#27 State of On-chain games w/ Neeraj and Shula

03/24/24 • 19 min

The Token Takeover

Summary: The State of Fully On-Chain Games/Autonomous Worlds

Major Themes:

Evolution of Fully On-Chain Games: The conversation highlighted the transition from traditional web2 gaming to the innovative sphere of web3, focusing on the development and potential of fully on-chain games. These games, where both the game state and logic exist entirely on a blockchain, represent a new frontier in gaming that combines technology, finance, and community in unprecedented ways.
Challenges and Opportunities: Building fully on-chain games introduces unique challenges, such as designing game mechanics that are engaging yet feasible within the constraints of blockchain technology. The financial aspect of these games, where player actions and assets have real-world value, adds complexity to game design and economy management. However, these challenges also open up opportunities for creating more immersive, lasting, and community-driven gaming experiences.
Permissionless Design: A key focus was on the development of permissionless games, which allow for anyone to build upon and interact with the game's ecosystem without central oversight. This approach fosters a more inclusive and dynamic gaming environment, where the community plays a significant role in shaping the game's evolution.
Sustainability of Game Economies: The sustainability of game economies within fully on-chain games remains an area of exploration. Designers and developers are experimenting with various models to create balanced and lasting economies, drawing parallels with real-world economic systems and the challenges they face.

Memorable Quotes:

"The potential of a game that lives on forever is just, uh, mind-blowing." - Host
"You don't start to imagine the things that we had to overcome to build a Fully On-Chain Game, man. It's a lot." - Shula
"These games can live forever." - Neeraj
"Game design is a total shift of what Web2 game design is... You need to start thinking and framing every possible thing that you are doing with your game, everything that you are designing." - Shula

Actionable Takeaways:

For Game Developers: Consider the unique opportunities and challenges of building fully on-chain games. Focus on creating engaging game mechanics that are feasible within the blockchain environment and consider the financial implications of your game's design on the player economy.
For the Web3 Community: Engage with and support the development of fully on-chain games. These games represent a significant step towards more autonomous, community-driven gaming experiences that could reshape the industry.
For Investors and Stakeholders: Recognize the potential of fully on-chain games as a growing segment within the gaming industry. Consider investing in projects that are exploring innovative ways to tackle the challenges of game design, economy, and sustainability in the blockchain context.

This episode shed light on the state of fully on-chain games, highlighting the exciting potential and inherent challenges of this emerging field. Through the experiences shared by Shula and Neeraj, listeners gained insights into the evolving landscape of web3 gaming and the collaborative effort required to push the boundaries of what's possible in this space.
https://twitter.com/Moonstreamto

Summary: The State of Fully On-Chain Games/Autonomous Worlds

Major Themes:

Evolution of Fully On-Chain Games: The conversation highlighted the transition from traditional web2 gaming to the innovative sphere of web3, focusing on the development and potential of fully on-chain games. These games, where both the game state and logic exist entirely on a blockchain, represent a new frontier in gaming that combines technology, finance, and community in unprecedented ways.
Challenges and Opportunities: Building fully on-chain games introduces unique challenges, such as designing game mechanics that are engaging yet feasible within the constraints of blockchain technology. The financial aspect of these games, where player actions and assets have real-world value, adds complexity to game design and economy management. However, these challenges also open up opportunities for creating more immersive, lasting, and community-driven gaming experiences.
Permissionless Design: A key focus was on the development of permissionless games, which allow for anyone to build upon and interact with the game's ecosystem without central oversight. This approach fosters a more inclusive and dynamic gaming environment, where the community plays a significant role in shaping the game's evolution.
Sustainability of Game Economies: The sustainability of game economies within fully on-chain games remains an area of exploration. Designers and developers are experimenting with various models to create balanced and lasting economies, drawing parallels with real-world economic systems and the challenges they face.

