ChinaJoy post-essay: GameFi, Web3 Game, full-chain games... What is the ideal type of encrypted game?

In this ChinaJoy theme discussion, all relevant parties try not to describe our on-chain games in terms of X2E or GameFi, but use Web3 Game to describe our on-chain games. I finally realized that the core of Web3 Game is not a Ponzi scheme to cut leeks, but a real form of entertainment with Game as the core. Although everyone has not abandoned this gold swallowing beast that can quickly accumulate wealth, but finally weakened the financial speculation in Web3 Game.

Recently, Go2Mars participated in ChinaJoy2023 in Shanghai. There were endless discussions on Web3 games at the game event from traditional game manufacturers. After participating in several gatherings of traditional games overseas and Web3 games, we can find that whether it is Ubisoft, a major overseas traditional game manufacturer, or Blade Interactive Entertainment, a major domestic game manufacturer, they all have a deeper layout for Web3 games. Bandai Namco and Sega have also jointly launched the game blockchain Oasys. Various games at home and abroad, including chess and card (such as Mahjong Meta, chess Immortal Games), and gunfight (Matr1x) games have chained trial cases .

Of course, what is different from the past is that in this theme discussion, all relevant parties try not to describe our on-chain games in terms of X2E or GameFi, but use Web3Game to describe our on-chain games-this is of course an improvement, showing that Many organizations and gamers have finally realized that the core of Web3 Game is not a Ponzi scheme to cut leeks, but a real entertainment form with Game as its core. Although everyone has not abandoned this gold swallowing beast that can quickly accumulate wealth, but finally weakened the financial speculation in Web3 Game.

In the discussion of this article, I do not regard the game as a simple entertainment tool. On the contrary, the game is a change of trend, which may be a change in the interaction mode (Fruit Ninja-touch screen game), or it may be a change in the interaction mode. Iterative testing of financial products (GameFi).

** Gaming is a leading indicator of an emerging technology. **

Tokenomics: the stigmatized chain game

If the time goes back to the beginning of 22, when StepN became popular, every runner group is not discussing how much distance they have run, but calculating their entry capital return cycle—how to pass the fastest way Pay back and maximize profit? This is a question that every player is concerned about, so the chain game at that time was more called X2E or GameFi, the core of which is that it is an alternative form of mining, through pledge value tokens in exchange for NFT or game tokens , to earn a higher rate of return. Of course, these are clichés, and everyone who has experienced it will understand that this is not a sustainable game model. The tulip bubble will burst faster than your commercialization process, which is why GameFi will always go to The ending of Ponzi's rupture.

When discussing what the game can bring us, there was an explanation that I still remember:

Addictive mechanism = positive feedback of dopamine brought by the game itself + happiness brought by social interaction in the game

I very much agree. It should be said that in the traditional game world, except for full-time game bounty hunters, companions, and game studios, anyone who participates in games is for fun and social interaction. This is also the reason why so many real game players have criticized blockchain games in recent years. The so-called Crypto Native doesn’t care whether the game is fun or not, but just wants to calculate how to get higher profits and whether it can be copied to double the profits. , and don't care about the quality of the game.

Just discussing the game economic system, the economic mechanism of Fantasy Westward Journey and World of Warcraft is worth learning for any Web3 Game entrepreneur. When we no longer mention tokenomics in our mouths, the game has sufficient positive externalities, and players are for entertainment rather than speculation, then we can enter the next topic-what is Web3 Game playing, and why do Web3 Game .

Casual games are a classification of Web3 Games. In 2022, "Tetris" game developer PlayStudios has established a blockchain department and announced its entry into the Web3 market. Similarly, we can imagine which simple casual games: Match 3, Plants vs. Zombies, Angry Birds, Fishing masters, etc., can all become part of the Web3 game after the economic system chain reform.

