So I have been playing Steem Monsters for a bit and I have to admit I love the game. But despite the enjoyment I get from the game, I don't believe I will see it making it in the long term without serious changes. Don't get me wrong, there does seem to be changes occurring and I don't think they are negative as such. But in regards to Steem Monsters having mass appeal for the novice gamer? Or growing in the long term? .... Well I'm skeptical. So in the post I'm just going to list out a few things I think would be amazing for Steem Monsters, though I know they are probably not realistic.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A FREE TO PLAY VERSION:
One of the things I have always had problems selling people on with the Steem block chain social media is handling their keys. For most who use social media the process of verification and management of log in is extremely simple. Name, email, birth date, phone number, and a simple password and you're off. People love and readily adopt simplicity.
With online gaming this is pretty much the same. People love simplicity. To get new users to want to play Steem Monsters and part with that initial ten bucks, they probably would want to try before they buy. Having non block chain accounts where new players can play and choose to upgrade to the block chain leagues would undoubtedly cause user numbers to uptick. I know this probably isn't realistic as it would take more resources, but again I'm just throwing out what would be cool to see and which would help to ensure that the game grows. It certainly is a better way to get newbies to want to get to grips with things like keys and investing their own money.
I play a few different block chain games that are in beta at the moment (Augmentors, EOS Knights, etc) and the free to play is what has hooked me with them. Were it not for that feature I probably wouldn't have gone near them. Most people will try before they buy if given the choice.
REWARDS AND DISTRIBUTION:
I know recently that there has been a shift in rewards that at a glance seem to favor the top players more so than the novice. I know from getting friends and family to play that this has made advancement almost impossible for the bronze league users who just aren't deep enough in the game to want to invest more for something they are losing at and that feels stacked against them. I know that there are many opinions as to why this is the case. Some say it's the Steem Monsters team trying to keep their investors happy, others say it's to reward the more involved players, others say it's to make things more difficult for bots to rape the rewards pool. Either way it doesn't seem a solid solve or a shift that indicates long term prospects being sound for the game.
All of the things I listed above as potential reasons for shifting the reward cards allocation on leagues indicate that like with all new dapps there are problems that need ironing out in these early days of beta. What would be nice to see is stronger incentives for new players to get engaged at the lower levels. This could be done by creating tiers of cards (rare, epic, legendary) that your percentage of winning is higher the higher you advance. It keeps appeal for those lower level players. So if there is a 1% chance of winning a legendary at bronze, 3% epic, etc then they will still game knowing worse case scenario they are still going to win small rewards.
I know this suggestion could dilute the bottom tier rewards, but as the games user base grows new cards with exceptional new features could be created that still have offsetting qualities in relation to their strengths. Once the new player reaches lets say gold, their chances of winning higher strength cards that can't be bought on the market increase. It's not a give away. You still would have more losers than winners.. but it would keep people wanting to play and attract more new players.
The Vegas model of engagement where people will keep coming back even if losing for hopes of reward is effective. Social media, gambling, most gaming platforms all run on dopamine fueled engagement (Steemit was designed with this in mind. It's in the white paper). But if you were asking a gamer to go through remembering and storing four sets of keys, paying to play, and gaming to lose with little reward and no slim slim slim chance of hitting that jackpot? Well they are just going to go somewhere else that is easier to get reward from and easier to interact with. Reward is reward no matter how small and small amounts seemingly readily available for new users would bring and keep new players.
BOTS BOTS BOTS:
There are a number of complaints around this issue but for most of us in the block chain world we accept bots as part of the ecosystem for better or worse. We aren't going to fully keep them out. But an interesting solve could be a change to the terms of service/user agreement for Steem Monsters. This could be tested in the free to play version where proof of human engagement could be rewarded by launching a league every month where the top five or three players receive an epic card or something along those lines. The reward would be granted IF they upgraded to a block chain account. At that point if the league is challenging and they are already hooked then they probably would have already upgraded. In the user terms Steem Monsters could reserve the right to deny rewards to any account suspected of being a bot account. Basically real rewards for proof of brain style engagement.
We aren't going to get rid of bots and in truth I think some have a place in the block chain ecosystem. But we could create in online gaming a space where peer to peer play is kept human and the environment for bots to thrive kept challenging. Free to play options again would see how that fly's or fails.
ADVERTISEMENT? PROMOTION?
I have noticed there is little in this department. I'm guessing this is due to budget constraints with the Steem Monsters folks. But if they were focused on advertising via things like YouTube and other outlets more people would hear about the game and thus more players and more growth. At the moment it just seems to be a platform for the small community in the block chain world who are in the know. It would be amazing to see a large push outside of block chain circles on other platforms. Again I know everything I'm suggesting probably isn't realistic. I am just voicing what I see as wanting or in the future problematic.
I know in this post it seems I'm being negative about Steem Monsters... I'm not. I really love the game. I think it serving to bring more sign up's and it being a wonderful gateway to the Steem block chain has already shown massive potential. I really want to see the game itself grow and set a high bar for other Magic the Gathering style games in the block chain world to aspire to. But this is the Steem block chain. We are no strangers to disappointment. Look at Steemit and the lost unicorn of Smart Tokens, a website that's biggest addition is a color change, constant top tier infighting, and all the other incompetency that seems to plague that front end.
With Steem Monsters we could see an awesome way for new markets to develop with multiple levels that reward both investors and players. Basically multiple lanes in the market with something for everyone and above all easy access to the market itself. At the moment it does seem like there are better fixes for rewarding top tier players, stronger moves to ensure sustainable money and sustainable engagement so the game stays alive and grows. At the moment it does seem like a long shot to see Steem Monster cards as a safe or good place to invest in long term. I do feel it could go the path of many projects in the block chain world where investors jump in on a great idea and ride it until it's drained of potential and growth. They make money the idea and project fades to memory. I really really really hope that doesn't happen here. But it's always possible in the block chain world.
Well guys that's it for now. If you've made it this far I'd like to thank you for giving my post a read. Best of luck with all your projects and endevours and keep on Steeming. :)
Image credits:
kickstarter.com
Kambiz.mag.com
Wordpress.com
Buisnesstoday.com
TNW.com