Building blockchain gaming one block at a time

The best of bad times…

It’s been almost six weeks since we launched BlockchainGamer.biz to cover the collision between blockchain technology and the games industry.

During that time, my highest hopes and worst fears have been realized.

Yes, blockchain technology is going to play a significant part in the future of the games industry; equivalent — but different — to the impact of the internet.

And yes, the current iteration of ‘blockchain gaming’ is barely worthy of the name. It’s a niche within a niche and it’s not clear how quickly that’s going to change.

Much too much, much too young

The good news is I think the first point is the more significant of the two.

Now, this isn’t to say speed of adoption isn’t a serious issue. It is.

As we’ve seen in recent years with smart TVs, wearables and virtual reality, solid technology can be derailed and effectively killed off by gaining too much hype and being exposed to the mass market too early.

Smart TVs, VR, and to a lesser extent wearables, were spoken of as being the next big thing in gaming, but despite all the billions of VC money invested, those visions haven’t been fulfilled. For example, all TVs are ‘smart’ without any change in usage in terms of gaming, while Apple Watches (other wearables may be available) are now firmly positioned as fitness devices.

VR still may surprise us as cheaper standalone devices such as the $200 Oculus Go are rolled out, and there are some interesting games on Vive and Rift, but the smart VC ‘vision money’ is being invested in a more long term basis in augmented reality.

Where blockchain gaming has an advantage over these technologies, however, is that it’s almost impossible for anyone who’s not highly motivated to get involved.

Barriers to play

Once you’ve got over the complexities and fears of passing anti-money laundering regulations and buying Bitcoin or Ether in the first place (if your government even lets you), you have all the fun of trying to fund your Metamask and/or other wallets, and that’s all before you get to do anything in a so-called game.

Clearly, even in the best case scenario, blockchain gaming isn’t going to go mainstream until someone can put their credit card details into a game (or platform) and buy the tokens they want just as they currently can on any online game or app store.

The long haul

That’s going to take some time; most likely years.

But that’s good news because it’s going to take years for developers to come up with games that use the blockchain to create new and innovative experiences that can’t be created with any other technology. And that means thinking deeply about how in-game economics and the psychology of ownership interact with engaging gameplay.

Even once the first real blockchain gamer gains success, it’s not to say all or even most gamers will like or play these games.

We’ve seen that with the rise of free-to-play mobile games, which despite being the most lucrative category of gaming, are despised by many self-selecting “hardcore gamers”.

Ironically, the first blockchain gaming projects to gain scale will be those in-game item exchanges in which such “hardcore gamers” trade their skins and items.

If nothing else, the ability of blockchain technology to speed and cheapen such trading and hence expand its market value means this is the sector’s low-hanging fruit.

A long march

‘Great analysis but where does that leave BlockchainGamer.biz?’ my publisher is now thinking.

‘In the street of the blind, the one-eyed man is a guiding light,’ would be my humbled response.

To be honest, six weeks ago, I thought I had a decent handle on where blockchain gaming was going. But six weeks on, my head is spinning by the speed of the activity and I expect that to be the situation for the coming months too.

Something in my favour, however, is I’m a good listener, which is why my days are filled with interviews, our BlockchainGamer Brains Trust editorial board has live, and my travel diary is filling up fast.

Next up will be Blockchain Gamer Connects in San Francisco — 14–15 May — two days of insight from people from companies such as:

• BitGuild — blockchain-based gaming platform that’s raised $15 million
• Lucid Sight — blockchain-based game developer that’s in the process of launching its space trader/combat game Crypto Space Commanders
• Reality Gaming — blockchain-based game developer that’s making mobile AR shooter Reality Clash
• Refereum — blockchain-based community platform that’s raised $30 million
• Terra Virtua — blockchain-based VR gaming and entertainment hub
• WAX io— blockchain-based in-game item exchange from the founders of OPSkins

You’ll find me in the front row furiously making notes. You can get more details about Blockchain Gamer Connects here.

And don’t forget to follow BlockchainGamer.biz on Telegram, Twitter and Facebook.