Episode 115: A RealWolf Conversation
The People's Guild: A Splinterlands Podcast
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Welcome back to the People's Guild. In this one we welcome longtime Hive & Splinterlands OG, 
We discuss Hive, Splinterlands, Splinterroyale/Ethgard Legends and Web3 in this one.
Be sure to check out his game, Ethgard Legends, and follow Wolf over on X. For reference, in our discussion, Wolf called attention to snapshot.org for other Web3 DAOs.
Enjoy the show!
Hive and Splinterlands Experiences and Strategies
Bjangles, Hepthorn, and Wolf discussed their experiences with Hive and Splinterlands. Wolf shared his journey into crypto through Steam in 2017 and his involvement with Splinterlands around 2021. He emphasized the importance of consistency in content creation and community engagement for gaining traction on Hive. Wolf also highlighted the need for creating valuable content to get noticed in the current context of Steam and Hive, and the importance of contributing meaningful comments and ideas to improve the platforms.
Discussing Splinterlands Value and Funding Proposal
Hepthorn and Wolf discussed the value of Splinterlands to the Hive community. Wolf highlighted that Splinterlands was the biggest application on Hive, providing a significant user base. He also noted that there was a symbiotic relationship between Splinterlands and Hive. Hepthorn asked about the arguments against funding a proposal for Splinterlands, to which Wolf responded that the main argument was the amount of money required, with some questioning the guaranteed positive effect of the funds. Wolf also mentioned that the value Splinterlands has provided to Hive over the years is significant. Hepthorn inquired about Wolf's involvement in tracking Hive user metrics, to which Wolf responded that he had stopped due to the quality of the data from other sources.
Addressing Declining User Numbers and Expansion Strategies
Wolf discussed the challenges faced by projects due to the decline in user numbers after a period of exceptional growth. He highlighted the need for projects to reach outwards to new games and ecosystems to attract more users. Wolf also mentioned the success of AxieInfinity, a project that has expanded its offerings to include various games based on its universe. He noted that the creators of AxieInfinity also created Ronin, which recently onboarded 7 new games to its blockchain, generating significant hype. However, Wolf expressed uncertainty about the authenticity of these users, suggesting it's difficult to differentiate between real humans and bots.
Exploring Gaming Concepts and Interconnected Ecosystems
The conversation between Hepthorn, Wolf, and Bjangles covered Wolf's gaming background, including his journey from playing games like Pokemon and World of Warcraft to developing Splendor Royale. Wolf shared his unsuccessful attempts to secure funding for the game due to timing issues. Bjangles provided context on the timeline, mentioning the initial proposal in March and the name change to Splinterlands in May. They discussed the origins of SoulKeep, a game concept born from a conversation two and a half years ago, and reflected on the team’s decision to focus on a wide range of content, which they now believe was a mistake. The potential of interconnected game ecosystems utilizing Splinterland's lore and artwork was also explored. The conversation ended with a discussion about pursuing different paths, such as a dragon racing game instead of Moon Carts, acknowledging that hindsight is 20/20.
Building a Game on Another IP: Challenges and Solutions
Wolf discussed the challenges of building a game based on another IP, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure security and the need for future-proofing. He explained the decision to create Ether Legends, which would not rely on another project, and highlighted the importance of using widely recognized standards like EVM for new projects. Wolf also noted the potential for a project to switch to a new chain in the future, stressing the need to think forward when designing a project. Hepthorn agreed with Wolf's points.
Transition From Hive to EVM Discussion
Bjangles and Wolf discussed the transition from Hive to EVM (B3), focusing on the social and technical aspects. Wolf expressed concern about leaving the Hive community, but justified the move due to his ambition to build an on-chain game. He emphasized the importance of decentralization and the need for tools that facilitate this, such as those available on the EVM chain. Wolf also mentioned his hope for Hive to eventually integrate with the EVM ecosystem, providing more value to its users.
Exploring Validators' Role in Project Operations
Bjangles and Hepthorn expressed their need for a basic understanding of the technical aspects of the project, particularly the role of validators. Wolf explained that validators are crucial for the game to operate with or without SteemMonsters, Inc., and they enable the creation of bridges to other chains. Wolf also clarified that the current focus is on the validators and that they should be completed as soon as possible for the project to become decentralized. Hepthorn asked about the scope of the validators, specifically whether they would handle all game transactions or just the SPS transactions. Wolf responded that the initial focus would be on supporting financial transactions, but he was unsure about the long-term plan.
Web3 Gaming, Financial Transactions, and Community Involvement
Wolf emphasized the importance of financial transactions in on-chain gaming, suggesting that games should be open source or accessible to a select few organizations. The team agreed on the need for a way for the community to run the game outside of the company to prevent assets from becoming useless. Wolf also discussed the challenges and opportunities of Web3 gaming, highlighting the need for a focus on the true values of Web3, such as digital ownership, transparency, and entrepreneurship, rather than relying solely on monetary incentives.
Balancing Free-to-Play Models and Sustainability
Wolf expressed concerns about the sustainability of the current model, which involves airdrops and short-term incentives. He acknowledged the difficulty in finding a balance between attracting new players and maintaining a healthy, long-term player base. Hepthorn and Bjangles agreed, noting the challenges of balancing free-to-play models with the need for sustainable growth. They discussed the potential shift towards a free-to-play model, with rewards based on the assets players own, as a way to encourage long-term engagement. Wolf also shared his experience with a similar model in EthgardLegends, highlighting the importance of protecting earned assets to prevent players from leaving the game. The team agreed on the need for a more sustainable approach to game development.
