Web3 Rewards, or Stylized Emptiness? A Look at Web3 for Video Games and What's Yet to Come
I enjoy snatching up stories that cover video games. That’s just the truth.
That said, not every story about video games warrants the same type of coverage. A lot of supposedly up-and-coming games promise a ton – like, substantial hype-building – but unfortunately promise too much and end up not delivering much of anything, let alone actually full-on launching and seeing how that fares. Things must be taken with grains of salt in virtually every industry, let alone spheres where gaming products take center stage.
Call me crazy (or maybe just a burned-once-too-many-times variety of gamer), but I do believe playing it safe is key, in terms of properly adjusted expectations.
That said, many online stake the same claims about another craze:
Web3.
Thus, when combined, questions arise:
“Is Web3 gaming truly going to take off, or is it just immense marketing hype?”
“Can the blockchain be smartly and reliably utilized for video game environments, or is the ecosystem necessary to support it not yet realized?”
“What would this mean for virtual cosmetics and in-game rewards, actual ownership-wise? How would this encourage, rather than exploit? What protections would be put in place?”
These are all, in my opinion, completely fair asks.
Still, whether or not the right questions are being fairly levied, the Web3 gaming dream chugs onward.
Take, for example, Good Gaming, Inc.
Good Gaming is a publicly traded interactive entertainment company that seeks to build “a digital playground with a strong sense of community, place, and purpose.” If the Web3 community can redefine gaming experiences and foster an inclusive space for immersive digital collectibles and – that isn’t simply all promotional fluff and glaring microtransaction exploitation – then Good Gaming seeks to be the next to achieve that goal.
So, Good Gaming has announced its first mobile game, made in partnership with ViaOne Services.
The game will be called Galactic Acres.
In Galactic Acres, as Good Gaming themselves describe, “Gamers will revel in the addictive gameplay, community-building initiatives and exciting, cutting-edge Web3 experiences.” This looks to cater evenly to both traditional mobile game players and Web3 enthusiasts alike, and it already has a roadmap that features, quote, “exclusive skin drops, full custody of in-game assets, user-friendly Web3 integration” and more.
More immediate questions, though:
- If limited-edition skins are available through in-app purchases, will they only be cosmetic or will they also lend players in-game advantages? If the latter ends up becoming a reality, that could quickly become unfair to a.) gamers who aren’t so intimate with the Web3 space, and b.) anyone looking to earn in-game boosts and visual rewards without breaking the bank.
- Will there be any readable literature available through in-game menus in regard to marketplaces, trading, and other ways Web3 could broaden the confines of gaming? If not, then my first point becomes even more salient; if a gamer really wants to play Galactic Acres but isn’t at all familiar with NFTs, for example, how will their experiences change as a result? (Remember, fostering inclusion is the core objective for casuals and hardcore players each, rather than cherry-picking those who might spend the most money.)
According to David Sterling, Good Gaming’s COO, the vision is to “create demand for unique, in-game assets while developing a dynamic mobile gaming community… an enriched experience that takes successes from legacy mobile games and Web3 in order to grow sustainably.”
That sounds great. Truly.
But will it happen?
Right now, this is what Good Gaming and ViaOne Services are shooting for. While many gamers’ fingers may be crossed, time will tell if the story merits the involvement – not unlike how gamers tirelessly pour hours into a game’s narrative, hoping to come out of it with more than just a list of Web3-enabled microtransactions and little else.
Once Galactic Acres is available for Google Play and the Apple App Store, I suppose we’ll have to take a look.
Edited by Greg Tavarez
