied by altering the length of the latter. But, as doing this would alter the amount of the valve lead, it is well, if there is any prospect of such errors, to correct them before setting the valves. Instead of measuring the lead of the valve with a rule, or by a wedge, the following plan is very often adopted: After the valve and spindle are in position, the valve is placed with the proper amount of lead upon the front port. A center punch mark is then made upon the face of the steam chest. A piece of quarter inch iron wire is then bent at right angles and each end filed to a point. One end of this wire is placed in the fixed center punch mark in the steam chest, and with the other a mark is made upon the slide spindle. Upon this latter mark a center punch mark is also made sufficiently deep to be very plainly visible when the burr raised by center punching is filed off, which is necessary to prevent this burr from cutting the packing. It follows that whenever the bent piece of wire will rest with one end in the center punch mark in the steam chest, and the other end in the center punch mark in the slide spindle, the valve is in its proper position when the crank is on the corresponding dead center. This plan is a very old one and possesses the advantage that the valve may be set without seeing it, that is to say, with the steam chest cover on. If the length of the piece of wire measured direct from point to point is known, the valve may be set when the engine is upon the road without taking off the steam chest cover. The center punch mark upon the steam chest should, however, always be placed in about the same spot, so as to avoid mistakes in case of there being other similar marks upon the chest. It should always be made deep, so as not to get filled up with paint and be difficult to find. In course of time the mark upon the slide valve spindle is apt to disappear from the wear of the spindle, hence the center punch with which it is made should have a long conical point. To mark the position of the eccentric upon the axle, it is an excellent plan, after the eccentrics are finally adjusted, to take a chisel with the cutting end ground to the form of a fiddle drill, one cutting edge being at a right angle to the other. The chisel must be held so that while one edge rests upon the axle, the other edge will bear against the radial face of the eccentric. A sharp blow with a hammer upon the chisel-head will make a clean indented cut upon the axle and the eccentric, the two cuts exactly meeting at their junction and denoting the position of the eccentrics. In setting the valves of inside cylinder locomotives, the back ports being out of sight, the amount of lead is ascertained by making a wooden wedge about three inches long, a thirty-second of an inch thick at one end and three eighths of an inch thick at the other end. The faces of this wedge are chalked, and the lead is measured by inserting it between the edge of the valve and the edge of the port until its thickness just fills the space, and then moving it edgeways so that the valve and port edges will just mark it. By measuring the thickness of the wedge at the mark, the amount of lead is ascertained. After the valves are set, it is still desirable to mark the position by center punch marks upon the outside of the steam chests and upon the valve spindles, as already described. If an eccentric should slip when the engine is upon the road, and there are no marks whereby to readjust them, it may be done approximately as follows: Put the reverse lever in the end notch of the forward gear, then place the crank as nearly on a dead center as the eye will direct, and open both the cylinder cocks, then disconnect the slide valve spindle from the rocker arm, and move the valve spindle until the opening of the port corresponding to the dead center on which the crank stands will be shown by steam blowing through the cylinder cock, the throttle valve being opened a trifle. The position of the valve being thus determined, the eccentric must be moved upon the shaft until the valve spindle will connect with the rocker arm without being moved at all. The throttle valve should be very slightly opened, otherwise so much steam will be admitted into the cylinder that it will pass through any leak in the piston and blow through both cylinder cocks before there is time to ascertain which cock gives first exit to the steam. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Various (2012). Scientific American, Vol. XXXVII. —No. 2. [New Series.], July 14, 1877. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/38481/pg38481-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

