Presented by AppsFlyer
Web3 games offer brand new developer opportunities and unique challenges. In this VB On-Demand event, you’ll get a glimpse into the world of Web3 gaming, from what Web3 actually means and how it works, to growth opportunities, potential hurdles and more.
With blockchain and the idea of asset ownership ingrained in its DNA, Web3 opens up a profound new layer of player engagement and developer opportunity. Playing to earn becomes a different style of play when users consider the potential profitability of their playing time. Purchasable assets, such as a more powerful weapon or clothing for an avatar, become so much more important to the player when they actually belong to him rather than the developer. And all of that becomes a revenue stream for the game developers themselves, says Alex Yip, senior solution architect at AppsFlyer.
However, there is a learning curve: the complexity of the technology itself, the new ownership paradigm, and the impact on the player-developer relationship all present challenges for developers starting to tackle this Web3 space.
“The growth opportunities make Web3 an attractive new market,” says Yip. “Developers who solve these challenges are now becoming leaders in the space and positioning themselves at the head of the pack.”
Contents
Opportunities for developers now
One of the most interesting parts of Web3 is the added layer of ownership and identity, says Yip – the players seizing the opportunity to design how they present themselves to the world. For example, the huge number of players in web2 games who design their weapons and dress up their avatars to express their identity.
“That level of ownership, where users can buy and sell, will introduce an exciting collecting side to the business,” says Yip. “And it’s a whole new revenue stream for developers because every time these NFTs change hands, the developers get a cut.”
Instead of selling assets and getting a lump sum, those assets suddenly become an ongoing source of royalties. Investors see this as an opportunity for them to completely transform the monetization model, says Yip. There is a lot of opportunity to rethink how these revenue streams and NFTs can change how developers make a profit.
The other aspect is the transparency that decentralized blockchain brings, making transactions visible. Players can follow the economy, see how the community is engaged and see how the game develops through its transactions.
“People within the community feel like they own a part of the game, and that level of involvement is totally unique,” he says.
The challenges behind Web3 experiences
Web3 technology is so new that best practices are still being formulated as developers step into the breach, learning new coding languages and an entirely new economic model, and looking for ways to bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3 projects.
Some developers are going the app and web browser route and experimenting with how and where to integrate tokenomics. It’s an entirely new and complex facet of game development, both in terms of managing players and player behavior, and grappling with the technology side.
In play-to-earn games where users are looking for ways to make a profit, it is inevitable that some users will be looking for ways to play the game. The mechanics behind the game are crucial to mastering this factor and are also incredibly challenging. If you generate coins, are they inflationary or deflationary, and how does the generation of new coins affect the market? Are your NFTs and coins compatible with different games and different protocols?
“There are so many layers to consider, and a whole new world of finance and trading to consider,” says Yip.
User acquisition in Web3
Community building has become an essential first step in acquiring users for Web3 games, sometimes sparking interest long before a single line of code has been committed on the developer’s end.
“Some of the new Web3 projects that have really taken off have started on social media,” he says. “And then your users have a lot of different tactics to grow these communities without you spending a dollar to get started.”
But it’s not just chats between excited players. Many of these potential players come in with the expectation that they will have a voice in the development of the project. Empowering your audience right from the gate is a powerful way to turn first adopters into evangelists, who go out into the world and promote the new opportunity.
These users will do “raids,” or a group that spreads game information across social media platforms. They help design new memes and new GIFs to raise awareness. They will offer their skills such as translating promotional materials to increase international exposure, and more.
There are also tactics like airdrops, or finding the wallet addresses of potential players and throwing in free resources to get them to check out your game, and celebrity influencers raving about the project and building notoriety.
Getting Web3 games right
Delving into the core of Web3 – the tokenomics and the blockchain of it all – is essential to success in this brand new world, but some things never change: you have to build a good game.
“Ultimately, we’re talking about games here,” says Yip. “Focus on the gaming and user experience. You want users to come in because they want to play this game, not because they’re just collecting tokens. A token dispenser has a much shorter shelf life than a really exciting game.”
agenda
- What Web3 is and how Web3 games work
- How to tap into new growth opportunities and solutions
- Best practices for connecting and onboarding users
- Navigating the fragmented platform landscape
- Why measurement and attribution are crucial from the start
Presenters
- Phillip DevinCEO, Crypto Blades
- Justin BirdCo-founder, Safari
- John LiuMain Product, AWS Web3 / Blockchain
- Alex KipSenior Solution Architect, AppsFlyer
- Dean TakahashiLead Writer, GamesBeat (Moderator)
Janice has been with businesskinda for 5 years, writing copy for client websites, blog posts, EDMs and other mediums to engage readers and encourage action. By collaborating with clients, our SEO manager and the wider businesskinda team, Janice seeks to understand an audience before creating memorable, persuasive copy.