Chess is one of the oldest games on the planet. The age of the game makes it attractive to many players, as the game has truly stood the test of time. However, given that the game has been around for centuries, it’s had trouble adapting to the modern world.
At MetaChess, it’s our mission to bring chess into the 21st century. We aim to do so by integrating the metaverse and blockchain technology with chess.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the main challenges facing the chess game, and show how MetaChess offers solutions to take the game to a brighter future.
Problems and Solutions
As a game, chess has had long-term success. 100 or even 500 years from now, it will still be popular. Yet challenges exist, and we must address them sooner, rather than later.
On the next pages, we’ll discuss these key issues and the solutions that MetaChess platform offers.
1. Decreasing popularity in some markets
While the popularity of the game is increasing in places like India and the United States, interest is declining in other key markets, such as Europe, China and Japan.
MetaChess will therefore build the community around the world with proper marketing and by hosting online and offline events and by introducing some new features to the platform:
- Tournaments around the world
- Community groups on Telegram, Discord and elsewhere
- A metaverse that takes chess into the future
2. Loss of interest from kids as they grow up
There’s been a trend of young players, which are key to the game’s sustainability, losing interest in their teens, as other esports games and life seem more exciting. As some experts have noted, this is because chess is largely seen as a scholastic tool, instead of a lifelong hobby. Perhaps a shift in how chess is viewed, as well as new tech features and the ability to earn income, will properly incentivize youth to continue playing chess into adulthood.
MetaChess flips the script, positioning chess as a thrilling hobby. We embrace chess as a passion by creating a community of equally passionate young players, incentivizing people to play with numerous P2E features (especially $SHAH token), and introducing new game modes such as Warfront.
3. Only the top players can earn money
The vast majority of chess players simply don’t earn money from the game. In fact, they spend lots of money on boards, tutors, and traveling to tournaments.
According to Hercules Chess, a resource blog for learning chess, the best players earn more than $100,000 USD per year, with the top 3 earning more than $1 million. Still, only a small portion earn money.
Considering that 1 billion people play chess, there are undoubtedly untapped earning opportunities.
The solution is obviously to enable ALL players to earn money as they have fun while playing by introducing the following features:
- Earning opportunities including learn-to-earn, coach-to-earn, dig-to-earn, stake-to-earn and more
- A decentralized platform that distributes revenue fairly
- Tokenomics and revenue model that fuel the internal economy and long-term financial sustainability
4. 3rd parties take the lion’s share of profits
Streaming has opened up a new way for chess players to make money. For instance, top Twitch chess streamers, like GMHikaru, have logged millions of viewer hours and are earning solid money.
However, streaming providers, like Twitch, are taking too much of the money. According to some estimates, Twitch takes about 50% of the revenue generated by streamers for themselves. That’s simply unfair.
To fix this, we’re creating a truly decentralized ecosystem with a revenue-sharing model that actually distributes value to those that create it. By decentralizing the system, we also eliminate greedy intermediaries (rent-seekers) and are introducing a true peer-to-peer economy with ample P2E options.
In all these ways, we’re empowering our community members to earn money in multiple ways. What’s more, participating in the platform with NFTs and SHAH tokens offers the opportunity to unlock the full potential of the platform.
5. Lack of new technological features to invigorate the space
While online chess has gone mainstream, the industry has yet to truly adopt new and exciting technologies, such as the blockchain, NFTs, and the metaverse. To attract new players, more technological features are needed. We can’t be afraid to break the rules a little.
For this reason, MetaChess will build a chess metaverse and will be the first chess metaverse to merge online and offline worlds. We will create unique and aesthetically pleasing NFT figurines with special features and benefits which our community members will be able to hold as collectibles, use in the game, buy or sell, and rent to earn money.
We will develop a token-based economy for chess: our SHAH token has lots of utility, including paying for items in the NFT marketplace and accepting payment as a coach.
Speaking of a lack of innovation, we will implement new game modes and earning features: 2D and 3D traditional gameplay, as well as Treasure Quest, Captivity and Warfront game modes.
We will also add in a DeFi aspect to the game by enabling the players to stake the SHAH token to earn passive income.
Finally, we want to make chess accessible anytime and anywhere and for that purpose, we’ll make sure that MetaChess has cross-chain and cross-platform capabilities.
6. AI Technology is turning some human players away from the game
Computers are forcing human players to remember more and more to stay competitive. Researchers from Penn State University warn that computers will only keep improving, and human memory won’t be able to keep up with the technology. This fact turns away some people and causes them to pursue other hobbies, ones that aren’t dominated by artificial intelligence.
So to get around that, we’re building a large global community to ensure PVP matches can always happen (while still enabling PVE matches). We’re making sure that our decentralized chess platform puts community first. We will also create different game modes that can NOT be dominated by AI.
Also, to attract more people into the game, we will make chess more immersive and interactive by creating a captivating metaverse experience that puts human players at the heart of action.
7. Nothing to merge the online and offline chess worlds
Around the world, community chess spaces offer areas for players to meet and play. During the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor games have become even more popular. Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, California, for instance, has seen a revival of live chess matches.
Yet not everyone can or prefers to meet in person to play. A solution like the metaverse can enable online-offline interactions between chess friends.
To that end, we’re developing a chess metaverse that merges online chess with the real world. Our platform enables opportunities for community members to get together for a game or tournament at any time. In-person meetups and events are a priority for our communities.
Online, we will have watch features that will allow friends and fans the chance to watch you play. We will also host regular online tournaments as well as regular offline tournaments, such as our inaugural youth tourney in Nigeria in 2021.
The way ahead
MetaChess came to be not only to solve these problems, but also to unlock the potential of the chess market. By fusing chess with blockchain technology, we aim to merge the best of traditional chess with all the possibilities of new technologies. Whether you want to earn money from your hobby or have fun playing chess in the metaverse, we believe that MetaChess is the platform for you.
About MetaChess
MetaChess is the first 3D multiplayer play-to-earn (P2E) and NFT metaverse chess game. The platform is in 2D and 3D. The 3D version will be divided into two. The first part is the regular chess game, with traditional chess pieces in 3D. The second part is more animated and fancy. It consists of chess pieces in the form of humanoid characters. You can own NFTs (unique chess pieces) which will be used in the game. The platform also has play-to-earn (P2E) models that make it worth players’ time. The 2D version is currently playable. You can either play with AI or play with another user.
Official Links
Telegram: https://t.me/metachess_network
Telegram Announcement Channel: https://t.me/metachess_announcement
Twitter: https://twitter.com/real_metachess
Medium: https://medium.com/@metachess
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metachess
Instagram: https://instagram.com/metachess_network
Website: Metachess.network