SETTING LOCOMOTIVE SLIDE VALVES

Scientific American, Vol. XXXIX. No. 6. [New Series.], August 10, 1878, by Various, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . NEW STEAM VALVE. here NEW STEAM VALVE. The improved valve shown partly in section in the engraving is designed for removing the water of condensation from steam pipes, so that dry steam may be furnished. In the engraving, the globe valve, A, is of the usual form, except that the casing below the valve seat is enlarged, forming a pocket, B, which communicates through an aperture at the bottom with a small valve, C. The steam, in passing through the valve, fills the pocket and there deposits any water that may have condensed from the steam in its passage through the steam pipe. The increased depth of the lower portion of the valve prevents siphoning, which takes place in valves of the ordinary form. The valve, C, is kept slightly open to discharge the water at the moment it collects in the pocket; the water is thus prevented from passing onward to the engine or other point of use. This valve affords a ready means of supplying dry steam to sulphuric acid chambers. We are informed that by its use a chamber in ordinary working order will produce acid 3° to 5° Baumé stronger than can be obtained with ordinary globe valves. Thirty steam pipes, arranged at different points, are found to deliver into a chamber in the space of five minutes from 4 to 16 ounces of condense water (according to the circumstances of distance, temperature of the air, size of pipe, etc.). These valves, being placed close to the chamber separating all the condense water, deliver with certainty uniformly dry steam, without the inconvenience of ordinary steam traps or other expensive appliances. This valve was patented through the Scientific American Patent Agency, May 21, 1878. For further particulars address Mr. Joseph Saunders, 975 Third avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. A Hint from the Mormons. Ex-Governor Hendricks, in a recent industrial address, alluded to the highly prosperous condition of the Mormons as existing previous to the influx of the Gentiles into Utah, saying that "to the fact that they produced all they consumed I attribute their wonderful prosperity." This remark, associated with the prosperity of other communities in different parts of the country, would suggest the query of "Why the principle cannot be more largely applied to the whole nation?" Certainly the resources of the whole country would indicate a much greater diversity of production, and if there was the same regard for a uniform building up of our industrial system there would seem to be need of but little importation, certainly of goods which can be readily made, and which our people need the labor to produce. New Agricultural Inventions. Joseph George, of Springfield, Greene Co., Mo., has patented an improved form of Cultivator or Shovel Plow, designed to be convertible into either a single, double, or triple shovel plow as occasion may require. It consists in two detachable clamping plates, which hold the plow beams, and their arrangement with respect to the said beams and the handles of the plow, whereby a single bolt is made to secure the forward ends of the handles and clamp the plates to hold the plow beams in place. Russel O. Bean, of Macedonia, Miss., is the inventor of an improved Seed Planter for planting cotton and other seeds, and for distributing fertilizers. The details of the construction of this planter cannot be explained without engravings. Rutus Sarlls and Alexander Kelman, of Navasota, Texas, have invented an improved combined Planter, Cultivator, and Cotton Chopper, which may be readily adjusted for use in planting seed, cultivating plants, and chopping cotton to a stand, and is effective and reliable in operation in either capacity. William H. Akens, of Penn Line, Pa., is the inventor of an improved Dropper, for attachment to the finger bar of a reaper, to receive the grain and deliver it in gavels at the side of the machine, so as to be out of the way when making the next round. It is so constructed that when attached to the finger bar of a mower it will convert it into a harvester. James Goodheart, of Matawan, N. J., has devised an improved machine for Distributing Poison upon potato plants to destroy the potato bug. It may also be used for sowing seeds. William V. McConnell and Charles M. Dickerson, of Crockett, Texas, have invented an improved Fruit Picker, having cup-shaped self-opening spring jaws attached to its handle, and operated by a cord to close upon and clamp the fruit. It also has a hollow extensible adjustable handle and a fruit receiver. Quick Work. Two years ago a farmer-miller and his wife, at Carrolton, Mo., furnished some invited guests with bread baked in eight and a quarter minutes from the time the wheat was standing in the field. This year it was determined to make still better time. Accordingly elaborate preparations were made to reap, thrash, grind, and bake the grain with the least possible loss of time. In 1 minute 15 seconds the wheat, about a peck, was cut and thrashed, and put on the back of a swift horse to be carried to the mill, 16 rods away. In 2 minutes 17 seconds the flour was delivered to Mrs. Lawton, and in 3m. 55s. from the starting of the reaper the first griddle cake was done. In 4 minutes 37 seconds from the starting of the reaper, a pan of biscuits was delivered to the assembled guests. After that, according to the Carrolton , other pans of delicious "one minute" biscuits were baked more at leisure, and eagerly devoured, with the usual accompaniment of boiled ham and speech making. Democrat About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Various (2013). Scientific American, Vol. XXXIX. No. 6. [New Series.], August 10, 1878. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/19406/pg19406-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

NEW STEAM VALVE

Scientific American, Volume XLIII., No. 25, December 18, 1880, by Various, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . IMPROVED SAFETY VALVE. here IMPROVED SAFETY VALVE. In the annexed cut we have represented a steam safety valve, which is the invention of M. Schmidt, M. E., of Zurich, Switzerland. It consists of a lever terminating in two prongs, one of which extends downward and rests upon the cap, closing the top of the tube through which the steam escapes. The other prong extends upward and catches under a projection of the steam tube, and forms the fulcrum for the lever. The opposite end of this lever is provided with an adjustable screw pressing upon a plate that rests on the top of a spiral spring, which keeps the valve closed by pressing the outer end of the lever upward. As soon as the pressure of the steam overcomes the pressure of the spiral spring the valve will be raised, permitting the steam to escape. The apparatus is contained in a case having a central aperture for the escape of steam. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Various (2007). Scientific American, Volume XLIII., No. 25, December 18, 1880. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/21081/pg21081-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

IMPROVED SAFETY VALVE

Scientific American, Volume XLIII., No. 25, December 18, 1880, by Various, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . AUTOMATIC BALANCE ATTACHMENT FOR VALVES. here AUTOMATIC BALANCE ATTACHMENT FOR VALVES. It is well known that in all air compressors and water pumps the pressure in cylinder of air compressors or in working barrel or cylinder of pumps is much greater at the point of opening the delivery valves than the actual pressure in the air receivers of compressors or in water column of pumps because of the difference in area between the top and bottom of delivery valves. In some air compressors a hundred and twenty-five pounds pressure to the square inch is required in the cylinder to eighty pounds in the receiver, and in some instances a hundred pounds pressure is required in the cylinder to eighty pounds pressure in the receiver or column. The engraving shows an invention designed to remedy this defect in air compressors and pumps, to provide a device which will enable the compressors and pumps to operate with equal pressure on both sides of the delivery valve. The invention consists of an auxiliary valve arranged outside of the cylinder, where it is not subjected to back pressure, and connected with the delivery valve by a hollow valve stem. In the engraving, which is a sectional view, the cylinder of an air compressor is represented, on the end of which there is a ring containing delivery ports, through which the air from the cylinder is forced into a receiver or conducting pipe. This ring is provided with an inner flange or valve seat on which rests the delivery valve. These parts are similar to those seen in some of the air compressors in common use, and with this construction and arrangement one hundred pounds pressure to the square inch in the cylinder is required to open the valve against eighty pounds pressure in the receiver or in the conducting pipes. A drum having an open end is connected with the cylinder head by inclined standards, and contains a piston connected with the valve by means of a rod that extends centrally through the cylinder head. On the outer end of this rod is screwed an adjusting nut, by means of which the piston may be adjusted. This rod is bored longitudinally, establishing communication between the compressor cylinder and the drum containing the piston. It will be seen that the upper face of the piston is exposed so as to be subjected to atmospheric pressure only, and when the compressor is in operation a portion of the air in the compressor cylinder passes through the hollow rod into the space beneath the piston, and there exerts sufficient pressure, in combination with the pressure on the inner face of the valve, to open the valve against an equal pressure in the receiver or conducting pipes, so that when the pressure in the cylinder equals the pressure in the receivers the valve is opened and held in place until the piston in the cylinder starts on the return stroke, when the pressure under the piston is immediately relieved through the hollow rod and the main valve closes. The space between the valve and its seat is made as shallow as possible, so that the space may be quickly filled and exhausted. The piston may be adjusted to regulate this space. This invention was recently patented by Messrs. Samuel B. Connor and Henry Dods, of Virginia City, Nevada. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Various (2007). Scientific American, Volume XLIII., No. 25, December 18, 1880. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/21081/pg21081-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

