Our Litepaper

Utility of Games in Web3

Games can be used to increase adoption into Web3 ecosystems. Currently many Web3 games are gigantic projects—some multi-million dollar projects that have promised much but show little progress over several years, falling behind in project milestones.

Timeliness issues get multiplied like leveraged investments in bigger projects because they focus on photo-realistic graphics that are tied to ever-evolving software and hardware tech. Thus the longer they take, the more dated their high-fidelity graphics look—last generation.

Another trend is pouring millions into massively multiplayer, open world games. The difficulty is that you need a critical mass of players to keep players showing up.

In the traditional, non-Web3 game market, there is a large indie movement. Indie devs make games as passion projects and strive to make beautiful games under a tight budget. Indie games come in all genres, from complex, high-skill games like first-person shooters and RPGs to casual, simple games like card games and puzzle games. Perhaps Web3 can do something similar. Rather than fund millions to make a handful of half-baked games, it might be better to make hundreds of $100k budget games instead. Host game jams with prizes.

A good use case for simpler games is a captcha. In our game Grandoku, after you finish a game you have the option of minting an NFT. That NFT is only mintable after you win the game. This makes wallets that interacted with the NFT contract likely human and not a bot. There are many sybil detection systems out there. Using a game as a captcha might be a great use case for crypto projects or blockchains to reward real users and avoid giving to bot armies.

Cultivating a Robust Web3 Ecosystem: The Power of Diverse Gaming and Indie Innovation

Introduction: Unlocking Web3 Potential Through Engaging Gaming Experiences

Web3 has potential to revolutionize many industries, but mainstream adoption is hampered by perceived complexity. Games can serve as a bridge, turning technical interactions into engaging experiences. Gamification helps make Web3 more tangible and fun, driving adoption and education.

Deconstructing Current Web3 Gaming Paradigms

The Allure and Pitfalls of Ambitious, Large-Scale Projects

Contemporary Web3 gaming often focuses on massive, high-budget projects. While ambitious, these face issues:

Protracted Development Timelines: Delays lead to missed market windows and lost user interest.
Escalating Financial Burdens: Overruns increase risk and often lead to compromised product quality.
Unfulfilled Promises: Grand claims create disappointment if not delivered.
Technological Obsolescence: Long development timelines risk becoming outdated by release.

The Challenges of Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) Games in Web3

Dependency on Player Population: MMOs require a critical mass to function.
"Ghost Town" Risk: Low user base discourages new and current players.
High Maintenance Costs: Infrastructure and support are expensive.

A Paradigm Shift: Embracing Indie Development and Smaller, Focused Projects

Indie development offers a lean, creative alternative:

Lean Budgets Foster Creativity: Focus on innovation, not graphics.
Genre Diversity: Appeals to niche audiences.
Passion Projects: Emotionally engaging experiences.

Web3 can adopt this model by:

Funding many smaller $100k projects instead of mega-games.
Hosting game jams for rapid, creative development.
Offering meaningful prizes to motivate developers.

This approach offers:

Risk distribution across many smaller games.
A more innovative, experimental ecosystem.
Faster development and feedback cycles.
Support for a thriving indie community.

Practical Applications of Simpler Games within Web3

Robust Captchas and Bot Deterrence

Games like Grandoku act as human verifiers—NFTs are only mintable after puzzle completion.

Enhancing Sybil Detection

Reward real users with NFTs or items, deterring bots.
Ensure fair resource allocation to human participants.

Other Innovative Use Cases

Interactive tutorials to teach Web3 concepts.
Casual games to increase community interaction.

Conclusion: Charting a Course for a Prosperous Web3 Gaming Future

By pivoting from massive, high-budget games to smaller, indie-driven ones, Web3 can drive adoption, innovation, and community growth. Simple games also play a key role in bot resistance and usability, securing and strengthening the ecosystem.