The gaming industry is BIG BUSINESS. It is predicted to reach $115 billion by 2018 and $130 billion by 2020. Video gaming is the biggest entertainment industry in the world, and eSports viewership has overtaken viewership of traditional sports. The eSports segment is expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2020.
A SuperData study showed that 665 million people around the world tune in to sites like Twitch.tv and YouTube to link up with their favorite games. This is a big audience, made even bigger when we know that this number does not include the Chinese market, which is far and away the biggest one!
“So what?” is what you might say. And rightly so. Usually these big numbers just mean that someone “out there” is raking in the money, but, somehow, you just land up having to pay for everything!
PLAY2LIVE AS THE SOLUTION FOR GAMERS AND ESPORTS FANS
Enter Play2Live — the first full-blown decentralized streaming platform for gamers and eSports fans. Its goal is to create an ecosystem where every participant, including the viewer, the streamer and the eSports tournament organizer is part of an interactive system. Everybody can be part of peer-to-peer interaction and everybody — even the viewer — can earn money.
Play2Live has developed a platform (called Level Up Chain) that provides a completely new level of virtual interaction for all participants — and provides a mechanism for monetization of every aspect of it. It has a token called Level Up Coin (LUC) which is the currency within the system. It can be converted very easily to other cryptocurrencies or to fiat money through an internal exchange gateway.
The problem with most other gaming sites has been the lack of opportunity to monetize your interest or your input to the business. Monetization has generally been limited to:
- Pre-roll adverts (this runs before the start of the streamer’s broadcast — and this is what most viewers try to switch off as they try to log into something meaningful)
- YouTube Partner Program: Streamers can turn on ads for their content and earn revenue from them
- Affiliate marketing: Streamers advertise the products of other people and earn a commission on every item sold
- Advertising: Advertise other people’s products for a flat fee
- Product creation
Plat2Live allows for monetization by these methods — and then adds 11 more.
MONETIZATION TOOLS PROVIDED BY PLAY2LIVE
The platform is set up to earn revenue for itself — there are 15 sources of revenue built in. However, the system is also set up to share 11 of these income streams with users. The LUC is the unit of exchange.
- Subscriptions to the streamer’s channel
All users can watch any broadcast for free and with no limitations. But additional privileges are available for those who subscribe to the channel (e.g. writing in to the chat, use of chat icons, prizes during tournaments). The platform shares this revenue with the streamer.
2. Donations
Viewers transfer tokens to the streamer to demonstrate support, or for the streamer to read out special messages from them. The platform charges a small commission and the rest of the revenue goes to the streamer.
3. Totalizator of eSports events
Viewers can place bets with LUC tokens during streams of eSports events. No third party (e.g. a bookmaker) is required. The platform charges a commission on these bets.
4. Assigning a task to the streamer
This is one of the unique features of the platform, as it allows viewers to design the content of the stream. Viewers can vote with LUC for the streamer to undertake certain tasks (e.g. move to a different difficulty level, change the game, etc). Revenue is shared with the streamer.
5. Tasks from the streamer to users
Streamers can assign tasks to viewers, who then earn LUC tokens. The platform charges a small commission.
6. Creating content on the platform
This is for tournaments. Viewers can vote with tokens for the format they want for the tournament. Revenue is shared with tournament organizers and streamers who develop special content according to the criteria set by viewers.
7. Promotion of the broadcasts of a favorite streamer
Viewers can vote with their LUC to promote their favorite streamer to a higher spot on the main page and elsewhere. Revenue goes to the platform, but users who are active with their votes share in the distribution of tokens bought back from the open market.
8. Betting and gambling
Various bookmakers are integrated into the platform. Viewers can place bets on several bookmaker websites simultaneously, without having to move from the Play2Live website. Bets are places in LUC. Revenue is shared with the bookmakers.
9. Purchasing of games at partner services
Play2Live enters into agreements with suppliers of games that are streamed on the platform, who agree to accept payment in LUC. Revenue is shared with the suppliers.
10. Duels between players
Viewers watching a stream can challenge each other to duels on the game, using LUC to bet against others. Viewers are redirected to partner sites where they can play the game face to face. Revenue is shared with these partner sites.
11. Marketplace with prizes from advertisers
Advertiser provide prizes and gifts to Play2Live. These prizes are made available to streamers to distribute during their broadcasts, in exchange for promotion of the advertisers.
12. Premium subscriptions
Viewers with premium subscriptions enjoy special privileges (e.g. gifts from publishers, access to exclusive broadcasts, special recognition on the Play2Live platform). Revenue is shared with streamers.
13. Advertising
Pre-roll, mid-roll and post-roll commercials can be run during streamer broadcasts. Banners and branding on streamer sites can be set up. The platform allows for comprehensive marketing campaigns, and provides a transparent performance tracking system. Revenue is shared with streamers. Viewers can support the streamer by watching the advertising, and earn LUC for doing this.
14. Sale of badges of rank on the platform
Emoticons, chat badges and other distinctive features for users are available in the chat during streams. Revenue is shared with streamers.
15. P2P CDN
Users can share their computer resources with others in return for LUC. This is direct revenue for users.
SUMMARY OF BENEFITS
The Play2Live platform broadens the interaction between the streamer, the viewer and the tournament organizer. It establishes a fair and trustworthy economy for all participants of the system.
Streamers can earn money from their very first stream, regardless of the size of their following. They can interact with their audience, distribute prizes and gifts and implement marketing campaigns. There are 11 different ways for them to earn money on the platform.
Viewers can influence the content of the streams. They can earn income through watching adverts, carrying out tasks set by streamers, voting, and sharing their Internet channel using P2P CDN. They can place bets with a variety of bookmakers without moving from the Play2Live site and can purchase games from outside suppliers, using LUC earned on the site.
eSports tournament organizers can tap into the ready-made betting system and totalizator or benefit from the inbuilt crowdfunding system. The transparency provided by the blockchain technology enhances trust between themselves and other partners on the platform — e.g. bookmakers.
The Play2Live platform moves beyond just these three primary participants to include advertisers, bookmakers and suppliers of games into their ecosystem — and to share revenue with them.
All of these benefits to participants are likely to drive the growth of the platform.
Stay tuned!