AUTOMATIC BALANCE ATTACHMENT FOR VALVES

A HORIZONTAL SLIDE-VALVE ENGINE.

You can’t have missed all the bad press NFT and blockchain has been getting of late. And while mainstream media and FUD is normal and entirely keeping in line with how crypto is initially viewed in various shades of misunderstanding, those in the industry shouldn’t dismiss this as “expected behaviour”. This is because most of the criticism has come directly from the heart of many gaming communities -- straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. I’ve written about the bungled NFT attempts of Ubisoft and others and when Steam firmly opted to from its platform, the move was roundly welcomed and applauded by gamers themselves. The only ones left irked, understandably, were the blockchain developers themselves, supported in loud protests only by crypto buyers and NFT speculators themselves. ban all NFT and blockchain games So when Valve co-founder Gabe Newell fielded media questions about NFTs during his press tour for his company’s new Steam Deck software this month, it should have come as little surprise for him to back the decision. As reported by Eurogamer, Newell : said "The things that were being done were super sketchy. And there was some illegal shit that was going on behind the scenes, and you're just like, yeah, this is bad. Blockchains as a technology are a great technology, that the ways in which has been utilised are currently are all pretty sketchy. And you sort of want to stay away from that.” Blockchain thrives when listening to the critics As a supporter of blockchain gaming and NFT development, I hope that developers everywhere sit up and take note of his comments. For sure, his words aren’t actually explicitly pointing out what exactly was “pretty sketchy” about the implementation of blockchain elements in gaming, but if you’re truly active in the industry or have yourself played any of the blockchain games out there and participated in the token economy, either by trading NFTs or minting them in games, then you know he’s right. a. Blockchain games have little playability Blockchain games in the “Play to Earn” or P2E sector are especially guilty of this. As I wrote in a previous , it’s hard to imagine a single P2E title that would ever win a gaming award or to ever make it into a gamer’s cherished list of all-time greats. They don’t introduce new ways to play, they are hardly original, they simply don’t engage and enthral the way games are supposed to. post The only incentive, it seems, for anyone to ever pick up the game to play, would be to try and earn some income from it. b. NFT games are pay-to-win Never mind that most blockchain games require a huge initial investment just to gain access, typically through the enforced purchase of NFTs to start the game. We’re talking about hundreds of dollars just to be able to play the game. But when you center an economy around token scarcity, demand, and supply, then you attract all kinds of market manipulation from crypto speculators. c. They are too many bad actors Newell said there was too much fraud and bad actors -- and that’s not just words. Valve experiences found half of crypto-related purchases to be fraudulent. And all we need to do as blockchain users is look up every legitimate token there is to find at least one attempted copycat or scam tryiing to fool people into buying your token. We also can’t ignore that the reasons are interlinked -- most P2E games aren’t even playable simply because they’re just copycat code to quickly churn out a new token and rug pulll as soon as investors start pouring in money. This is also related to the next and final point. d. There aren’t enough gamers Look, I’ll be the first to say that we can’t let one rotten apple spoil the rest. But if you allow that one drop of ink fall into the tub of milk, it’ll spoil the entire thing (to paraphrase another saying). So there is an urgent need for blockchain game developers to focus on what matters: the game. Build a good game and it’ll do the rest for you. Gamers want to play good games and if they like what they see, you’ve got your own team of marketeers, influencers, promoters, ambassadors. Happily, willingly, organically talking about your game. So the takeaway I guess I’m trying to elucidate here is that, maybe NFTs and blockcain developers shouldn’t be whining about the FUD from the gaming community. There may be a true case for groundbreaking innovation and disruptive models for blockchain technology in gaming and I truly believe in this myself. But perhaps we all have to earn that right to make our case. And we do this by making great games and proving blockchain makes games great. But if blockchain games insist on a crypto-first, token-first, earning-first mentality, then your users will reflect that. And that creates an environment ripe for all the above problems. Demand for earning models rather than playability. A landscape filled more with scams than with real games. A condition that attracts bad actors rather than good ones.

Valve Says NFT Activity in Games are "Super Sketchy" ...They're Kinda Right!

Valve dice que la actividad de NFT en los juegos es "súper incompleta"... ¡Tienen algo de razón!

