On Saturday, March 3, the new Magic Animal crypto game was launched. I am a member of the team of authors, who knows this project from the very beginning of the idea. Now I would like to share my thoughts and some interesting points, as well as talk about modern cryptogaming in general. It will be useful for developers, investors, and people interested in blockchain and games. Let's start!
The specifics of cryptogames
First of all, I have to say that this is already the fifth cryptogame in the development of which I participate. In the past, my team and I have done space race projects, restaurant owner simulator, and fantasy projects. Magic Animal, despite the name, has nothing to do with the world of fantasy, but is a zoo simulator and will definitely appeal to everyone who loves the Tamagotchi theme: pet care, timely feeding, etc.
However, in the modern game industry there are already enough projects for every taste. Games with incredibly realistic graphics or complex mechanics, different genres and themes that can keep fans glued to their gadgets for years, even small games on smart bracelets that allow you to pass the time - it's all there. Crypto games are not distinguished by unique plots or visual charms and do not offer players anything new from the technical side. After all, the only thing that really distinguishes such games from others is the use of decentralized networks for data storage and transactions. But at the same time, this is precisely why such projects are successful.
According to statistics, the number of active projects in the field of crypto gaming increased by 780% in 2023 alone! Primitive casinos and other gambling games are being replaced by projects with a truly unique plot. And although the "roguelike" genre is the most popular among new solutions, there are other genres that adapt to the game model. The main question remains how cryptocurrency is used here â an integral component of any crypto game. Already today, large companies are talking about the future fusion of WEB 3.0 with the world of metauniverses, where cryptocurrency will play a major role for calculations. However, while game developers are working on methods that involve attracting cryptocurrency to the project and increasing transactions. And those who manage to find a balance between plot and profit become the kings of P2E.
The plot of Magic Animal
In our last project, we did not set a goal to create something fundamentally new: cryptogames where players are engaged in the development of their "farm" is a fairly common phenomenon. We have set ourselves the goal, first of all, to create favorable investment conditions in order to provide our clients with the opportunity of a tangible reward for playing time. In fact, it was not an easy task, because it required more attention to game logic.
  So the Magic Animal player becomes the owner of a zoo where 13 different animals can live at the same time. The list includes meerkat, capybara, peacock, ostrich, tapir, panda, gazelle, otter, koala, pelican, giraffe, beaver and hippopotamus. Animals are divided into categories that become available during the development of the zoo. Each subsequent animal is worth more money (2 in-game currencies âcookiesâ and âcoinsâ are available), but at the same time has a higher ROI.
The vast majority of such games have a common strategy: we increase the number of lower-order units, which generate more resources for us to purchase higher-order units. So we decided to change this very dependency and save players from spending a lot of time on monotonous resource farming.
According to the unofficial law of world balance, in order to get something, you must be ready to sacrifice something. Our team understood that a certain system of game values is necessary, which will keep the attention of players and require a responsible attitude to the process. And this system was suggested by nature itself: all animals in captivity require care and feeding. Pets in Magic Animal should also be fed at standard intervals. The animal can die if the player forgets about it, and under the terms of the game, it is no longer possible to buy a new pet or "resurrect" an old one. The loss of an animal will significantly reduce the level of income, so you cannot forget about them.
Another feature of Magic Animal is an additional opportunity to earn "cookies" - to organize competitions. We assure you that no animal suffers in such activities, as they do not need to fight or run forward. The winner is determined randomly among the participants of the competition and receives a total bank from the funds contributed by the players for participation. Such opportunities always make the game more interesting and dynamic.
Technical features
Magic Animal uses a Binance Smart Chain smart contract built on Solidity. The game has received the results of two audits from independent expert companies and meets all safety requirements for players. The speed and adaptability of the application is provided by the React solution. To enter the game, you should use your own MetaMask, after which the player gets access to all the elements of the dApp. Credit to a personal account and withdrawal of cryptocurrency takes place in BNB.
Unlike other similar projects, Magic Animal allows you to collect the generated game currency at any convenient time. Likewise, you can always take part in animal competitions, provided you have enough coins to pay the fee - "tickets" worth from 10 to 500 coins are available. After the automatic determination of the winner, you can try your luck again.
The smart contract determines the cost of feed for the animal, which is 0.9% of its total cost. You need to feed your pet at least once every three days. Feeding takes place within a single popup, which also displays a timer until the next feeding time. The possibility of automating the maintenance process is deliberately not foreseen.
Another feature of the game is the loyal referral system. We are ready to generously reward everyone who recommends the game to friends, so we give a bonus of 7% "cookies" and 3% coins from the contribution of each invited player. In addition, the smart contract accrues another 2% "cookies" and 0.9% "coins" for each player that your player attracts.
Where are the earnings in crypto games?
Finally, answers to the main questions that concern investors should be given. As for the players, everything is clear: in P2E games, they convert the time spent into game profit and gradually increase the amount of invested funds. In general, such games cannot be considered a tool for stable earnings: it is, rather, a pleasant bonus. However, with significant amounts of investment and the ability to convince friends, even here you can make good money.
In fact, cryptogames should be of interest to investors first, because it is a great business idea. Statistics show that attention to all games using decentralized networks is steadily growing, and therefore there will be more and more people willing to play. The most difficult thing here is not even development (although this requires the involvement of specialists with experience), but the creation of effective game mechanics and a flexible economic system. After all, any transaction in the game can potentially benefit its owners: commissions for depositing and withdrawing cryptocurrency, percentage of winnings inside the game, subscription, built-in purchases and much more - all this is just an endless field for introducing new opportunities and making a profit. So if you have a promising idea of how to make an interesting game, don't delay the implementation, because someone else will be able to take advantage of this opportunity before you.
