Blockchain gaming is seen as a hot narrative in crypto for 2024 by different industry players, such as Binance and CoinGecko. According to the latter, the total market cap of blockchain gaming tokens is over $18.6 billion.
Delabs Games is one of the players building in this sector, focusing on an ecosystem built on the concept of assets that can be used in different games, called Asset Inventory System.
Joonmo Kwon, founder and CEO at Delabs Games, shared with Crypto Briefing his thoughts on how blockchain technology could revolutionize the gaming industry, how gamers perceive this two-sector junction, and why current traditional titles are not tapping into Web3.
Crypto Briefing – When it comes to the traditional gaming sector, what are some stark differences you can point out compared to blockchain?
Joonmo Kwon – One significant difference between Delabs Games and traditional gaming lies in their approach to accessibility and user experience. Delabs Games prioritizes creating fun games for everyone, including Web2 users who may not be familiar with NFTs, wallets, or crypto. Their simple onboarding process allows players to enjoy the benefits of Web3 gaming without needing extensive knowledge of blockchain technology.
In contrast, traditional gaming often lacks the concept of ownership and tangible value for players. While players may invest significant time and money into traditional games, they typically do not retain any tangible assets once the game is no longer supported. Web3 gaming, on the other hand, enables players to own digital assets that are valuable and tradable, providing a sense of ownership and lasting value.
Moreover, the psychological impact of ownership plays a crucial role in Web3 gaming. By owning in-game assets, players become more invested in the game, leading to increased engagement, loyalty, and community participation. This stands in contrast to traditional gaming, where players may feel less connected to the games they play due to the lack of ownership.
Overall, Delabs Games and Web3 gaming represent a shift towards a more sustainable and aligned relationship between game companies and players. By offering more value to players through ownership and participation, Web3 gaming disrupts the traditional gaming industry and creates a model where the interests of both the company and the player are better aligned.
Crypto Briefing – For a gamer not familiar with the concept of digital assets, can you explain how the Asset Inventory System (AIS) positively impacts their gaming experience?
A pivotal focus of AIS is its capacity to transition players from solitary game participants to platform users by immersing them in diverse gaming experiences. This is made possible by enabling assets acquired in one game to enhance performance in others. Termed ‘Player Liquidity,’ the objective is to facilitate seamless transitions between games, cultivating a vibrant platform environment.
The Asset Inventory System (AIS) lies at the core of the Delabs Games Playable Layer, offering a gamified platform crafted to facilitate the flow of player liquidity across multiple games on the platform.
AIS motivates users to explore different games through a blend of external rewards and internal satisfaction. Users are driven to gather “assets,” which can be equipped in inventory slots to enrich both their gaming journey and earnings on the platform. This inventive feature adds to the layer’s appeal, encouraging smooth transitions between games and the platform.
The Asset Inventory System (AIS) positively impacts the gaming experience in several ways. The first is enhanced Interoperability and partnership opportunities, as AIS facilitates interoperability between the Delabs Games ecosystem and third-party projects. By suggesting new boosts and set bonuses for assets from third-party projects, the Delabs Games Playable Layer seamlessly introduces new content to platform users. This not only enriches the gaming experience but also opens up opportunities for users to fully explore third-party offerings, ultimately increasing conversion and retention rates.
The second is equipping assets for boost effects, as players can equip assets to their inventory for boost effects both in-game and on the platform. For example, assets like speed boosts in Rumble Racing Star or staking APY boosts can significantly enhance gameplay or earnings. Each asset can possess rarity, boost, and set bonuses, further diversifying the strategies players can employ to optimize their gaming experience.
A third positive impact is collecting assets, since players have various avenues to acquire assets, whether through gameplay, contributions to the platform, or ownership of digital assets within the ecosystem. These earned assets can be equipped in the inventory slots of the Delabs Games Playable Layer, providing players with a range of boost effects that enhance their in-game performance or earnings.
This incentivizes player engagement and participation, enriching the overall gaming experience while fostering a sense of ownership and progression within the ecosystem.
Crypto Briefing – The gaming industry already has traditional titles that rely heavily upon users’ interactions and could be favored by the AIS concept, such as Path of Exile, Diablo, and Tibia. Why do you think none of the companies behind these titles started experimenting with that?
AIS’s core element lies in providing a gamified platform experience. While games like Path of Exile, Diablo, and Tibia focus primarily on in-game experiences, the Delabs Games Playable Layer extends the gaming experience beyond just gameplay, integrating a platform-native gamified experience. This system allows users to collect and combine various assets for benefits both within individual games and across the platform.
The Delabs Games Playable Layer promotes platform composability, enabling systematic integration across games on the platform. Additionally, by starting with a curated selection of high-quality games and gradually expanding with mini-games, Delabs Games strikes a balance between game quality and accessibility, catering to various intrinsic motivations of gamers.
In contrast, traditional titles may not have experimented with similar concepts because they focus primarily on in-game experiences and may not prioritize the broader platform experience that Delabs Games aims to provide. Delabs Games emphasizes community participation, incentivizing engagement and growth through reward mechanisms and a collaborative mindset rooted in the essence of Web3.
Crypto Briefing – Blockchain gaming is commonly overlooked by traditional gamers since it involves monetary aspects and NFTs, which are not so popular in this group. From a builder’s perspective, do you see more penetration from blockchain gaming among traditional gamers?
Yes, there’s a noticeable shift in the perception and adoption of blockchain gaming among traditional gamers. The quality of Web3 games is steadily improving, accompanied by a diversification of genres beyond the casual and puzzle games that previously dominated the space. With expansions into genres like FPS, MMO, and RPGs, blockchain gaming is becoming more appealing to traditional gamers who seek diverse and immersive gaming experiences.
Moreover, major players in the gaming industry, including Nexon and Ubisoft, have announced their entry into Web3 game development, indicating a growing acceptance and interest in blockchain gaming among established gaming companies. Additionally, industry heavyweights like CCP Games, Ubisoft, Square Enix, Sony, and Konami are cautiously exploring the Web3 gaming landscape, further validating the potential of blockchain technology in gaming.
This trend is not limited to established companies; newer entrants like Delabs Games are also venturing into the market, bringing fresh talent and innovation to the forefront. With this influx of talent and investment, blockchain gaming is poised to continue its penetration into the traditional gaming market, offering new games and narratives that appeal to a broader audience.