The Vulnerabilities Research Of Valve’s Game Networking Sockets

Newer technology is always a game-changing thing. In the case of video games, it’s literally so. And what other new piece of tech to talk about than what’s all the rage at the moment—artificial intelligence or AI? Companies have been quick to adopt AI for various purposes. Whereas the majority of corporations from Bloomberg to Disney see it as a tool to cut costs, the game development industry has a very different take on all this. This take is more creative in nature. It’s being used to develop new story arcs, generate new gameplay ideas, and analyze existing player data at a whole other level. Some companies are even experimenting with AI-based NPCs (non-playable characters) where these seemingly harmless folks can now hold entire conversations and retain context throughout their adventures in-game. We’re at a very early level here. In this post, we’ll focus on a new aspect that can be revolutionized with AI—virtual economies. Let’s hop right into it, shall we? What are Virtual Economies? Believe it or not, virtual economies are one of the most lucrative businesses today. A lot of gamers are a part of at least one such economy, sometimes unknowingly. A virtual economy is an in-game trading system. It ranges from the player-based economy of trading posts in classic MMOs such as World of Warcraft and Elder Scrolls Online to Loot Boxes in CS:GO and Valorant. A strong virtual economy is at the heart of these games. These don’t necessarily have to involve real money transactions. There’s a lot of in-game currency transactions, trading, and item barter involved here. But yes, the most popular forms of virtual economies are tied to real money. The best case would be CS:GO skins that you can buy from reputed sellers. These are skins that you buy with real money for a nice change of clothes or a weapon loot box. It’s an active, thriving community of transactions and items. AI in Virtual Economies Developers are quickly realizing the potential of leveraging AI-based technologies and deep learning models to optimize these in-game virtual economies. The only current problem is the scale. To really scale it up, a developer will need to make some serious investments in AI. Today, suffice it to say that justifying this cost in front of stakeholders isn’t going to go very smoothly. But the potential is there, and we all know it. AI has already shown us how we can build better games. Smart NPCs, dynamic procedural environments, choice-based challenges, matchmaking balances, data analysis, anti-cheat, etc., are all very serious real-world use cases where AI is already doing a lot of work or is poised to be a strong factor in the coming years. Now, let’s shift our focus toward virtual economies. What exactly can AI do in this space? Players trade in-game items ranging from armor and weapons in some games to skins and cosmetics in others. These are facilitated mainly with the help of real-world money or some kind of virtual currency that can only be purchased using real money. With that in mind, here’s how AI can help. Dynamic Pricing AI models can be trained to be good at understanding the virtual economy’s market demand. Many financial models are already available, often proprietarily, to do this for real-world markets. These algorithms will be able to maintain pricing stability just by looking at the market trends, user demand, and trading history of these virtual items. Trend Prediction With all that data, such algorithms or models can easily predict the rise and fall in demand for certain skins or cosmetics, which will allow the marketplace to adjust the listings and prices accordingly. For example, we know that a lot of people buy bundles and treasures in Dota around The International, only to sell them at a higher price later. But when you make all this formulaic, suddenly you can predict a lot more trends than just that. Preventing Fraud AI can also help in detecting instances of fraudulent transactions and suspicious activities. This is a huge benefit for any marketplace moderator or game developer. The strength of an AI model is the training or inferencing part. This is why AI can predict weather better than a supercomputer. It relies on past data. The more data it is fed, the more accurate it will be. So, if a company like Valve trains an AI algorithm on fraudulent transactions and suspicious users, it will quickly learn to spot future offenders, which will be an immense help for all the other players. Leading CS:GO skin selling platforms can develop their own algorithms this way to make sure that their marketplace remains spotless. Such a case has already been implemented by sites such as skinsmonkey. Where Do We Go From Here? The times are changing fast. The future is full of AI, even in the world of video games. Though there’s still time before we can reach a world akin to Cyberpunk 2077, it’s much easier to accept a worldview where we will have AI-controlled virtual economies that can be easily scaled. AI-driven price predictions, automated price setting, authenticity verification, highly optimized trade algorithms, and so on. Artificial intelligence models and algorithms can bring about a net positive change in the world of in-game economies that so many gamers rely on. It won’t be an overstatement to say that games will be much better for player transactions and economies with AI in the picture. Major Concerns in AI Gaming AI Needs Data: AI requires heaps of data and training. Any company that wishes to make a foray here needs to properly label and deconstruct its existing data and then train a model on it. If it’s done in a shallow or incorrect way, such an algorithm will be able to do nothing good for the players.


