Table of Content
October 25, 2024
Table of Content
When people hear the term "Blockchain" they always connect it with the financial context like cryptocurrency and investment. But, the fact is that the usage of blockchain is being expanded day by day!
It is used in various industries such as agriculture, healthcare, cybersecurity, supply chain management, etc. Now it has dived into one more industry i.e. Online Gaming.
The gaming industry has experienced enormous growth over the past few years. According to the latest report, the global blockchain gaming market
was valued at USD 128.62 billion in 2022 and is set to reach USD 614.91 billion in 2030, with North America dominating the global blockchain gaming market at 23.87%.
Through this, it is evident that blockchain technology is transforming the gaming industry.
Let us explore further!
Blockchain game development is the process of creating games utilizing blockchain technology to enhance gameplay and player engagement.
It is not like traditional game development, which depends on centralized servers. These blockchain games make use of decentralized ledgers to record transactions and manage in-game assets securely.
This decentralized approach increases transparency and trust among players as they can independently verify their actions.
And the most interesting part among all these is that in blockchain games players can have complete ownership of digital assets!
Each transaction is recorded in an immutable way, ensuring a fair gaming environment and enabling players to participate without the fear of fraud.
But, do you know the other innovative features it offers?
Take a look at it,
Players can earn cryptocurrency or NFTs by playing games! This is to improve player participation and engagement
For instance, let us consider the case of a game like Axie Infinity , where players earn tokens by battling creatures and can trade these tokens for real money!
Blockchain allows different games to interact with one another. Players can use their NFTs across several platforms.
This is to boost a connected gaming ecosystem where assets hold value more than just a single game.
Some blockchain games are governed by Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, or DAOs. This allows players to participate in decision-making processes regarding game development and updates.
Now let us move on with the process of creating a blockchain game.
This is the foremost step in creating a blockchain game. Here you need to define your game's mechanics and the unique features it offers to engage players.
But, how to do that? You need to conduct thorough market research and understand the market trends and player preferences.
After this, you have to brainstorm innovative gameplay elements that will make your game stand out from the crowd!
Selecting the right blockchain is very important to meet the game's technical requirements.
So you must assess various platforms based on transaction speed, security, and fees to find the perfect fit!
Remember this choice impacts how in-game assets are managed, traded, and even the player experience.
Designing NFTs is necessary to decide which in-game assets will be tokenized and their roles within the game.
Developers enhance player engagement and foster a lively in-game economy by creating valuable NFTs, which include characters, items, and much more.
The main motive behind this integration is not only to enrich the gaming experience but also to influence them to invest time and resources into the game!
Smart contracts are crucial to manage transactions and asset ownership securely within the game.
These self-executing contracts automate functions like trading and rewarding players without intermediaries. Thus, making the process simple!
Here comes the main event, building the game!
It requires using suitable programming languages and tools to create an engaging user experience while integrating blockchain features.
The goal is to enhance gameplay using blockchain technology and make it one step ahead of traditional gaming.
Thorough testing is vital to ensure both security measures and gameplay mechanics are on track!
This step allows you to identify bugs and fix them before they hit the market.
Voila! your game has reached the last phase, that is launching.
This involves releasing the game and promoting it through various channels to attract players.
But, your job doesn't end with just launching your game! You need to constantly maintain and update it to foster long-term engagement and eliminate the risk of getting lost in the crowd!
Now let us look into some successful blockchain games that have effectively crossed their launch and post-launch phases.
It is a blockchain-based game developed by Sky Mavis, where players collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Axies.
The game operates on a P2E model , which allows users to earn cryptocurrency through gameplay.
Players can engage in battles, complete quests, and breed Axies to create new ones with unique genetic traits.
Now coming to the economy of the game, it is driven by two main tokens namely Axie Infinity Shards(AXS) for governance and Smooth Love Potions (SLP) as rewards for gameplay activities.
It is a decentralized virtual reality platform built using the Ethereum blockchain that allows users to buy, develop, and monetize virtual land parcels as NFTs.
Here users can create their own experiences, games, and applications using the platform's tools!
The most impressive part is that Decentraland operates on its native cryptocurrency called "MANA", which is used for transactions within the ecosystem.
The next one on the list is The Sandbox. It allows users to create, own, and monetize their gaming experience using NFTs and their native cryptocurrency, "SAND".
It offers tools like VoxEdit for creating 3D assets and Game Maker for building games without coding knowledge.
Players can even purchase virtual land to develop their games and monetize them through sales and gameplay!
If you are wondering about the difference between traditional and blockchain games. Then, no worries we will discuss that in the upcoming section.
Traditional gaming and blockchain gaming differ from each other with their own set of characteristics.
Traditional games operate within a centralized framework where developers control all aspects of the game, including data, assets, etc.
To put it in simple terms, players do not truly own in-game items; instead these assets are tied to the game itself and cannot be transferred or sold outside of the game ecosystem.
To be honest, this model is a closed-loop economy where players invest time and money but they do not get any real claim for their digital possessions!
On the other hand, blockchain gaming represents a decentralized approach where players hold ownership of their digital assets through NFTs and cryptocurrencies.
Players can sell, and trade these assets across different games!
As blockchain technology promotes transparency and security, it allows players to indulge themselves in play-to-earn models without the fear of fraudulent activities.
However, both models come with their own pros and cons!
When we take the case of traditional games they provide a polished experience for the players but lack economic flexibility.
Similarly, blockchain games may still face challenges in scalability and user accessibility but they offer innovations in the gaming industry.
In spite of this, they do hold a few unique features that set them apart from traditional games. Let us view what it is!
Extra Income
Developers can generate extra income through NFT sales and from secondary market transactions.
Security
The use of smart contracts in blockchain gaming will reduce the risk of fraud! These contracts automate transactions and enforce rules, to provide a secure environment.
Community Building
Engaging players in the development process fosters a sense of ownership. Developers can benefit from the feedback they receive from the players, which will result in a more dynamic gaming experience!
Ownership
Players will have genuine ownership of their in-game assets, which will allow them to trade or sell items on various platforms.
Revenue Generation
Blockchain games provide a feature called play-to-earn, which will enable them to earn cryptocurrency or NFTs through gameplay.
Transparency:
All the transactions that take place within blockchain games are recorded to ensure fairness. This fosters trust among players!
The incorporation of blockchain technology into gaming platforms is not just a trend, but it represents a huge shift in how games are not only created for entertainment but also for monetization!
Are you looking to develop a blockchain gaming platform? At Fourchain, a leading blockchain game development company, we can help you in creating an immersive gaming experience using blockchain technology.
Connect with us today, to give life to your vision!