A weekly newsletter containing a curated list of the week’s most notable Web 3 gaming reports, podcasts, events, quotes and threads for you to catch up on 👇
📁 Reports / Research / Essays
Ancient 8: Polygon is a game changer for Web3 Gaming & NFTs
Messari: Analyzing the Market Potential of Fully On-chain Games
Frostlam (Qiming VC): Unleasing the Secrets to GameFi's Success
A 20-year journey of Open Economic Gaming Mastery
DeFrag DAO: Knights of the Ether Research Report
David Amor (Playmint): Digital Physics in On-Chain Games
Mint Ventures: Limit Break and its DigiDaigaku NFTs are a true Paradigm Shift in Web3 Gaming
Balthazar DAO - NFT marketplace update (Feb 2023)
🎬 Podcasts / AMAs / Watches+
FOGcast #33 — NFT Marketplace Drama, Creator Royalties & The Future of Game Monetization
FOGcast #34 — Bitcoin NFTs, CSGOs Success & Gaming NFTs v2.0
Navik — Manish Agarwal (IndiGG): Bringing Web3 Gaming to India
📝 Notes / Summaries
Rich Cabrera (Ready Player DAO) — CS:GO GDC 2014 Talk Summary
CS:GO gave a talk at GDC in 2014 around the launch of their economy that is VERY important for everyone developing games in web3
I watched the entire hour long talk so I could break it down for you but feel free to check it out here: gdcvault.com/play/1021349/B…
MEGA
1/13
I watched the entire hour long talk so I could break it down for you but feel free to check it out here: gdcvault.com/play/1021349/B…
MEGA
1/13
gdcvault.com
Building the Content that Drives the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Economy
When our team set out to add an economy to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, we were faced with two huge challenges. First, we needed to create enough content to satisfy over a million players with...
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🧵Threads
Ben (Crypto.com) — Reflections on the Web3 Gaming Thesis and how has it evolved from 2021 to now
I spent most of late 2021 and early 2022 looking at Web3 Gaming VC.
Some reflections on the Web3 Gaming thesis, and how my views have evolved over time
Some reflections on the Web3 Gaming thesis, and how my views have evolved over time
A ZEUS — Quick thread on Avalon raising $13m to build an interoperable digital universe
Degen Wars — Basic Gameplay Thread
DEGEN WAR$ is a PvP digital card game that lets two opponents battle each other.
How the basic gameplay works, and all relevant information for the players is explained below
How the basic gameplay works, and all relevant information for the players is explained below
Reboot GG — All about Reboot.gg
The current video game production and distribution model is broken. Developers are funneled into centralized platforms with high fees and restrictive content policies, leading to predatory monetization tactics that harm players.
Andrew Chen (a16z) — Why its going to be hard for AI startups to break into the gaming industry
there's been a rush of AI startups trying to break into the games industry
It feels obvious to use genAI to create avatars, environments, levels, NPCs - plus sound, music, and so on - and maybe entire games
But it's going to VERY hard for these cos to break in. Here's why
It feels obvious to use genAI to create avatars, environments, levels, NPCs - plus sound, music, and so on - and maybe entire games
But it's going to VERY hard for these cos to break in. Here's why
ggQuest — Thread about ggQuest & its Progression System
We’re developing a unique progression system that will bring a true paradigm shift among gamers.
Interested in some
alpha?
Interested in some
alpha?
Kalos (Parallel) — ETH Denver Gaming Takeaways
Eth Denver Gaming Takeaways
I met a lot of friendly, talented and passionate people with different models/approaches to Web3 gaming... no one is better or than the other, just sharing observations.
I met a lot of friendly, talented and passionate people with different models/approaches to Web3 gaming... no one is better or than the other, just sharing observations.
Sachi Kamiya (Polygon) — Why am I bullish on Web3 Gaming
Why I am bullish web3 gaming:
Gaming VCs increased in size vs. 2018. A lot of funding is available for gaming projects.
80% are actively investing in web 3 gaming.
Buts it’s a tough industry to invest— there are only 19 notable exits in the past 10 years.
Cc:@naavik_co
Gaming VCs increased in size vs. 2018. A lot of funding is available for gaming projects.
80% are actively investing in web 3 gaming.
Buts it’s a tough industry to invest— there are only 19 notable exits in the past 10 years.