Constant Learning: At its core, AI models are all about constant learning. If they are not allowed to hook into the economies in a friendly manner, then trends will change before they can pick up on them. This is especially challenging because so far, virtual economy data hasn’t really been intended for public use through APIs. Such APIs will be crucial if we want to use AI for continuous learning. This might require major rewrites of the game’s code before they can even be prepared for something like this. We Wrap Things Up Here It's all exciting, that’s for sure. But only time will tell how practical these AI use cases are, or when we finally achieve something valuable for the gamer. Until then, happy gaming. Newer technology is always a game-changing thing. In the case of video games, it’s literally so. And what other new piece of tech to talk about than what’s all the rage at the moment—artificial intelligence or AI? Companies have been quick to adopt AI for various purposes. Whereas the majority of corporations from Bloomberg to Disney see it as a tool to cut costs, the game development industry has a very different take on all this. Bloomberg Disney This take is more creative in nature. It’s being used to develop new story arcs, generate new gameplay ideas, and analyze existing player data at a whole other level. Some companies are even experimenting with AI-based NPCs (non-playable characters) where these seemingly harmless folks can now hold entire conversations and retain context throughout their adventures in-game. We’re at a very early level here. In this post, we’ll focus on a new aspect that can be revolutionized with AI— virtual economies . Let’s hop right into it, shall we? revolutionized virtual economies What are Virtual Economies? Believe it or not, virtual economies are one of the most lucrative businesses today. A lot of gamers are a part of at least one such economy, sometimes unknowingly. A virtual economy is an in-game trading system. It ranges from the player-based economy of trading posts in classic MMOs such as World of Warcraft and Elder Scrolls Online to Loot Boxes in CS:GO and Valorant . virtual economies MMOs World of Warcraft Elder Scrolls Online Loot Boxes CS:GO Valorant A strong virtual economy is at the heart of these games. These don’t necessarily have to involve real money transactions. There’s a lot of in-game currency transactions, trading, and item barter involved here. But yes, the most popular forms of virtual economies are tied to real money. The best case would be CS:GO skins that you can buy from reputed sellers. These are skins that you buy with real money for a nice change of clothes or a weapon loot box. It’s an active, thriving community of transactions and items. AI in Virtual Economies Developers are quickly realizing the potential of leveraging AI-based technologies and deep learning models to optimize these in-game virtual economies. The only current problem is the scale . To really scale it up, a developer will need to make some serious investments in AI. only current problem is the scale Today, suffice it to say that justifying this cost in front of stakeholders isn’t going to go very smoothly. But the potential is there, and we all know it. AI has already shown us how we can build better games. Smart NPCs , dynamic procedural environments , choice-based challenges , matchmaking balances , data analysis , anti-cheat , etc., are all very serious real-world use cases where AI is already doing a lot of work or is poised to be a strong factor in the coming years. Smart NPCs dynamic procedural environments choice-based challenges matchmaking balances data analysis anti-cheat Now, let’s shift our focus toward virtual economies. What exactly can AI do in this space? What exactly can AI do in this space? Players trade in-game items ranging from armor and weapons in some games to skins and cosmetics in others. These are facilitated mainly with the help of real-world money or some kind of virtual currency that can only be purchased using real money. With that in mind, here’s how AI can help. Dynamic Pricing AI models can be trained to be good at understanding the virtual economy’s market demand. Many financial models are already available, often proprietarily, to do this for real-world markets. These algorithms will be able to maintain pricing stability just by looking at the market trends , user demand , and trading history of these virtual items. market trends user demand trading history Trend Prediction With all that data, such algorithms or models can easily predict the rise and fall in demand for certain skins or cosmetics, which will allow the marketplace to adjust the listings and prices accordingly. For example, we know that a lot of people buy bundles and treasures in Dota around The International, only to sell them at a higher price later. Dota around The International, But when you make all this formulaic, suddenly you can predict a lot more trends than just that. Preventing Fraud AI can also help in detecting instances of fraudulent transactions and suspicious activities. This is a huge benefit for any marketplace moderator or game developer. The strength of an AI model is the training or inferencing part. This is why AI can predict weather better than a supercomputer. It relies on past data. The more data it is fed, the more accurate it will be. So, if a company like Valve trains an AI algorithm on fraudulent transactions and suspicious users, it will quickly learn to spot future offenders, which will be an immense help for all the other players. So, if a company like Valve trains an AI algorithm on fraudulent transactions and suspicious users, it will quickly learn to spot future offenders, which will be an immense help for all the other players. Leading CS:GO skin selling platforms can develop their own algorithms this way to make sure that their marketplace remains spotless. Such a case has already been implemented by sites such as skinsmonkey . skinsmonkey skinsmonkey . Where Do We Go From Here? The times are changing fast. The future is full of AI, even in the world of video games. Though there’s still time before we can reach a world akin to Cyberpunk 2077, it’s much easier to accept a worldview where we will have AI-controlled virtual economies that can be easily scaled. AI-driven price predictions , automated price setting, authenticity verification , highly optimized trade algorithms , and so on. Artificial intelligence models and algorithms can bring about a net positive change in the world of in-game economies that so many gamers rely on. AI-driven price predictions automated price setting, authenticity verification highly optimized trade algorithms It won’t be an overstatement to say that games will be much better for player transactions and economies with AI in the picture. Major Concerns in AI Gaming AI Needs Data: AI requires heaps of data and training. Any company that wishes to make a foray here needs to properly label and deconstruct its existing data and then train a model on it. If it’s done in a shallow or incorrect way, such an algorithm will be able to do nothing good for the players. Constant Learning: At its core, AI models are all about constant learning. If they are not allowed to hook into the economies in a friendly manner, then trends will change before they can pick up on them. This is especially challenging because so far, virtual economy data hasn’t really been intended for public use through APIs. Such APIs will be crucial if we want to use AI for continuous learning. This might require major rewrites of the game’s code before they can even be prepared for something like this. AI Needs Data: AI requires heaps of data and training. Any company that wishes to make a foray here needs to properly label and deconstruct its existing data and then train a model on it. If it’s done in a shallow or incorrect way, such an algorithm will be able to do nothing good for the players. AI Needs Data: Constant Learning: At its core, AI models are all about constant learning. If they are not allowed to hook into the economies in a friendly manner, then trends will change before they can pick up on them. This is especially challenging because so far, virtual economy data hasn’t really been intended for public use through APIs. Such APIs will be crucial if we want to use AI for continuous learning. This might require major rewrites of the game’s code before they can even be prepared for something like this. Constant Learning: We Wrap Things Up Here It's all exciting, that’s for sure. But only time will tell how practical these AI use cases are, or when we finally achieve something valuable for the gamer. Until then, happy gaming.

