Episode 123: A BlazeKoS Conversation
The People's Guild: A Splinterlands Podcast
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Welcome back to the People's Guild. This week, we sit down with Splinterlands' newest team member, the Marketing Lead, 
We sit down with Blaze to get to know him and offer a more formal introduction to the guy that has been handed the keys to the marketing engine - lotta fun getting to hear Blaze' approach and philosophy towards setting us up for long-term successes.
Enjoy the show!
Blaze's Childhood in Portugal and Azores
In the episode, Blaze shared his story of how he ended up in Portugal and the Azores. He mentioned that his dad was born there and moved to California when he was five years old. Blaze's family moved to California when he was eight years old, and he spent his early childhood there. His parents later decided to move back to the Azores, where Blaze learned the language and culture. They lived there for six years before moving back to California for high school. Blaze also mentioned that his parents were hardworking and that he had a great childhood. The team also discussed the challenges of teaching while hungover, with Blaze sharing a humorous anecdote about a teacher who was hungover and had a movie night in class.
Nostalgic Experiences and Shared Passions
Blaze reminisced about his past experiences, including a trip to the Azores and his time in California. Blaze shared his high school and college experiences, mentioning his interest in computers and business. He also talked about his passion for collecting and trading items, including music and sports cards. The conversation also touched on their experiences with surfing and spearfishing.
Blaze's Entrepreneurial Journey and Life
Blaze shared his experiences of growing up in the Azores, his passion for swimming and spearfishing, and his love for computer gaming. He recounted his entrepreneurial journey, starting a computer gaming center in his hometown and later opening a computer gaming center in his college town. Blaze also shared his experience of competing with another gaming center that tried to undercut his prices, and how he managed to drive them out of business. He mentioned his family's background and how he was the first to move to the Azores, following his love for a girl he met there. Blaze also talked about his work as a lead salesman and marketer, working remotely for over a decade. He expressed his love for Portugal and his allegiance to the Portuguese football club, Benfica.
Blaze's Crypto and Gaming Journey
Blaze shared his journey into the world of cryptocurrency and gaming, highlighting his transition from a sales job to a crypto enthusiast. He discussed his early experiences with Eos, Wax, and Cardano, and how he got involved in NFTs through the Garbage Pail Kids project on the Wax blockchain. Blaze also mentioned his involvement in the TerraLuna project and his attraction to Splinterlands due to its community and vision. He emphasized the importance of decentralization and the potential of Splinterlands to cater to various audiences. The team also discussed their shared experiences with community-driven video games and the role of brawls in their Splinterlands journey.
Building Structure and Community in Splinterlands
Blaze discussed his role in lead marketing and his focus on building structure and community for Splinter Lands. He emphasized the importance of understanding the target audience and creating a nostalgic feeling for collectors. Blaze also discussed the need for flexibility in marketing and the importance of listening to the market. He mentioned the need for a strong foundation to support future growth and the importance of catering to different target audiences, including competitive gamers, collectors, and bot users. Blaze also touched on the importance of land in the game and the potential for new dimensions.
Splinterlands Preferences and Future Developments
Bjangles and Hepthorn discuss their preferences for different aspects of the game Splinterlands. Bjangles enjoys the ranked mode and the strategic elements reminiscent of poker, while also appreciating the collector aspect from his childhood experience with sports cards. Hepthorn prefers casual gameplay, trying new card combinations without worrying about win rates. They discuss the potential impact of the upcoming mobile app and how it could attract traditional gamers averse to crypto elements. Blaze highlights the fun of experimenting with new card combinations in the "wild" format. Bjangles advocates for an inconsequential "kitchen table" mode to enable casual experimentation without impacting ranked play. They express excitement about the constantly evolving meta-game as new card sets are released.
Managing Limited Team and Community
Blaze discussed the challenges of managing a limited team and the need to prioritize tasks. He also emphasized the importance of community engagement and social interaction within the game, suggesting potential solutions such as linking social media profiles to in-game interactions. Blaze also mentioned plans for future contests and partnerships, but stressed the importance of building a strong community base before expanding.
Blaze's Passion for Splinterlands Growth
Blaze discussed his passion for Splinterlands and his desire to join the team to make a positive impact on the community and the project. He emphasized the importance of building a strong foundation for the project, including a new customer experience and a mobile experience to attract a wider audience. Blaze also shared his experience in managing funds during a bear market and his optimism for the future of Splinterlands. The team expressed excitement about the upcoming developments and the potential for significant growth in the next six months.