Note: The original text comes from DKX Venture, with some deletions and modifications!
background
Web3 games refer to games developed based on blockchain technology and the characteristics of decentralization. With the rapid development of blockchain technology, web3 games have become a hot trend in the current gaming industry. When I learned about concepts such as web3 and NFT, I saw the huge advantages of web3 games. First, web3 games will reduce acquisition costs and increase the number of installations, which will bring benefits to game publishers; secondly, web3 games will also bring great benefits to players, who can easily monetize, trade, share game items with other players, etc. I understand the value of web3 games. As early as 2009 and 2010, I was at the forefront of "Free to Play" when all other major publishers said what a bad idea it was. Therefore, when I saw the rapid development of web3 games, I was very happy to be involved and do my part to ensure that the public can get value and benefit from my knowledge and experience.
1. Compared to 2022, what do you think of games in 2023?
I think in 2023, I think the value of games is higher, the core loops are more sophisticated, and games are starting to look, feel, and play closer to traditional games than in 2022, which I think is really, really important. Beyond that, there are innovations in technology, gameplay, markets, and economics, and I think that trend will absolutely continue.
2. Compared to web2 games, what are the 3 most fun web3 games you have played?
In fact, I don’t think you can directly compare web2 games to web3 games because there are very few similarities. Take Alien Worlds, for example. It’s the number one game in the web3 space and has been a huge success on the WAX blockchain, but it’s just an economic game, it’s based on mining activities and supplemented with some light sci-fi narrative. But it has a lot of DAOs, NFTs, and $TLMs, and it feels like a classic game. The reason Alien Worlds has been a huge success is that it is a highly optimized, well-built, decentralized financing experience. But if you want games to achieve mass adoption, these games must remain high-quality and feel and play like League of Legends...
The number one question most gamers are most concerned about is often what is my return on investment? However, web2 gamers don't care about return on investment. Last year, there were 3.3 billion core gamers in the world who spent $191 billion on games, but they didn't own anything. The number one question web2 gamers care about is can this game bring me happiness? Again, I don't think it's possible to compare web2 games to web3 games because no game looks the same. The good news is that many of the big games that are coming out in 2024 have been built in two or three years, so I think 2024 will be a great year for web3 games.
3. For web3 users, which factors are the priority for them to keep playing games, style/story, social, levels, activities or digital assets? Why?
If you look at long-running games like World of Warcraft, Clash of Clans, and Candy Crush, there are some very strong and positive community threads running through those games. We are very social animals, and even if we don't know each other, but we all like the same game, we have something in common.
Personally, I play games because they are so creative. They are fun, enjoyable, and rewarding to play, and I get to build and participate in communities. That's why twitch streaming is so powerful in Youtube gaming. People love to engage and talk about common interests. I think games have to be well-made and innovative, but more importantly, they have to have healthy communities that allow players to theorize around the best gameplay paths or meta or multi-meta elements or their perspectives on the product, and if you can balance those factors correctly, these games can run long and be very rewarding. When do I play games? When I want to have a good time, when I want to accumulate valuable items, I will fully engage in playing games, and it is really, really enjoyable.
4. Which game do you recommend playing and starting to have fun in? Can you share your different experiences in games such as Polygon, Etherum, Solana, etc.?
For this question, I would definitely tell you to play games on WAX. On the WAX blockchain, more than 40% of blockchain transactions are completed every day. Because WAX is designed specifically for games, with fast transaction speeds, large transaction volumes, and no gas fees, users can get the best gaming experience. Of course, its blockchain is also making some great games, which I am also looking forward to, and I will mention it later.
The first one I would recommend is Music Mogul, which was launched at the end of January... The second one I would recommend is Spin Tycoon, which will also be released soon. In the Las Vegas city block, you can mine four different currencies, which is a very interesting experience...
Regarding the upcoming games on blockchains such as Polygon, Etherum, and Solana, I am very much looking forward to games such as Torque Drift on avalanche, Survival Horror, Shrapnel, Neon, lIIuvium, ImmutableX, Helix, etc. You can also pay attention to them.
5. What are your predictions for games in 2024?
If I were to make a prediction for 2024, it would be this: no matter what gaming chain you’re on, no matter what wallet you use, there’s going to be a huge risk, and the games on these gaming chains right now are going to raise the bar very high, and that’s going to really tell other developers around the world that unless you can make a game with depth, gameplay, and value, don’t bother making it. Take the latest version of Unreal Engine, for example, which a lot of web3 game developers are using, and it’s doing really well, but the conversation around web3 is never easy. I think by the end of this year, the idea that “web3 games are bad” will no longer exist, and that’s a big step in the right direction for the gaming industry and the gaming space.
Another good thing is that as AAA games come out, and I predict some of them will gain traction, it will be important to focus on the “entry” issue and lower the barrier to entry for gaming… Back in 2010, it wasn’t Microsoft, it wasn’t Sony, it wasn’t any of the big players, it was Zynga, it was supercell, it was king.com, it was Scopely, these little unknown companies that developed the free-to-play model and made billions of dollars.
I think there are a lot of games to look forward to in 2024, and as these quality games come out, these teams and these games will point the way for how web3 games can operate in the web2 mindset. 2024 is even more exciting because in this year, people have a deeper understanding of the balance between player-owned assets and enjoyable games. For the entire gaming industry, the key in 2024 is to find the "North Star" in the field, and this is what I am most looking forward to in 2024.
*Friendly reminder: This article is for popular science purposes only and does not constitute any investment advice!