AI in Gaming: A Case Study in Virtual Economies 

LOS ANGELES, United States, October 30th, 2024/Chainwire/--Xsolla,a global video game commerce company, announces plans to launch Xsolla ZK and introduce a digital backpack of virtual items on the blockchain. Xsolla ZK is powered by ZKsync technology and will drive the continuous growth and expansion of Web3 technologies to further develop solutions on the blockchain for the video game industry. Xsolla ZK will become part of the Elastic Chain ecosystem- an expanding constellation of interconnected chains powered by Zksync, an Ethereum Layer 2 zero-knowledge roll-up technology. Xsolla ZK will also introduce its ‘digital backpack’ for game developers, item creators, and gaming infrastructure providers to store and manage in-game items. Xsolla has seen success in the gaming industry, with two decades of experience, over 2,500 games monetized with its products, and over 1,000 developers and publishers utilizing its technology for their games. Lee Jacobson, Senior Vice President of Business Development Web3 at Xsolla, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: "Xsolla ZK leverages Ethereum Layer 2 zk Rollup technology to create a digital backpack for game developers. By deploying our expertise on the ZKsync Elastic Chain, we provide game developers with a scalable and pioneering solution aligning with the economic models with which they are familiar. Xsolla ZK is not just about innovation; it's about creating real value for the gaming community."Xsolla will combine its expertise in in-game commerce with ZKsync’s cutting-edge blockchain technology. Rich Kim, Head of Gaming at Matter Labs, said, "We are thrilled to see companies like Xsolla launch pioneering projects for Web3 gaming. For gaming ecosystems to thrive, it’s critical to close the gap for both users and builders; builders need proven, plug-and-play infrastructure to launch rich features while handling the performance required by mass usage games. Additionally, users need easy-to-use and convenient in-game features and payment options that can be leveraged across a broad ecosystem of games. Xsolla ZK is carving a path for gaming to transition and thrive in Web3." About Xsolla Xsolla is a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the industry. Since its founding in 2005, Xsolla has helped thousands of game developers and publishers of all sizes fund, market, launch, and monetize their games globally and across multiple platforms. As an innovative leader in game commerce, Xsolla’s mission is to solve the inherent complexities of global distribution, marketing, and monetization to help their partners reach more geographies, generate more revenue, and create relationships with gamers worldwide. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, with offices in Montreal, London, Berlin, Beijing, Guangzhou, Seoul, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Raleigh, and other cities around the world, Xsolla supports major gaming titles like Valve, Take-Two, KRAFTON, Nexters, NetEase, Playstudios, Playrix, miHoYo, and more. About the Elastic Chain The Elastic Chain is an ever-expanding cluster of ZK rollups, secured by cryptography and designed for native interoperability with a unified, seamless user experience. The Elastic Chain delivers the functionality of a multi-chain ecosystem with the simplicity of a single blockchain, enabling scalable, secure, and efficient transactions. These core components ensure that this cluster of ZK Chains can interact and transact with each other efficiently, inheriting the security of Ethereum and forming a network that can scale horizontally without compromising on the core properties that make blockchains so powerful. For more information about Xsolla ZK and how to get early access, users can visit: xsolla.pro/zk For additional information and to learn more, users can visit xsolla.com. For additional information and to learn more, users can visit matter-labs.io. Contact Global Director of Public Relations Derrick Stembridge Xsolla d.stembridge@xsolla.com This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here LOS ANGELES, United States, October 30th, 2024/Chainwire/--Xsolla,a global video game commerce company, announces plans to launch Xsolla ZK and introduce a digital backpack of virtual items on the blockchain. Xsolla ZK is powered by ZKsync technology and will drive the continuous growth and expansion of Web3 technologies to further develop solutions on the blockchain for the video game industry. Xsolla ZK will become part of the Elastic Chain ecosystem- an expanding constellation of interconnected chains powered by Zksync, an Ethereum Layer 2 zero-knowledge roll-up technology. Elastic Chain Elastic Chain Xsolla ZK will also introduce its ‘digital backpack’ for game developers, item creators, and gaming infrastructure providers to store and manage in-game items. Xsolla has seen success in the gaming industry, with two decades of experience, over 2,500 games monetized with its products, and over 1,000 developers and publishers utilizing its technology for their games. Lee Jacobson, Senior Vice President of Business Development Web3 at Xsolla, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: "Xsolla ZK leverages Ethereum Layer 2 zk Rollup technology to create a digital backpack for game developers. By deploying our expertise on the ZKsync Elastic Chain, we provide game developers with a scalable and pioneering solution aligning with the economic models with which they are familiar. Xsolla ZK is not just about innovation; it's about creating real value for the gaming community."Xsolla will combine its expertise in in-game commerce with ZKsync’s cutting-edge blockchain technology. Rich Kim, Head of Gaming at Matter Labs, said, "We are thrilled to see companies like Xsolla launch pioneering projects for Web3 gaming. For gaming ecosystems to thrive, it’s critical to close the gap for both users and builders; builders need proven, plug-and-play infrastructure to launch rich features while handling the performance required by mass usage games. Additionally, users need easy-to-use and convenient in-game features and payment options that can be leveraged across a broad ecosystem of games. Xsolla ZK is carving a path for gaming to transition and thrive in Web3." Rich Kim, Head of Gaming at Matter Labs, said, "We are thrilled to see companies like Xsolla launch pioneering projects for Web3 gaming. For gaming ecosystems to thrive, it’s critical to close the gap for both users and builders; builders need proven, plug-and-play infrastructure to launch rich features while handling the performance required by mass usage games. Additionally, users need easy-to-use and convenient in-game features and payment options that can be leveraged across a broad ecosystem of games. Xsolla ZK is carving a path for gaming to transition and thrive in Web3." About Xsolla Xsolla is a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the industry. Xsolla Xsolla Since its founding in 2005, Xsolla has helped thousands of game developers and publishers of all sizes fund, market, launch, and monetize their games globally and across multiple platforms. As an innovative leader in game commerce, Xsolla’s mission is to solve the inherent complexities of global distribution, marketing, and monetization to help their partners reach more geographies, generate more revenue, and create relationships with gamers worldwide. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, with offices in Montreal, London, Berlin, Beijing, Guangzhou, Seoul, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Raleigh, and other cities around the world, Xsolla supports major gaming titles like Valve, Take-Two, KRAFTON, Nexters, NetEase, Playstudios, Playrix, miHoYo, and more. About the Elastic Chain The Elastic Chain is an ever-expanding cluster of ZK rollups, secured by cryptography and designed for native interoperability with a unified, seamless user experience. Elastic Chain Elastic Chain The Elastic Chain delivers the functionality of a multi-chain ecosystem with the simplicity of a single blockchain, enabling scalable, secure, and efficient transactions. These core components ensure that this cluster of ZK Chains can interact and transact with each other efficiently, inheriting the security of Ethereum and forming a network that can scale horizontally without compromising on the core properties that make blockchains so powerful. For more information about Xsolla ZK and how to get early access, users can visit: xsolla.pro/zk xsolla.pro/zk xsolla.pro/zk For additional information and to learn more, users can visit xsolla.com . xsolla.com xsolla.com For additional information and to learn more, users can visit matter-labs.io . matter-labs.io matter-labs.io Contact Global Director of Public Relations Derrick Stembridge Xsolla d.stembridge@xsolla.com 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

