# Thoughts on Wolf Game By [m3ta](https://paragraph.com/@m3ta) · 2022-05-02 --- Recently, _Wolf Game_ launched their second mini-game (or pre-game): _Cave Game_. This is their first 3rd-person-view game, after the previous mini-game _Alpha Game_ was interface-only, where users could stake their NFT assets in one of several _Wolf Packs_ to compete for _$WOOL_ — the game's native currency, which can then can be used to buy digital objects within the game’s [internal economy](https://mirror.xyz/m3ta.eth/Jp69iBZjNMsanol_0sr2iOIGMuyzorpHfW16z7ORZdU) in the yet-to-be released full game. **Risk-based NFT Games** _Wolf Game_ was a pioneer in combining NFT and DeFi elements and piloting a risk component in smart contracts in a very exciting, playful way. In _Wolf Game_’s first iteration, I could "wager" my NFT as part of the game mechanics in exchange for _$WOOL_. But: there was also a certain probability that my NFT would be "lost" when betting, i.e. technically speaking: _burned_. This worked automatically and was in fact randomized by the algorithm. Other innovative experiments that are being tried out are of a game-theoretical nature, for example a scenario, where I as an individual player have advantages or disadvantages depending on how many players also decide for or against an option; as well as a team aspect in _Alpha Game_ (_Wolf Pack_), where different players can join forces and thus increase their chances of winning. **Devs on Top of their Game** _Wolf Game_’s developers are, in my opinion, some of the best builders in the NFT gaming space—not put off by setbacks, publicly iterating their clever pre-games, implementing community feedback on features in a matter of days. And setbacks, there were several. Not only the affiliation with an [(in)famous NFT influencer](https://twitter.com/NFTethics/status/1483051289022017538), but also a malicious smart contract during the first weeks of existence: [https://twitter.com/not\_\_stoops/status/1462638499316699137?ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1462638499316699137%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1\_c10&ref\_url=https%3A%2F%2Fchaindebrief.com%2Fwolf-game-first-nft-game-with-risk-protocol%2F](https://twitter.com/not__stoops/status/1462638499316699137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1462638499316699137%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fchaindebrief.com%2Fwolf-game-first-nft-game-with-risk-protocol%2F) After tips by members of the community, the initial smart contract was paused. This would have been the end for a lot of young projects, but the _Wolf Game_ developers — known as _Shepherd_ — publicly [proposed a plan](https://twitter.com/wolfdotgame/status/1463023741806555139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1463023741806555139%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fchaindebrief.com%2Fwolf-game-first-nft-game-with-risk-protocol%2F), [hired a famous outside auditor](https://muellerberndt.medium.com/wolf-game-herdsmans-report-5802c9d477bd) and [introduced a bug bounty system](https://twitter.com/wolfdotgame/status/1463023743790370817). **Active Community** _Wolf Game_, not even fully launched today, already has an active community, invested monetarily and culturally. For example, there exist now [several](https://www.wolfgame.tools/) [tools](https://www.wolfgame.live/) built by the community around _Wolf Game_ and its token _$WOOL_, including a lot of strategy frameworks during the _Alpha Game_ and _Cave Game_ pre-games. **Future Challenges & Solutions** The traditional model for NFT projects is that original holders — those who are early — get rewarded the most while the ecosystem grows. A key challenge for _Wolf Game_ will be how to offer new users opportunities for “late entries” and onboard new players (also those with limited access to capital), for example through a new, more affordable asset class or a renting mechanism for existing ones. There are several possible solutions, one is “[breeding](https://twitter.com/beyondm3ta/status/1521006779613724673)”. _Wolf Game_ will have to come up with a strategy to address the two very distinctive interesting target groups you find in NFT-based games today: * _The investor:_ Time-poor (can’t play the game daily), capital-rich (speculates on the assets appreciating) * _The player:_ Time-rich (as a lot of time and wants to play the game), capital-poor (not enough access capital) It would also not be the first time for the (I guess) collective known as _Shepherd_ to introduce innovations in the space. Another huge challenge, where even I as a day one holder have sometimes trouble understanding all nuances — which is a also general issue for every project that has evolved into a multi-asset ecosystem — is explaining all rules, asset classes and their connections in a user-friendly, approachable way. But here as well, I trust in the _Shepherd_’s ability to deliver. The release of the full game is expected for early 2022. --- *Originally published on [m3ta](https://paragraph.com/@m3ta/thoughts-on-wolf-game)*