With a legacy spanning over 20 years in the gaming industry, Cyprus-based company Nekki has established itself as a pioneer in web game development. Known for its widely popular parkour runner, Vector, and the acclaimed Shadow Fight series, Nekki has achieved an impressive milestone of over 1 billion installs on mobile platforms, primarily through organic growth and word-of-mouth.
Before its foray into mobile gaming, Nekki had its roots in developing social and browser-based games, particularly in the management genre. Its early successes included the football management game 11x11 and a Gladiators management browser-based game, where players assembled and trained teams, participated in matches and tournaments, and engaged in marketplace trading — a gameplay mechanic that seems tailor-made for the emerging Web3 gaming landscape.
New Life of Management Games
The management genre, a perfect fit for browser-based gaming, catered to a mature audience. It required strategic thinking over action skills or time commitment and allowed for casual engagement with minimal daily actions. This genre, however, took a backseat with the rise of action-oriented mobile games. Nekki, armed with its unique 20+ years of experience, now sees the Web3 platform as an opportunity to revitalize the management genre.
Fight Me — Join the Club
Nekki’s first venture into Web3 gaming is ‘Fight Me’, a browser-based fight club manager incorporating NFTs. In this game, players collect fighters from various factions, train them to unlock perks and items, and compete in battles and leagues. The unique visuals and traits of each fighter, coupled with an evolving NFT feature that reflects the fighter’s power-upgrades, add depth to the gameplay.
Fight Me has already garnered significant interest in the Web3 community, boasting over 62,000 active Discord users and 38,000 Twitter followers. The game is set to release in Q2 2024, with a presale of the first Genesis NFT fighters collection scheduled for December 15.
Sustainable Economy
Nekki is dedicated to ensuring the long-term viability of ‘Fight Me’ by focusing on sustainability. To avoid reliance on the volatile crypto market, Nekki has decided against using a cryptotoken. Instead, the game introduces ‘Boost Cola’, a pivotal in-game resource following NFT fighters in value. This special drink, used to enhance and evolve fighters’ abilities, is not tradeable and can only be earned through gameplay. Importantly, Boost Cola is not for sale; the only way to acquire more than what is available through standard gameplay is by inviting new players to join Fight Me, creating a ripple effect of player base growth.
Making a Game Players Will Love
To attract Web2 players, Nekki has established clear requirements for the game:
High-Quality Graphics
Recognizing the importance of visuals, Nekki has invested heavily in developing high-quality character designs and NFT card designs, as well as engaging animations for the fights, making the game both visually appealing and immersive.
Interesting Story
Drawing on its world-building experience, Nekki has crafted a rich narrative set in Triumphia, a multiverse city-planet where dreams are realized through combat. The game’s story revolves around an enigmatic corporation that runs tournaments, awarding Boost Cola, a substance that allows fighters to evolve by acquiring traits from their counterparts in parallel universes. This storyline is brought to life through cinematic episodes.
Core Mechanics
Nekki aims to provide depth and complexity in gameplay by offering a variety of weapons, items, talents, traits, and pet companions. This variety ensures each fight is unique and unpredictable, much like the ever-changing scenarios of a football match.
Expanding to Web2 Audience
Nekki recognizes the challenges in merging Web2 and Web3 experiences, particularly the barriers faced by casual Web2 players when entering the Web3 space:
No Crypto Wallet Needed
To make the game accessible to Web2 audiences, Nekki has implemented a simple sign-up process using email or social logins, eliminating the need for a crypto wallet. Web3 players, however, retain the option to trade NFTs and connect their wallets.
Offering Traditional Payment Options
Nekki ensures accessibility by allowing the purchase of in-game collectible fighters using fiat currency, making the game approachable for those unfamiliar with crypto, yet still embracing Web3 values of ownership and tradeability.
Making the Game Browser-Based
To overcome potential barriers related to downloads and installations, Nekki uses HTML5 technology, enabling Fight Me to be played directly in web browsers on both PC and mobile devices.
Web2 and Web3 to Balance Each Other
In ‘Fight Me’, Nekki has ingeniously designed the game’s economy to thrive on the interdependence of Web2 and Web3 audiences. This synergy is built on the unique roles and motivations of these two types of players. One group of players willing to earn will act like farm teams in football, developing top-notch fighters and placing them on the marketplace. They’re the backbone of the game’s economy, providing a steady stream of evolved fighters. On the other hand, competitive players, driven by a passion for competition and victory in tournaments and leagues, are on the constant lookout to acquire these skilled fighters to bolster their teams. This creates a vibrant marketplace where the supply from Web3 players meets the demand of Web2 players, sustaining a healthy and active in-game economy.
Further integrating these communities is the game’s unique recruitment program. By incentivizing players to bring new gamers into ‘Fight Me’, Nekki not only expands the player base but also creates a viral effect, reaching out to even those outside the typical gaming circles. This feature adds an exciting layer to the game, as the rewards for recruitment are exclusive and can’t be obtained with money, making the game appealing to a broader audience and continually injecting fresh energy and competition into the gameplay.
Through this approach, Nekki ensures that the game remains dynamic and engaging, with Web2 and Web3 players both playing crucial roles. The Web3 players provide valuable assets for the game’s marketplace, while the Web2 players drive the demand, ensuring a constant flow of activity and interaction.
Final Thoughts
In an ever-changing world, predicting success is challenging, but Nekki believes it has the right ingredients for success. With over 20 years of experience in management and fighting games, over 1 billion game installs, proven success in browser, social, and mobile markets, a dedicated community, and an exceptional team, Nekki is poised to make a significant impact with Fight Me. The company invites everyone to join in this exciting journey.
Stay connected with Nekki’s developments by following their social channels, subscribing at fight.me, and keeping an eye on the upcoming presale on Magic Eden, scheduled for December 15.