Xsolla To Launch Xsolla ZK, Advancing Web3 Adoption For Video Games

Xsolla, Xsolla ZK-ni işə salır, Video Oyunlar üçün Web3 qəbulunu inkişaf etdirir

Xsolla ke spuštění Xsolla ZK, postupující přijetí Web3 pro videohry

Xsolla lanzará Xsolla ZK, impulsando la adopción de Web3 para videojuegos

Xsolla lanzará Xsolla ZK, avanzando na adopción de Web3 para videoxogos

Xsolla が Xsolla ZK をリリース、ビデオゲームへの Web3 導入を推進

Xsolla Ko Lancer Xsolla ZK, Ko Avancé Adoption Web3 Pona Ba Jeux Vidéo

Xsolla lanceert Xsolla ZK, wat de acceptatie van Web3 voor videogames bevordert

Xsolla lançará Xsolla ZK, promovendo a adoção do Web3 para videogames

Xsolla va lansa Xsolla ZK, promovând adoptarea Web3 pentru jocurile video

Xsolla Kuzindua Xsolla ZK, Kuendeleza Uasili wa Web3 kwa Michezo ya Video

Xsolla запускає Xsolla ZK, просуваючи впровадження Web3 для відеоігор

I-Xsolla iyakuQalisa i-Xsolla ZK, iPhuhlisa iWeb3 yoMthombo kwiMidlalo yeVidiyo

What is a console, anyway? Most would say it’s a platform that publishes games and unites gamer communities. Well, by that definition, gaming sidechains like Ronin are digital consoles, sharing plenty in common with hardware cousins like Xbox. Think about it: both count premier gaming titles, curate centralized ecosystems and wield distribution and decision-making power. But, web3 gaming platforms go one step further to offer much-needed stickiness in asset ownership, personalized identities, and vibrant community economies. This is an emerging gaming sector that moves fast and breaks things. But, right now, these “consoles” are sparking a renaissance in how games are published, played, and sustained. The blockchain is the console As publisher and platform, Ronin shares more in common with a traditional gaming console than you might think. For example, Microsoft and Sky Mavis operate their respective “console” as centralized gaming ecosystems, orchestrating communities and economies around their protocols/platforms. Even their onboarding methods are similar. Ronin, the private gaming sidechain, is driven by flagship games that introduce players to the ecosystem. Axie Infinity served this first-party role for the network—attracting early users and developers just as Halo (made by Microsoft-owned Bungie) did for Xbox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (made by Valve) did for Steam. This model of launching premiere first-party titles fuels network effects by inviting and incentivizing more peripheral games and participants to join the growing ecosystem. Then, the community can thrive. Gaming needs web3’s stickiness Community is a big part of why console fanboys exist. The games matter, of course, but users often find their home by interacting with others. Something like Xbox LIVE makes this possible with universal usernames and profile stats. In turn, “you” can better express yourself. Web3 and gaming leaders like Immutable, Avalanche, and CARV take this connective tissue of community to a whole new level. For example, NFT standards like ERC-7231 link multiple gamertags to one profile—creating an “identity of identities” that helps players tell their story throughout the metaverse. Moreover, these blockchain-based protocols provide an unprecedented level of data control by allowing players to fully own and encrypt their information directly onchain. Gaming chains excel at building the ecosystem—the ultimate aspiration of consoles. They enable the seamless transfer of assets between games, nurture user loyalty, and foster distinct communities. The synergy and interconnectedness of these blockchain gaming environments surpass anything we’ve seen in conventional gaming, laying the groundwork for experiences that are not just more immersive but also more player-centric. The appeal is simple on both sides of the industry equation: web3 gamers enjoy real stakes in player-driven markets and gamemakers tap into new value streams. A lifeline for an industry at a crossroads These are big pluses for a gaming industry at a crossroads. Mobile game revenue, which constitutes nearly 50% of the global gaming market, is down for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, as I recently wrote, user acquisition costs head in the other direction. Understandably, gaming wants to harness web3’s demographics (users with stronger spending power, high project loyalty, and experience with complex games) and conversion capabilities (improved ability to guide users through in-depth, in-game conversions with incentives and token expectations) in shaping tomorrow. Additionally, gaming must be eyeing these new revenue streams with envy. Most recently, for example, Telegram showed that even platforms can become consoles via blockchain integration. As one of the world’s biggest chat platforms with almost 1B users, Telegram officially endorsed TON as the app’s “official web3 infrastructure”. Mini-apps inside the platform boomed with play-to-earn games leveraging TON to engage and reward players. The successes speak for themselves – Notcoin is worth more than $1B, Hamster Kombat is one of the fastest-growing web3 apps and BANANA hit 10M users in just over a month. This integration between protocol and platform once again shows the power of uniting major user bases with incentive-aligned games – and who’s to say what’s the limit or where this