Cc:@naavik_co
Simon (Mighty Bear Games) — What's next for projects that didn't get to raise enough
In 2022 I shared my perspective that projects raising <$5M in Web3 were raising just enough to fail. I got a lot of pushback for that but after the last few months I'm even more certain that 2023 is going to be a brutal year - a on what's next
1/17
on what's next1/17
Watching the funding announcements in Web3 gaming over the past year or so, it’s obvious that the bulk games in this space have raised not enough money to succeed but just enough money to fail (<$5M). We saw this in mobile in the 2010s, thread on why and what’s next
1/22
1/22
Makai Witch (Otaku Guild) — Web3 Gaming WL Tier List
個人的ランキング・3月にNFTを発行する
・今からWL獲得に向けて行動可能
・3月中何かしらのイベント
そんな40のWeb3 Gameプロジェクトを個人的にランク付け！
WL獲得やMINTの参考になれば……と思います！
↓
Kartoha (Metaguild) — 5 Decks to play around with in Parallel
Need help figuring out what to play in @ParallelTCG?
As someone who thoroughly enjoys the deckbuilding aspect of the game, I had a blast creating 5 decks during the Parallel Closed Alpha that you'll enjoy.
Don't forget to have fun! //
As someone who thoroughly enjoys the deckbuilding aspect of the game, I had a blast creating 5 decks during the Parallel Closed Alpha that you'll enjoy.
Don't forget to have fun! //
Recloner — 🧵 on Mithraeum's 1st Autonomous-Algorithmic Wipe
Today, the first autonomous-algorithmic wipe took place in @MithraeumIO. Its concept is that it happens not according to a predetermined schedule or not by the will of the admins, but when the Game decides that something going is wrong in it
lordOfAFew (Loot Realms) — On chain gaming teams are realizing the limits of bare EVM / solidity
Interestingly every serious onchain gaming team is realizing the limits of bare EVM / solidity
@ArgusLabs_ - New execution engine closer to the metal
@latticexyz - Iterating on MUD to be more performant and closer to the bits.
@0xcurio - Building their own chain for games
@ArgusLabs_ - New execution engine closer to the metal
@latticexyz - Iterating on MUD to be more performant and closer to the bits.
@0xcurio - Building their own chain for games
Vulcan Forged — New Chapter for Vulcan as Vulcan Studios Rebrands
A new chapter begins for @VulcanForged's portfolio of games
Introducing: our new Vulcan Studios logo & brand identity!
A thread
Introducing: our new Vulcan Studios logo & brand identity!
A thread
ZTX Financial District — An introduction to the metaverse that Zepeto & Jump are creating
Mystis Game — Intro to Mystis, an on-chain fighting game on StarkNet
[THREAD] What is Mystis? 
Step into the Mystis world, a web3 on-chain fighting game on #Starknet and try to become the best Mystidian
(Our testnet is almost finished ! Interact with this tweet to have a chance to be whitelisted)
Step into the Mystis world, a web3 on-chain fighting game on #Starknet and try to become the best Mystidian
(Our testnet is almost finished ! Interact with this tweet to have a chance to be whitelisted)
Mystic Games — Intro to Mystic Games & their Web3 Roguelite ARPG
Who are Mystic Games?
1/7
Mystic Games is soon releasing their latest game called Call of the VOYD - a fast-paced, easy-to-play Roguelike Royale that combines MMO longevity and monetisation of Mobile RPG and #web3 .
1/7
Mystic Games is soon releasing their latest game called Call of the VOYD - a fast-paced, easy-to-play Roguelike Royale that combines MMO longevity and monetisation of Mobile RPG and #web3 .
Wale.Swoosh (Azuki) — Amazon is building an NFT Marketplace
Amazon is building an NFT marketplace:
Is this the moment we've all been waiting for?
(1/16)
Is this the moment we've all been waiting for?
