Today we finally got the launch of the long awaited daily play to earn(P2E)! Players have been gearing up for a long time since it was first announced, months ago.
So what are the requirements for this to be a success?
1. Does it make you want to play more?
Before the daily P2E was released, I initially thought that it wouldn't have much effect because I assumed the rewards would be negligible. Although the first day is not yet over, in fact it has barely begun, it looks like the rewards may be worth it. The reward pool will of course be severely diluted before the day is out but even if they were to decrease by 80%, I would still be earning a similar amount to what I usually get on the weekend ranked (in Diamond/Mythic).
Another positive thing about the structure they have adopted is that it punishes those players that have been winning 1 game in Mythic to collect Gods and then not playing until the following Weekend Ranked so that they keep their spot in Mythic. This will result in a more even spread for those players who actively participate.
Answer: Yes, at least while the rewards are non-negligible.
2. Does it increase the value of cards?
I think this one is yet to be answered but how can it not? It will drive everyone to increase the shine of their set and this is achieved through forging, decreasing the supply. There will however be a cost benefit analysis that needs tot be assessed to see what the optimal amount of shine is if you are looking to get the most bang for your buck. I expect that there will be a boatload of analysis to be done once the data start pouring in.
Answer: Yes, in theory.
3. Is it well executed?
When I first played, the client seemed to be having some issues and was very laggy. A patch was then released shortly after which seems to sort it out.
The results are available immediately and there doesn't look to be any delay like those on GUDecks when looking at your weekend ranked results.
The progress is clearly illustrated and easy to understand as well with a count down on how many games are left before you reach your allotted 10, your win/loss count and the estimated pay out at that point in time based on how many fragments have been collected in total. One thing I would add is a countdown timer similar to the one for weekend ranked so that we can see when then next day starts (People are playing from all around the world and in different time zones).
Answer: Yes! A very pleasant experience.
To summarise, I think this is a very positive move for GU and hopefully we will start seeing an increase in player numbers again. I will certainly be playing a lot more because it kind of feels like a mini weekend ranked every day. I really hope that the rewards are kept at levels which make it worth everyone's time but only time will tell.