179 | Building fully onchain games with Cartridge

Jon Jordan and Jenny Jordan talk through the week's news including:[0:20] Saga and Chrono Labs have launched AI agent platform KEX.[1:38] Delabs Games has announced it's using new genAI gamemaking platform Verse 8.[4:00] It's interesting to see the second wave of AI agents - all around doing onchain transactions.[5:40] Delabs has moved from PC games to midcore games on LINE and now to AI-generated games.[7:27] Verse 8 is developed by Planetarium and its CEO has become co-CEO at Delabs.[8:38] The games made with Verse 8 are multiplayer and with NFT item economies.[10:58] Sky Mavis and YGG are reworking their play-to-earn models, giving away less to extractors.[16:19] The issue with doing this is you drop your DAUW count, which is seen as a key KPI. [19:08] Fully onchain football game Soccerverse is about to launch Season 2.[27:56] Craft World is going live on Ronin mainnet on 29th July.[31:53] Is Pudgy Party - out later this summer - the next big web3 game?

Jon Jordan and new AI co-host Rachel talk through the week's news including:[0:22] The GUN token is expanding from Avalanche to Solana.[2:47] They've said this is to specifically attract a larger US audience. [4:00] Solana is also popular for degen and memecoin trading.[7:34] AI hypercasual web3 game-making engine Remix raised $5 million.[11:27] Voya Games' Project Voyager is over. The DynoCoins will be distributed in next 2 weeks.[14:58] Sky Mavis has launched the MVP for its reputation system called Ronin Profiles.[19:20] Lumiterra has broken 600,000 DAUWs in its new airdrop campaign.[21:18] MapleStory N's most expensive NFT has traded for $23,319.[22:37] You can now buy Messi in FIFA Rivals for $11,204.

Jon Jordan and BlockchainGamer.biz editor Jenny Jordan talk through the week's news including:[0:39] John Smedly has announced persistent open-world PC shooter Reaper Actual.[2:10] A weird aspect is it's using Tezos Etherlink EVM L2 blockchain.[5:04] One reason could be that they want blockchain to be in the background. [6:56] They've raised $30.5 million, which I don't think you'd get if this wasn't a blockchain game. [8:03] The game is a persistent loot shooter, which is a hard genre to get right.[11:38] Realistically this is a web2 game with optional web3 elements. I'm not sure that [13:54] John Smedley's background is MMOGs like EverQuest and PlanetSide but he's not a designer.[15:21] Mythical players are now live in FIFA Rivals. Lionel Messi costs $11,000. [19:22] Lumiterra's MegaDrop Part 1 has seen its onchain activity spike to over 300,000 DAUWs.[22:47] Jon's been talking to MSquared CEO Rob Whitehead about distributed computing and web3.[30:45] Delabs Games has announced LINE/Telegram idle game Ragnarok Libre.

Jon Jordan talks to MSquared CEO Rob Whitehead about the company's attempt to build a PlayFab for web3 gaming, which combined with the Somnia blockchain, will supercharge the sector with more onchain data that's more composable. [2:50] Rob Whitehead's current roles at Improbable and MSquared.[3:56] Rob's early career as a teenaged virtual arms dealer in Second Life.[4:59] How Improbable started work on what became MSquared during Covid lockdown.[8:15] How MSquared is different to existing multiplayer technologies for gaming?[8:40] Current tech can only handle about 100 players because data quadruples per extra player added.[9:08] MSquared uses a smart layer optimizing a cluster of cloud-based computers to boost capacity.[11:55] Why MSquared started working with Yuga Labs for its Otherside metaverse.[15:07] Blockchain enables interoperability but that's not enough and you can't put everything onchain.[17:43] How the Somnia blockchain is designed to be the "fastest EVM blockchain".[19:24] Rob's journey into crypto - 'a deepy humbling experience'. "Things are stupid until they're not".[23:18] Somnia's speed enables a whole new category of experiences to be built.[25:11] Once you unlock a new capability, you then have to learn what to do with it.[26:03] "What's the maximal thing you could ever put on a blockchain?"[28:21] The first version of Chunked peaked at around 1,000 concurrent players onchain.[30:01] "If you can make fully onchain Minecraft on Somnia, what else can you do?"[32:18] DeFi has been a success. We're trying to build those Lego blocks for web3 gaming.[34:24] We're trying to build a PlayFab for web3 gaming. [36:20] We need a decentralized Steam where you can see all your items and progression.[37:08] MSquared's OmniChain Indexer works across ApeChain, Somnia, Polygon, Ethereum etc.[39:39] Chunked v2.0 is also going to be released very soon, plus a potential mainnet version too.