In fact, there are too many Web3 casual games including match-3. Although the development is simple and the chaining is easy, the casual game is awkward in that the demand for chaining is a bit low—more realistically, chained casual games (especially including competitive leisure) games, if the financial attributes are lost, then the demand for the game will be drastically reduced, and finally it will become a gambling tool. The core of this type of game to attract players is to use the token mechanism to quickly attract new users. Most of these games will eventually end in Ponzi ending or no players will enter.

Compared with casual games, another Web3 Game that is often mentioned should be a 3A-level game. The 3A masterpiece that I am most interested in is "Black Myth Wukong". I don't know when it will be launched. Relatively large, after all, the technical threshold and capital requirements for the studio are very high. However, this type of 3A game is out of the speculative attributes that casual games often have. After all, people who are willing to spend time playing 3A generally care more about the quality of the game. It is a more stimulating innovation model that is more acceptable after chaining. That's right, here, more Web3ization, whether it is the circulation of NFT, Token system or the determination of rules on the chain, can bring a better gaming experience under appropriate circumstances.

Of course, the various types of Web3 games will not be described in detail. There are many types of card, simulation management, competitive, RPG, MMORPG, etc., which can be divided. The example of casual games and 3A masterpieces here is also a comparison. The former pays more attention to financial speculation and the traffic brought by airdrops, while the latter is more of a mechanism to optimize the game experience. The difference between the two is quite large. big.

**What are our expectations for blockchain games? I think it should not be "-Fi", but "Game". **

Full chain game: How important are the rules?

For the native encryption game (crypto-native game), we quote a highly recognized definition: **A native encryption game is a game that embraces the architectural model and spirit of blockchain application development to the greatest extent . **

In this definition, fully on-chain games are the way to go:

1. The blockchain is not only used as an auxiliary storage data tool, nor is it just to store asset ownership on the chain (half-chain game On-chain assets), but should store all meaningful data in chain
2. All game logic and rules are implemented through smart contracts
3. Games should be developed according to open ecosystem principles
4. The game itself has nothing to do with the client (that is, you can interact with the smart contract without using the client provided by the developer)
5. Support RWA (real-world-assets)

According to the above expression, the vast majority of games we have seen so far are half-chain games, that is, players’ assets are only stored on the chain, but the actual game operation is still carried out under the chain. Almost all GameFi games you have played are is this form.

The difference between full-chain games is that all game data is on-chain (directly or indirectly), and the game logic is implemented through smart contracts. Of course, if all the activities are put directly on the chain, both the processing speed and the number of processing on the chain will definitely be a problem. The existing processing implementation scheme can be delayed by the package encryption and verification similar to Layer 2. It is also possible to avoid high-frequency interactive processing in the design mechanism of the game. Of course, this is not the core of the discussion. Similarly, decentralized storage, ephemeral chain ephemeral chains, and App-specific precompile preprocessing have also been tried in terms of implementation methods.

For full-chain games, what I recognize the most is the pursuit of fairness, that is, all game logic is realized through smart contracts, especially online card games (TCG). As we all know, I am a loyal online chess and card game with the theme of the Three Kingdoms period. Fans, have been playing for twelve years. However, the game is notorious whether there is a problem with drawing cards at critical moments, or the lottery operation can only be guaranteed at the end. This in itself shows that game developers or operators can cut leeks without a bottom line in many cases. , which requires the whole chain of games to govern.

**"I came to Hangzhou only for three things, fairness, fairness, and xx's fairness."**Rules are in people's hearts, but they can't just rely on people's hearts. Rules need to be guaranteed.

What are our expectations for blockchain games? I think it is an expectation of a fair model.

Web3 Game to Web3 Society: Where does the future go

RWA, ARVR, Metaverse, Web3... As I said at the beginning of the article - I don't regard games as a simple entertainment tool, on the contrary, games are a change of trend.

Now, more and more on-chain and off-chain behaviors are combined. Our game rules can be specified by smart contracts. Our assets are just a few strings of data on the chain. Crypto has changed a lot in our lives, but Not enough.

I won't make a long speech about where the future is going, but Web3 Game may be an entertainment attempt of Web3 Society, what will the following world be like?