Yield Guild Games Acquires Monkey NFTs from Competitive Arcade Football Game, MonkeyBall

Yield Guild Games is helping build the next-generation esports Metaverse with MonkeyBall, a fast-paced, turn-based, arcade football NFT game built on the Solana blockchain. Blending game elements of FIFA Street and Final Fantasy, MonkeyBall sets itself apart by prioritizing an esports component. The game is also backed by the founders of DraftKings, one of the leading esports companies in the world.

YGG has purchased Monkey NFTs worth US$150,000, offering YGG scholars an opportunity to engage in a game that will reward competitive play and offer true ownership of in-game assets.

“As we aim to be the biggest esports play-to-earn game and community in the world, it is great to have the support from the world’s number one gaming guild, YGG,” said Oren Langberg, head of marketing at MonkeyBall. “We are humbled and look forward to all we will accomplish together in the future,” he added.

According to Sarutobi Sasuke, YGG’s Head of Partnerships, “MonkeyBall is creating an exciting sports-based play-to-earn gaming experience that weaves interesting cloning mechanics in a skill-based game offering both PVP and PVE modes wherein ensuring your Monkeys have the best DNA will be key. The team is well experienced with both the gaming and blockchain worlds, adding up to what will be a great game with solid economics that will leverage the Solana blockchain.”

As depicted in the gameplay sketch above, players build their ultimate team of four Monkeys, each filling the positions of Striker, Defender, Midfielder, and Goalie.

MonkeyBall is a fast, turn-based arcade soccer game. Matchplay lasts for twelve rounds, six per half. A round ends when both players have completed their turns. In a turn, a player can move a Monkey player, pass, dribble, or shoot the ball, as well as perform a Special move.

Each Monkey NFT in the MonkeyBall Metaverse has a unique DNA composed of its Appearance, Trainable Abilities, and Special Moves. The higher the rarity of a Monkey NFT, the higher its “Alpha Factor,” which increases the Monkey’s ability to perform Special Moves.

At the initial launch in the Player vs. Environment game mode, a player will need at least one Monkey NFT to start playing. Teams in MonkeyBall consist of four Monkeys that take up the position of Striker, Defender, Midfielder, and Goalkeeper, respectively. If a player only has one Monkey NFT, they can either trade “energy” for MonkeyGhosts (computer-based players), or hire MonkeyMercenaries (other current players in the game) for a fee.

The game will offer three gaming scenes for players to explore and earn rewards:

• Player vs. Environment: In the PVE mode, Monkey holders, or Monkey Pioneers (early Monkey holders), can start playing matches against the environment or computer.
• Player vs. Player: In this mode, players can control their whole team and play against other players’ teams.
• Team vs. Team: In Team-versus-Team matches, multiple users can play on the same team against other multiplayer teams.

Players also need to take care of their Monkeys at Base Camp by feeding, healing, and training them, as well as buying consumable items from the in-game store to improve their performance and capability levels.

$MBS is the primary in-game token of the MonkeyBall Metaverse. Players will be able to collect $MBS via Loot Boxes, purchase Monkeys with $MBS and spend $MBS on consumable items in the native store to level up Monkeys. Players can earn $MBS through active engagement and passive engagement. For example, players can earn $MBS not only by playing and winning matches but also by being match spectators and cheering for the winning team or owning a stadium to host matches.

MonkeyBall has an exciting roadmap ahead, with its first game mode, Player vs. Environment, to launch around the end of Q1 2022. Meanwhile, Pioneers Gear-Up Camp will launch at the beginning of Q1 2022, where early Monkey holders or Monkey Pioneers can start collecting Loot Boxes, which gives Pioneers an advantage when the first game mode launches. An in-game store will also launch in early 2022, where Monkey Pioneers can start purchasing consumable items to take care of and train their Monkeys. The game will also launch its Breeding Season in mid-Q1 2022, where users with two breedable Monkeys and a Breeding Capsule can start generating future generations of Monkeys.

For more information on Monkey Ball, check out their whitepaper, website, Discord, and Twitter.

Also, check out YGG’s Discord or follow us on Twitter for future updates.