Jon Jordan and BlockchainGamer.biz editor Jenny Jordan talk through the week's news including:[01:10] Animoca Brands and Moca Foundation have announced Moca Chain. [01:35] Originally this was the Mocaverse NFT collection, which has become Moca Network. [06:25] They've tried to build a reputation and privacy-focused ID system. Not clear who's using it.[12:25] The issue is you have to build something 10x better and still people won't use it. [17:59] Nexon has launched a Credit Level system to reduce botting in MapleStory N.[26:43] Wildcard will be launching on Steam in October 2025.[30:42] The project's longterm success is more about the Thousands streaming platform, however.[32:19] Startup Spekter Games has raised $5M. Its first game is Telegram roguelite Spekter Agency.[37:58] The Sandbox is partnering with Cirque du Soleil for the forthcoming Alpha Season 6.

Jon Jordan and BlockchainGamer.biz editor Jenny Jordan talk through the week's news including:[0:10] Glad Midsommar - happy midsummer to all our Scandis listeners.[0:20] Playful Studios (Wildcard) has raised $6.5 million and hopes to get in another $2.5 million.[1:28] It previously raised $46 million, announced in June 2022.[5:35] Wildcard will be out on Steam early access soon and Thousands is in regular play testing. [8:31] MapleStory N continues to grow; its most expensive NFT sold for $18,617.[12:40] If people aren't complaining about your game (within reason) there's probably something wrong with it. [16:40] Tokens are important but how you launch them, use them and talk about their value is more important.[17:48] Project Voyager / Craft World's play-to-airdrop event is already very popular and competitive.[23:51] What's going on with Gunzilla, Off The Grid and Gunz's mainnet launch?[25:50] Jon is very confused about the length of time it's taking to migrate players to mainnet.[30:48] This is compounded as Gunzilla hasn't given out any official figures about the playerbase.[36:07] First impressions of FIFA Rivals - hard PVP learning curve & "clever" fuel-for-NFTs mechanic.[41:11] It's "clever" because it stops pay-to-win and the inflation of NFT assets over time.[45:10] Pixels is launching its third 24 hour Shorelime event today (20th June).[46:14] The strategy for the PIXEL token is becoming an ecosystem token for many web3 games.

Jon Jordan and BlockchainGamer.biz editor Jenny Jordan talk through the week's news including:[1:04] Much anticipated mobile game FIFA Rivals is now live via app stores.[2:00] The game includes NFTs on the Mythos chain but doesn't mention blockchain or NFTs at all.[2:45] The gameplay is deeper than Jon thought - you're tapping on players and drawing lines to pass.[5:32 ]The metagame is about getting the best 11 players you can, levelling and training them up.[6:32] Players can only be used a certain number of times, before you have to pay to reup them.[7:10] This could be a way of mitigating the pay-to-win aspect of having powerful NFTs.[8:05] As well as real player NFTs, there are also real club kits - teams in the FIFA Club World Cup.[11:22] There is already a Messi NFT in the game. Very expensive.[12:21] Craft World's play-to-airdrop event for Dyno Coin - called Project Voyager - has gone live.[15:10] The top 25,000 players will get an airdrop. It looks like over 100,000 are now playing.[16:16] A key mechanic is increasing your multipler by spending in-game crystals and other tokens.[19:02] EVE Frontier has launched its new cycle and dropped its previous NDA.[23:51] EVE Frontier is building a valuable blockchain economy from the bottom-up.[26:01] CCP Games has spent a lot of time educating PC game journalists about blockchain.[29:43] Nexon's MapleStory N is another MMOG highlighting the value of blockchain.[30:30] Like CCP Games, Nexon wants to create an ecosystem in which thirdparties can build.[31:12] Its Henesys blockchain peaked at over 80,000 DAUWs this week. [31:52] The MSU marketplace has hit 1 million wallets and $13 million NFT trading volume.[35:28] Why are some KOLs critical of MapleStory N?[38:34] Does this change when we see the first $100,000 NFT in MapleStory N?

