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These blockchain/NFT games are an interesting space which I don't know much about, does anyone on HN play them? I'm specifically interested about the balance o

by enlyth 5y ago

These blockchain/NFT games are an interesting space which I don't know much about, does anyone on HN play them? I'm specifically interested about the balance of having fun playing like traditional games vs playing because of the potential of earning money

larsiusprime 5y ago
According to our research, the vast majority of the players of this game (the #1 in the space) in particular are in the developed world. Furthermore the majority of players are "scholars", ie player who are loaned assets by "sponsors" in the developed world who purchase assets for them, and take a cut of the "scholar"'s earnings. Informal surveys suggest the primary motivation motivation for most players is to earn money, and this is backed up by the demographics we observe and the behavior we see in the economy. Sky Mavis estimates 10% of their audience is in the USA and 65-70% is in Southeast Asia. My guess is that not many Hacker News players (unless they are themselves investors) are playing this game.
- enlyth 5y ago
  Thanks for the response, I'm a sceptic when it comes to NFTs and that seems to be the general sentiment on HN as well What's interesting to me is that you kind of confirm the main enticement for the game is the promise of earning money. These types of games don't seem sustainable to me in the long run. What I keep asking myself is where is this money everyone playing is coming from? If it's new players or new inflows into crypto then it's basically a convoluted pyramid scheme, and I can't see how value is being created which can be constantly extracted and exchanged for real life goods But maybe it's similar to people making a living like in the old days selling WoW gold or Runescape items or whatever? I don't know, the modern economy confuses me
  - larsiusprime 5y ago
    Currently the plan is to transition to different game modes that are supposed to turn the ecosystem into a platform in its own right. We discuss the viability of this in the report; in our opinion there are challenges down that route as well, ultimately you must create an ecosystem where more players are putting money in than expect to take it out. Anything could happen but what is on the roadmap currently seems like it needs a lot of work.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - leppr 5y ago
      One thing that's striking with their "roadmap" is how they seem to plan on doing seemingly everything you could think of in the field of crypto + video games. L1, DAO, DEX, social platform, fun-in-its-own-right game, user content creation platform, ... That pattern of over promising and vague roadmaps is endemic in the speculation-driven field of crypto.
  - leppr 5y ago
    There's the entry fee and speculators buying the SLP and AXS tokens. > If it's new players or new inflows into crypto then it's basically a convoluted pyramid scheme, and I can't see how value is being created which can be constantly extracted and exchanged for real life goods 99% of DeFi/NFT/"Crypto games" products are indeed convoluted pyramid schemes. It's just the natural result of mixing a financial bubble with new technology very few people understand.
newbie789 5y ago
It’s a constellation of different methods of money laundering. If you enjoy money laundering (or have some sort of disorder that makes you enjoy assisting money launderers), it’s all fun!

by enlyth 5y ago

larsiusprime 5y ago

According to our research, the vast majority of the players of this game (the #1 in the space) in particular are in the developed world. Furthermore the majority of players are "scholars", ie player who are loaned assets by "sponsors" in the developed world who purchase assets for them, and take a cut of the "scholar"'s earnings. Informal surveys suggest the primary motivation motivation for most players is to earn money, and this is backed up by the demographics we observe and the behavior we see in the economy. Sky Mavis estimates 10% of their audience is in the USA and 65-70% is in Southeast Asia. My guess is that not many Hacker News players (unless they are themselves investors) are playing this game.

enlyth 5y ago
Thanks for the response, I'm a sceptic when it comes to NFTs and that seems to be the general sentiment on HN as well What's interesting to me is that you kind of confirm the main enticement for the game is the promise of earning money. These types of games don't seem sustainable to me in the long run. What I keep asking myself is where is this money everyone playing is coming from? If it's new players or new inflows into crypto then it's basically a convoluted pyramid scheme, and I can't see how value is being created which can be constantly extracted and exchanged for real life goods But maybe it's similar to people making a living like in the old days selling WoW gold or Runescape items or whatever? I don't know, the modern economy confuses me
- larsiusprime 5y ago
  Currently the plan is to transition to different game modes that are supposed to turn the ecosystem into a platform in its own right. We discuss the viability of this in the report; in our opinion there are challenges down that route as well, ultimately you must create an ecosystem where more players are putting money in than expect to take it out. Anything could happen but what is on the roadmap currently seems like it needs a lot of work.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - leppr 5y ago
    One thing that's striking with their "roadmap" is how they seem to plan on doing seemingly everything you could think of in the field of crypto + video games. L1, DAO, DEX, social platform, fun-in-its-own-right game, user content creation platform, ... That pattern of over promising and vague roadmaps is endemic in the speculation-driven field of crypto.
- leppr 5y ago
  There's the entry fee and speculators buying the SLP and AXS tokens. > If it's new players or new inflows into crypto then it's basically a convoluted pyramid scheme, and I can't see how value is being created which can be constantly extracted and exchanged for real life goods 99% of DeFi/NFT/"Crypto games" products are indeed convoluted pyramid schemes. It's just the natural result of mixing a financial bubble with new technology very few people understand.

newbie789 5y ago

It’s a constellation of different methods of money laundering. If you enjoy money laundering (or have some sort of disorder that makes you enjoy assisting money launderers), it’s all fun!