The introduction of blockchain technology has fundamentally changed the internet moving forward. What started out as a joke of a concept in 2009 has bore fruit in marvelous ways. Altcoins, Non-fungible tokens, blockchain games etc. A lot of what we're partaking in on this site sounds like something straight out of a 90's sci-fi movie.
It's beautiful.
But, there are some issues, most notably:
Blockchain games suck
A GIF befitting this blog post | Image courtesy of Tenor.com
Yes, I said it. Blockchain games suck.
Now, I know there are individuals reading this that are livid at that one line. But, come on, how long do we have to continue this facade?
Blockchain games simply suck and that's mostly tied to the overall ethos within the p2e community. However, I know that simply saying that isn't enough, so let me elaborate by explaining the gripes I have with this fledgling genre, and my thoughts on the future of this nascent genre as a whole.
Just give my points a try | Image courtesy of Tenor.com
Nobody thinks of p2e games as 'games'
Money. It's always about the money. | Image courtesy of Tenor.com
The primary issue with play-to-earn games is the fact that the majority of individuals that partake in them - do not think of them as games.
Now, don't mistake me, p2e games are 'games', in the nominal sense. The issue is that the people that partake in it (from developers to players) do not focus on the 'game' aspect.
The majority of those that partake in the game think of it from the earning perspective.
Play-to-earn developers, annoyingly, hammer on the 'earning' aspect rather than just focusing on the gameplay and then having the p2e aspect be secondary. Play-to-earn players largely focus on the earning aspect, hell the majority of players join the game just because they heard they could earn, with only a few sticking for the gameplay.
This lack of focus on the core aspect of the game, that being the gameplay, translates into lazy games. These games would usually be discarded, thrown to the side, but, because they're marketed as p2e games, individuals buy into them.
If you don't believe me just take a gander at p2e communities. They're dominated by individuals simply in it for the money. Hell, the quintessential play-to-earn game - Axies Infinity - is mostly known for the money it generates, and the income it accrues for both players, and managers.
Now, don't get me wrong, the pay-to-earn aspect of these games is not inherently an issue. The issue is that developers, and players, are mostly focusing on that aspect and ignoring the fact that these things are games.
Because of this lack of interest in gameplay it creates an issue where games are developed focusing primarily on the p2e aspect. Developers get away with this because the community they're appealing to is, mostly, motivated by profits, and not interest in having a good time playing a game.
The pay-walls are insane
Come on guys, lets listen to Frasier | Image courtesy of Tenor.com
Another, major, issue when it comes to pay-to-earn games is the asking price just to partake in them. Your run of the mill, horrendous, p2e game could set you back upwards of $100.
This is insane.
Then you realise that the majority of multiplayer p2e games (such as Axies and Splinterlands) are mostly pay to win and you start to wonder whether the developers give a damn about developing games.
And this is only accepted in this community. Outside of the p2e genre, developers are heavily criticized for producing such low-quality, money grabbing games, but in the p2e community the very basics of gameplay are accepted because the majority of the community doesn't give a damn about the games - they just care about the dollar.
This cannot end well
It really won't | Image courtesy of Tenor.com
The primary concern in all this is the possibility of a 'crash'. It may seem absurd but the prevalence of low quality games could lead to a crash of p2e games as a whole. Yeah, it's kinda out there but think of the history of games and how this market functions. You have a growing amount of p2e games that are contingent on the possibility of players making money, huge entry fees, lack of compelling gameplay and it's all resting on reed.
With how disastrous these games are looking - it ain't outside the realm of possibilities.
Speaking of possibilities:
It could all work out
It could work out | Image courtesy of Tenor.com
While I've mostly harped on the negatives of pay-to-earn games, it is important to remember that this could all be resolved if the community (which includes developers and players) simply stop accepting this horseshit. Developers need to start focusing on making actually good games and players need to start demanding good games.
This crap cannot continue and its bizzare that it's allowed to. Like, realistically, all a developer needs to do is make a solid game and have the p2e aspect be secondary.
An added marketing point, not the entire marketing plan.
Think of the p2e aspect of a game as something akin to microtransactions. Added ecosystems that exist to better play engagement. They don't have to be forced, they don't have to be mandatory to play (and thus drive price entry to insane levels), and they don't have to affect gameplay. A good example of this would be League of Legends.
League of Legends has a well establish microtransaction system and, while has its flaws, it is hardly a matter of concern for any player of the game as what can be bought at the store is: cosmetics or items that do not affect gameplay thus not making the game play to win.
Now, imagine if Riot simply tied the cosmetics to a p2e model and made it easily accessible for all. It would be great. It would give a "good" (who are we kidding here) game added value through a p2e ecosystem that provides players added value and add benefit.
THIS is what can be done with the play-to-earn mechanic and it would be better for all. It would give developers money as they would get a cut and benefit from microtransactions, while benefiting players by providing added income for their hardwork (cause League has a system that rewards "grinding" by acquiring skins through in game credits) .
This is the future that p2e could be and I hope it gets there because it is a truly rewarding aspect of games but the problem right now is that its the primary factor blockchain developers focus upon.
Things need to change and hopefully they do