Memorable Quotes:

"The potential of a game that lives on forever is just, uh, mind-blowing." - Host
"You don't start to imagine the things that we had to overcome to build a Fully On-Chain Game, man. It's a lot." - Shula
"These games can live forever." - Neeraj
"Game design is a total shift of what Web2 game design is... You need to start thinking and framing every possible thing that you are doing with your game, everything that you are designing." - Shula

Actionable Takeaways:

For Game Developers: Consider the unique opportunities and challenges of building fully on-chain games. Focus on creating engaging game mechanics that are feasible within the blockchain environment and consider the financial implications of your game's design on the player economy.
For the Web3 Community: Engage with and support the development of fully on-chain games. These games represent a significant step towards more autonomous, community-driven gaming experiences that could reshape the industry.
For Investors and Stakeholders: Recognize the potential of fully on-chain games as a growing segment within the gaming industry. Consider investing in projects that are exploring innovative ways to tackle the challenges of game design, economy, and sustainability in the blockchain context.

Previous Episode

#23 Web3 Marketing, Simplified with Justin CEO of Safary

Major Themes:

Founder's Journey and Community Building: Justin, the co-founder of Safary, shared his journey from entering the crypto space in November 2021 to establishing Safary. Initially aiming to develop a DAO tool, they pivoted to focus on building a community of Web3 growth leaders. This community-first approach led to the realization of the need for better tools to serve the Web3 growth industry, culminating in the creation of an attribution tool akin to "Google Analytics for Web3."
Challenges and Opportunities in Web3 Growth: Safary addresses critical gaps in Web3 marketing by providing insights into which marketing channels drive tangible results. This attribution tool helps Web3 companies measure the effectiveness of their marketing strategies by linking off-chain activities with on-chain outcomes, a crucial advancement given the complexities of tracking conversions in the decentralized web.
Safary's Evolution: Starting as a community, Safary evolved into a research hub before developing its own Web3 analytics tool. This progression highlights the importance of understanding community needs and leveraging insights to build practical solutions. Justin's journey underscores the value of adaptability and direct engagement with your target audience to refine and develop relevant products.
Community-Led Growth: Justin emphasized the significance of building small, intimate communities where real connections are fostered. He shared insights on scaling communities slowly to maintain quality interactions and the importance of founder involvement in community engagement. Safary's approach to community building, focusing on relationships and personal connections, serves as a model for Web3 projects aiming to cultivate a dedicated user base.
Fundraising Insights: Although the conversation didn't delve deeply into Safary's fundraising journey, it was hinted that Safary successfully navigated raising capital in a challenging bear market by initially gathering support from angel investors. This strategy demonstrated the power of showcasing a strong network and unique market insights to secure significant VC backing.

Memorable Quotes:

"We built a community first and then evolved into doing research and building tools for the Web3 growth industry." - Justin
"Community building in Web3 is about fostering real connections and engagement, not just amassing large numbers." - Justin
"Our attribution tool is like Google Analytics for Web3, bridging the gap between off-chain marketing activities and on-chain results." - Justin

Actionable Takeaways:

For Web3 Founders: Consider adopting a community-first approach to understand your audience deeply and identify the tools and solutions they need. Engage directly with your community members to build lasting relationships and gather valuable insights that can guide your product development.
For Marketing Professionals: Explore and leverage analytics tools designed for the Web3 ecosystem, like Safary's attribution platform, to optimize your marketing strategies and ensure your efforts contribute to tangible outcomes.

Safary's journey from a community initiative to a pioneering Web3 analytics platform underscores the importance of listening to your audience, iterating based on feedback, and the transformative power of community-led growth in the decentralized space.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-vogel/
https://twitter.com/Safaryclub

Next Episode

#30 How to ACTUALLY Market your Web3 Startup w/Treki from The Gaming Strategist

In this video, we share a conversation with Treki, Founder of The Gaming Strategist, a leading Web3 marketing agency.
https://twitter.com/Treki33

The Token Takeover - #27 State of On-chain games w/ Neeraj and Shula

Transcript

NoAutopilot00:00:00.260

Hey, this is Noel Autopilot, founder of the Gaming Startup Collective and host of the Token Takeover podcast. In today's episode, we're sharing a conversation about the state of fully on chain games slash autonomous worlds and what this burgeoning area of Web3 could mean for the future of gaming. Enough of me talking. Let's jump into the content. Hello, hello everyone. What's up, Shula? What's up, Dungeon Knight? Hope you're both doing well. Sh