Jon Jordan and BlockchainGamer.biz editor Jenny Jordan talk through the week's news including:[0:18] Why we've launched a new feature article called Good Blockchain Game News.[3:45] Blockchain is an inevitable gaming technology. That doesn't mean most web3 games succeed.[6:21] You can now nominate the best use of blockchain in a mobile game in the Mobile Game Awards.[6:59] Mobile football game FIFA Rivals goes live on Thursday 12th June via app stores.[8:33] Precursor NFL Rivals provides a solid foundation for the gameplay and NFT trading aspects.[10:31] The game has also done a multi-year licensing deal with Adidas.[11:25] Jon will be amazed if FIFA Rivals doesn't do tens of millions of downloads.[13:25] 10-20% chance it's the next big hit when it comes to blockchain games. [13:55] EVE Frontier is launching its new era and lifting NDA restrictions this weekend.[16:56] Voya Games' Craft World will launch on Ronin this summer. It's a win-win.[21:54] With mass market appeal, it could easily be the most popular game on Ronin.[22:38] Adding blockchain to an idle game also supercharges long term retention.[23:59] The latest game to join Pixels' staking ecosystem is Sleepagotchi.[29:38] MapleStory N is still experiencing strong growth in terms of players and NFT trading. [34:06] Sports brawler Sparkball has announced it will launch on new L1 Somnia.

Jon Jordan and BlockchainGamer.biz editor Jenny Jordan talk through the week's news including:[0:30] OpenSea's OS2 is now live for everyone with its new Voyages XP system.[1:08] This is part of the future SEA token launch, which will also include historical trading activity.[4:47] OpenSea now supports token swaps and NFT trading across 19 blockchains.[8:25] The SEA token will be a big event; "The event" according to OpenSea. [11:40] Oncade has raised $4 million from a16z CSX for its stablecoin webstore platform.[13:26] We're also seeing stablecoins becoming a key part of the tradfi payment and banking system.[17:28] YGG launched LOL Land as part of its new push into "casual degen" gaming.[17:55] Does "casual degen" make sense? Jon is not so sure.[19:45] LOL Land has a free channel and an expensive premium channel. Not much crossover.[24:43] Disney+ subscribers can now access Dapper Labs' Disney Pinnacle NFT collectibles.[27:44] Interestingly, you can trade these NFTs but only during special weekend events.[28:55] It's another example how, without much fanfare, crypto is leaking into mainstream products.[30:05] Nexon's Henesys blockchain for MapleStory N is peaking at over 50,000 DAUWs.[30:51] It's also banned 6,000 accounts for botting etc. [31:18] The marketplace has 600,000 active wallets, 6 million item sales and $5 million trading volume.[34:14] Someone has already made $40,000 in profit from NFT trading.

Jon Jordan and BlockchainGamer.biz editor Jenny Jordan talk through the week's news including:[0:28] Following Nyan Heroes, Blast Royale and Tatsumeeko, Ember Sword has shut down.[2:15] The background is a lot of web3 game devs raised their funding back in 2021-22.[4:12] $5 million isn't much money to make a good game, either web2 or web3. [5:07] And most teams raising money were inexperienced. They had never made a game before.[6:15] A team of 10 game devs probably costs around $1 million a year.[6:58] Ambitious games like Nyan Heroes and Ember Sword probably required +50 devs.[7:35] Hence $5-10 million of funding doesn't last very long. It's not a rug or a con.[9:30] If your game's retention isn't good enough, you can never scale or monetize it to success.[11:44] It's very hard to get anyone to play a new game because of Fortnite/Roblox.[15:23] As weaker projects shut down, the top blockchain games become clear.[15:54] Examples? EVE Frontier (thanks for the hat!), [16:51] Also Wildcard, Proof of Play, Mythical Games, Faraway, MapleStory N etc.[22:04] Blast Royale is being open-sourced so the community could continue to develop it.[24:00] Voya Games has bucked the trend, raising $5 million for idle gaming ecosystem Craft World.[26:50] CEO Oli Loeffler has been slowly building the game and company for the past 3 years. [28:10] The game combines individual resource management with collaborative events. [30:56] There's always something to do and blockchain adds a longer term retention layer.[31:34] Your resources in the main game are only valuable if you can get them into the collab events.[33:45] Would Craft World be a good match for Ronin?[35:05] Off The Grid will launch a web2 version on Steam in June.[37:38] The first NFT sales from Off The Grid have started - highest price to-date is over $1,000.[39:30] But some Steam users hate blockchain so the game will likely get review bombed.[41:30] Jon went to the Avalanche Summit London and was impressed with its momentum.[42:34] He also spoke to Nexon's Dominic Jang about MapleStory Universe and MapleStory N's launch.[43:00] The MSU marketplace has done $1.6 million-worth of NFT trading volume.[45:23] Main markets to-date for MapleStory N players are LATAM, Brazil, southeast Asia.[46:25] Success for Nexon isn't about the game, it's about the ecosystem, esp. 3rd party apps.[51:05] Ava Labs' CEO Emin Gün Sirer also spoke well about the overall vision for Avalanche.