(1/16)
📰 News / Updates / Action Items
🔍 Newly Spotted Projects
Block Born Studio — No info yet — more
Spectarium — A Nordic, fantasy world RPG — more
Bor3d Games — Game Publisher & Studio by Kyler Frisbee (w/ Robin Chan, Matt Sorg & Justin Kan as Advisors) — more
Galaxy Throne — Fully on-chain Sci-Fi Strategy Building Game (Won 1st in TRON Hackathon: GameFi Track) — more
Dragon Crossing — Web3 RPG launching in May 2023 — more
Trudan Studios — Game studio developing KuroroBeast on Arbitrum — more
Avalon — Game Studio building an interoperable digital MMORPG (Recently raised $13m) — more
Starfall Gates — Project related to the Web3 MOBA, Starfall Arena — more
ZTX Official — Metaverse being built by Zepeto & Jump — more
Momometaverse — NFT Metaverse Project — more
Magic Block — Web3 studio building on-chain mobile games — more
Garbles Fun — Mobile game that cleans up the planet (Developed by Magic Block) — more
DCL Studios — Studio for Decentraland — more
Reboot GG — Reboot GG is a decentralized, scalable framework for skill-based games that rewards players & developers — more
Waifu Force — Waifu Force is a AAAAA multiplayer shooter powered by Worlds Org & Unreal Engine 5 — more
Spac3 GG — Space 3 is a Web 3 gaming loyalty platform being developed by Ancient 8 — more
Dark Bright Games — Dark Bright Games is a game studio launched by Treasure DAO that is developing Smolville — more
Starknet Gaming — Gaming on Starknet (Not much info yet) — more
Webe Studio — Web3 Metaverse gaming studio — more
Chess Olympiads — On chain Chess — more
Shadow War Games — Hero-based web3 hybrid-action title being developed by Patriots Division — more
Patriots PMC — Studio developing Shadow War Game — more
Bisonic Games — Game Studio behind Runiverse — more
Runes TCG — Runiverse-themed Trading Card Game (TCG) — more
Warped Canto — Fully onchain PvP MMO RTS on Canto — more
Kamigotchi World — Web3 Pet Idle game by Asphodel Labs on Canto — more
Fun Dream Games — Istanbul based game studio developing web3 mobile games — more
Blink Moon Games — Indie game studio building for cloud gaming — more
Echoplus Studio — Game studio building Code Sekai — more
Code Sekai — Anime Universe being developed by Echo Plus Studio — more
Aradena Warrior — Trading Card Game (TCG) being developed by Litoja Labs — more
L1523Kick Games — Russian indie gaming studio building Worldshards (Sandbox RPG) — more
🗨️ Quotable Quotes
Mitch Lasky (Benchmark) — The laziest VC move in games is "pedigree chasing"
The laziest VC move in games is "pedigree chasing": only funding ex-Riot, Epic, or Blizzard employees (and not always leads). The founders of those massive companies (and countless other successful ones) had zero "big game company" experience. But now they're the Ivy League. 
Jon (Play Ember) — Web3 UA is a billion $ opportunity for whomever cracks it
Great discussion with a gaming VC's about web3 UA/ad network models
Agreement on what it wont look like:
- NOT a mobile ad network 2.0 - high ECPM/crypto ads
- NOT Google Ads 2.0
- NOT wallet ads ( at least in the current form)
Billion $$ opp for whoever cracks it.
Agreement on what it wont look like:
- NOT a mobile ad network 2.0 - high ECPM/crypto ads
- NOT Google Ads 2.0
- NOT wallet ads ( at least in the current form)
Billion $$ opp for whoever cracks it.
Tommy Ngo (Zynga) — Higher user demand than product supply makes Web3 gaming promising. Esp since there's no playbook yet.
On gaming —
PC/console gaming is all about IP and graphic
mobile gaming is all about microtransactions and LTV
no web3 gaming playbook yet, but cannot be more bullish on a space with higher user demand than product supply
2023/2024 should be fun
PC/console gaming is all about IP and graphicmobile gaming is all about microtransactions and LTV no web3 gaming playbook yet, but cannot be more bullish on a space with higher user demand than product supply2023/2024 should be fun
Derek Lau (Guild of Guardian) — We are now seeing Web2 gamers onboarded to NFTs, NOT because of good gameplay, but because of the idea of playing for profit
It's interesting to the second order impacts of the $1.6m @yugalabs key sale
We are now seeing Web2 gamers onboarded to NFTs, NOT because of good gameplay, but because of the idea of playing for profit
We are now seeing Web2 gamers onboarded to NFTs, NOT because of good gameplay, but because of the idea of playing for profit
Thanks for reading! 🥰
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