goes next? Digital consoles and their various iterations promise to define the gaming landscape, ushering in an era where data, ownership, and community are at the core of every experience. Watch this space. What is a console, anyway? Most would say it’s a platform that publishes games and unites gamer communities. Well, by that definition, gaming sidechains like Ronin are digital consoles, sharing plenty in common with hardware cousins like Xbox. Think about it: both count premier gaming titles, curate centralized ecosystems and wield distribution and decision-making power. But, web3 gaming platforms go one step further to offer much-needed stickiness in asset ownership, personalized identities, and vibrant community economies. This is an emerging gaming sector that moves fast and breaks things. But, right now, these “consoles” are sparking a renaissance in how games are published, played, and sustained. The blockchain is the console As publisher and platform, Ronin shares more in common with a traditional gaming console than you might think. For example, Microsoft and Sky Mavis operate their respective “console” as centralized gaming ecosystems, orchestrating communities and economies around their protocols/platforms. Even their onboarding methods are similar. Ronin, the private gaming sidechain, is driven by flagship games that introduce players to the ecosystem. Axie Infinity served this first-party role for the network—attracting early users and developers just as Halo (made by Microsoft-owned Bungie) did for Xbox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (made by Valve) did for Steam. This model of launching premiere first-party titles fuels network effects by inviting and incentivizing more peripheral games and participants to join the growing ecosystem. Then, the community can thrive. Gaming needs web3’s stickiness Community is a big part of why console fanboys exist. The games matter, of course, but users often find their home by interacting with others. Something like Xbox LIVE makes this possible with universal usernames and profile stats. In turn, “you” can better express yourself. Web3 and gaming leaders like Immutable, Avalanche, and CARV take this connective tissue of community to a whole new level. For example, NFT standards like ERC-7231 link multiple gamertags to one profile—creating an “identity of identities” that helps players tell their story throughout the metaverse. Moreover, these blockchain-based protocols provide an unprecedented level of data control by allowing players to fully own and encrypt their information directly onchain. NFT standards like ERC-7231 NFT standards like ERC-7231 Gaming chains excel at building the ecosystem—the ultimate aspiration of consoles. They enable the seamless transfer of assets between games, nurture user loyalty, and foster distinct communities. The synergy and interconnectedness of these blockchain gaming environments surpass anything we’ve seen in conventional gaming, laying the groundwork for experiences that are not just more immersive but also more player-centric. The appeal is simple on both sides of the industry equation: web3 gamers enjoy real stakes in player-driven markets and gamemakers tap into new value streams. A lifeline for an industry at a crossroads These are big pluses for a gaming industry at a crossroads. Mobile game revenue, which constitutes nearly 50% of the global gaming market, is down for the second consecutive year . Meanwhile, as I recently wrote , user acquisition costs head in the other direction. for the second consecutive year for the second consecutive year as I recently wrote as I recently wrote Understandably, gaming wants to harness web3’s demographics (users with stronger spending power, high project loyalty, and experience with complex games) and conversion capabilities (improved ability to guide users through in-depth, in-game conversions with incentives and token expectations) in shaping tomorrow. Additionally, gaming must be eyeing these new revenue streams with envy. Most recently, for example, Telegram showed that even platforms can become consoles via blockchain integration. As one of the world’s biggest chat platforms with almost 1B users, Telegram officially endorsed TON as the app’s “ official web3 infrastructure ”. Mini-apps inside the platform boomed with play-to-earn games leveraging TON to engage and reward players. The successes speak for themselves – Notcoin is worth more than $1B , Hamster Kombat is one of the fastest-growing web3 apps and BANANA hit 10M users in just over a month . official web3 infrastructure official web3 infrastructure Notcoin is worth more than $1B Notcoin is worth more than $1B Hamster Kombat is one of the fastest-growing web3 apps Hamster Kombat is one of the fastest-growing web3 apps BANANA hit 10M users in just over a month BANANA hit 10M users in just over a month This integration between protocol and platform once again shows the power of uniting major user bases with incentive-aligned games – and who’s to say what’s the limit or where this goes next? Digital consoles and their various iterations promise to define the gaming landscape, ushering in an era where data, ownership, and community are at the core of every experience. Watch this space.

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