Bridging Web 2 to Web 3 gaming

The gaming industry has been through various development epochs that have led to what we call Web 3 today. From simplistic 8 Bit games, the gaming industry has evolved into massive multiplayer online games that can be played across various platforms.

Since the advent of the internet, the gaming industry has worked assiduously to adapt to the vast resources that reside on the world wide Web. An array of games have tapped into a plethora of interactive opportunities that come from thriving on the internet.

The internet forms the bedrock of online gaming but the advent of Bitcoin and Blockchain technology, in particular, went a step further in breaking down the barriers. Thanks to the introduction of this underlying technology into gaming, players get to participate in cutting-edge video game development and carve out their niche in the future.

The success of a Web 3 game and the community are not mutually exclusive entities. In fact, it is safe to say that the success of a Web 3 gaming project is a fair reflection of the progress of the individuals of the community and this is something that MixMarvel DAO venture epitomises.

For MixMarvel DAO venture, the most important thing is creating a dynamic community of gaming enthusiasts looking to explore the Web 3 universe. Thanks to a variety of strategic investments, the project continues to make strides in the Blockchain gaming industry by ensuring retention of the Web 3 enthusiasts and building a bridge for ardent Web 2 gamers alike.

Building a bridge

One of the biggest challenges that Blockchain game projects have faced is onboarding the Web 2 crowd into Web 3. If Mr A likes call of duty, how can I make him enjoy a Web 3 version of call of duty?

Let's face it, in terms of entertainment, Web 2 games are still miles ahead of their Web 3 counterparts. For the average gamer who spends time playing these games, that's probably all that matters.

Yes, there are Twitch streamers, YouTube creators and the likes that monetise their gaming hours. However, for the most part, gamers are quite comfortable with paying for these games and simply playing is all that matters.

Most gamers aren't particularly concerned with the Gamefi ecosystem and the evolution from gaming into actual investment. This then adds an extra layer of difficulty for Web 3 game projects.

The fact remains that in terms of the quality of gameplay, Web 2 games have a temporary unassailable lead. This is not an indictment on the quality of Web 3 games but more of an acceptance of the current reality.

Many Web 2 games have had the luxury of existence, thriving in the gaming industry for many years and in the process, developing a hardcore fanbase. There's a higher chance of an elephant passing through a needle than convincing a COD fanboy to try out your "Web 3 game".

Many Web 2 games already have a cult following, as well as huge communities that perpetuate their existence and overall success. It's going to be a mammoth task for any Web 3 game to actually break into the scene and education will play a huge role in achieving this.

NFT education

NFTS, have without a doubt, revolutionised the concept of ownership. Their uses have encapsulated various aspects of life, covering normal entities like real estate, digital art and of course, the gaming industry.

In fact, a big part of the play-to-earn industry is heavily reliant on these non-fungible assets that form the bedrock of their individual ecosystems. Since the days of the very successful cryptokitties game on Ethereum, until today, NFTs have continuously popped up in conversations about Web 3 gaming.

When you think about it, it only makes sense that an industry that takes pride in the fact that individuals can now take charge of their finances should champion a cause that also lets individuals take charge of their assets. However, there are still some underlying challenges that NFTs face and one of them is the perception of the public.

Despite the popularity of NFTs, there are still numerous misconceptions, particularly in the Web 2 gaming community, who, for some reason, think it is all a gimmick. Scroll through the comment section of Twitch streams and you'll find a lot of misconstrued views of NFTS being peddled.

For many Web 2 gamers, the entire concept of NFTs is rounded down into seemingly underwhelming pictures of monkeys. It is a testament to the fact that despite the popularity of the term "NFT", there's little to no actual knowledge of the concept in society.

If the plan is to create a bridge between the Web 2 and Web 3 scenes, then there has to be an intentional move to actually educate the public and this is one of the key responsibilities of MixMarvel DAO Venture.

Education is vital to onboard the Web 2 gamers but retention is also important and one way to achieve that is through collaboration;

• Ensure interoperability of NFTS across a variety of networks
• Ensure the quality of NFTs assets remains intact across various networks
• Ensure ease of access across various networks

NFTs are here to stay and the Web 3 gaming industry which is already home to billions of dollars worth of assets will continue to grow. Bridging the Web 2 gaming experience to Web 3 will require a vast amount of resources put into educating the general populace about the concept.

Blockchain gaming Entry Barrier

Let's face it, Blockchain games are aeons behind their Web 2 counterparts in terms of quality but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The room for improvement offers an opportunity for Web 3 gaming projects to build on the sidelines.

One major criticism that Web 3 games have faced since inception has been the overindulgence in the "Blockchain" side and lack of actual innovation in gameplay. The P2E mantra that most of them champion isn't necessarily enough incentive for the average gamer.

The overindulgence in the Blockchain and tokenomoics part of Web 3 games also leads to a lopsided experience in the game. To put it plainly, the gaming experience tends to favour investors with fatter wallets and skill tends to be secondary.

Also, the emphasis on the Blockchain part in Web 3 games often leads to seemingly overpriced games that don't necessarily reflect the entertainment value. For example, playing a game like Axie infinity requires a chunk of money that would not necessarily be required in a Web 2 game like Mortal Kombat, for example.

Decentralisation, Community and Decision-making

One word that is often peddled by Web 3 game developers is "decentralisation". It is one of the buzzwords that tingle the spines of blockchain and crypto enthusiasts alike.

The conversations about the veracity of decentralisation are still up in the air and questions about the possibility of actualising a truly decentralised ecosystem will always persist. In fact, in a lot of situations, decentralisation often morphs back to a centralised system, as we can see with central exchanges' failings and how they led to this bear market.

Web 3 games are not left out of the conversations, as most of them often seek to create decentralised economies and ecosystems. The question we have to ask ourselves is, is this even necessary?

Sometimes, it feels like Web 3 games are trying a bit too much at such an early stage of development. The number of fronts that these projects are fighting on, particularly at such an early stage of development slows down the overall progress of the project.

Don't get me wrong, decentralisation is important, as it gives the community an opportunity to imprint on the direction of the game. However, I feel like in these early stages of existence, perhaps it should not be the priority for most Web 3 games.

Web 3 games already have an uphill battle to compete with established Web 2 brands with cult followership. Mind you, these followers barely have an influence on the path their favourite games take, they just enjoy the game for the quality and spend a lot of money for this enjoyment.

This all comes back to the earlier conversation about the entertainment value of Web 3 games being upgraded to a competitive standard. This seems to be the priority and as a community, Web 3 games with decentralised and pseudo-decentralised setups need to focus on this aspect.

In summary

The blockchain gaming industry still has a long road ahead of it in terms of entertainment value and education. For the average normie gamer, Web 3 games sound like a gimmick setup to syphon funds out of their pockets.

The general populace needs to first see Web 3 games as simply just games meant to entertain their players, rather than financial tools for the crypto enthusiast. This will naturally require the overall quality of the gameplay to be increased and a reduced emphasis on the economics part of the game.

It is impossible to completely take out the economics in blockchain games and that's fair. However, finding a way to do it without distracting the community will go a long way in making Web 3 games more enticing.

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