Gaming has become a significant part of the Web3 landscape. It has allowed game studios to not only provide players with entertainment but also give them a chance to own parts of the games they play. However, striking a balance between Web3’s utility and the fun factor that players expect has been a challenge for some Web3 games.
Call of the VoYd: A Game that Shakes Up the Web3 Space
We recently had the opportunity to speak with Matthew Buxton, the CEO of Mystic Games, about their new game, Call of the VoYd. This game aims to bring a competitive edge to the Rogue-lite/Survivor genre while still embracing the concept of every run being different. One of the reasons they chose to make it a Web3 game is because it allows them to experiment with creating prizes for competitive play and include limited edition rare items. These items will also be interoperable with future titles, and players will have the option to sell or trade their accounts without the risk of the grey market.
The Current State of Web3 Gaming
The Web3 gaming landscape is still in its early stages. While there are more people building Web3 games than there are players, the industry is evolving and improving. However, there are still games that prioritize financial aspects over gameplay, requiring players to buy something just to start playing. This can create a poor user experience, especially on mobile, where players have to navigate external marketplaces to make financial decisions. Some studios claim to prioritize fun games but spend most of their time focusing on staking, chains, and educating users. It will take time to see a significant shift in this trend.
The Potential of Web3 for Mobile Game Developers
Web3 offers several advantages for mobile game developers. One of the key benefits is the ability to build a dedicated community around the game. By involving the community in the game development process, developers can create something that players genuinely want. Additionally, incorporating verified game assets and currencies allows developers to retain players in their ecosystem. When the next game is released, existing players can seamlessly continue their progress. However, integrating Web3 elements into games requires time and experimentation.
Balancing Web3 and Gameplay
For Call of the VoYd, the balance between Web3 elements and gameplay hasn’t been a challenge because the game itself is inherently fun. The team believes that Web3 should be a behind-the-scenes technology that enables players to take in-game items outside of the game and do whatever they want with them. This approach ensures that the gameplay experience remains the priority.
Broader Adoption of Web3
To see broader adoption of Web3, game developers need to create games without the sole focus of making money from in-game transactions. The industry should move away from constructs like staking and marketplaces and design NFTs that can work seamlessly in games with a large number of concurrent players. Artificially expensive elements and the idea that everything can be modeled need to be eliminated. Web3 should be seen as a technology that empowers players and gives them more freedom in how they play.
The Future of Web3
Mystic Games has exciting plans for the future, including the release of the beta version of Call of the VoYd called HeartlinerZ. They are also working on their second game and opening a new studio in Stockholm to finish production. Looking ahead, Matthew Buxton believes that Web3 will be seen as a technology that enhances player freedom rather than focusing solely on monetization. As the industry evolves, players will expect to have ownership of the items they acquire in games, and developers will leverage Web3 technology to meet those expectations. The future of Web3 is bright, as long as real developers prioritize creating great games over NFT hype projects.
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Gaming has played a significant role in the Web3 space, with decentralised aspects allowing studios to provide players with a chance of not just playing games but also owning parts of them along the way. Despite heavy expansion and investment in recent years, some Web3 games have struggled to balance Web3’s utility while delivering the fun factor players expect.
Call of the VoYd: A Game that Shakes Up the Web3 Space
We caught up with Mystic Games CEO Matthew Buxton to find our more about their new game Call of the VoYd, the future potential of Web3 and we take a look at some past and present mistakes made in the Web3 space and how these issues can be overcome.
PocketGamer.biz: What was the original idea behind Call of the Voyd and why did it feel right to make it a Web3 game?
Matthew Buxton: The idea behind Call of the VoYd was to shake up the Rogue-lite/Survivor genre by creating something with a competitive edge that also leans heavily into the ‘every run is different’ ethos.
We wanted to incorporate Web3 elements because the tech allows us to experiment with creating prizes for competitive play, and we can include rare items that are verifiably limited. The bonus is that they will all be interoperable with future titles, and every player will essentially be able to sell or trade their account should they want to, without the grey market risk.
What can you tell us about the Web3 gaming landscape? Are there any current trends you’re seeing?
Matthew Buxton: There are definitely more people building Web3 games than people playing them, but it is an exciting place at the moment. Unfortunately, games created as a financial vehicle with barely any game elements to speak of still exist, with the expectation that players have to buy something to even begin to play. In saying that, the space is moving forward and improving.
For me, I think the worst possible user experience for a mobile game is to have to go to an external and random marketplace to make a financial decision.
One current trend I’ve seen is for studios to say their priority is to ‘make fun games’ but then spend most of their time talking about staking, chains and ‘educating users’. I may be a little harsh, but I think it will be a while before we see this significantly evolving.
One current trend I’ve seen is for studios to say their priority is to ‘make fun games’ but then spend most of their time talking about staking, chains and ‘educating users’.
Matthew Buxton
Call of the VoYd is on mobile. What potential does Web3 offer mobile game developers?
Matthew Buxton: As with any innovative evolving technology, incorporating Web3 elements takes time and experimentation.
One real advantage is building a community together that really cares about the game. It’s pretty cool to have a conversation with our community and build the game together; this gives us a real chance to make something they genuinely want.
We have an average of 14.2 sessions per user on our prototype, for example, which is a dedication you don’t see outside of Kickstarter.
Secondly, you can retain players in your ecosystem by including verified game assets and currencies. When you bring out your next game, existing players can pick up almost where they left off.
How do you balance Web3 elements with the fun factor of the game?
Matthew Buxton: We haven’t had to strike a balance – because it’s genuinely a fun game. My view is that Web3 shouldn’t make itself known in the game. To us, Web3 is a tech solution that allows players to take things they find in-game, out of the game and do what they like with them.
What do you think needs to happen within Web3 to see broader adoption?
Matthew Buxton: To be frank, the games need to be created without the premise of trying to make money from players selling or buying things within it. We need to stop applying constructs like staking, make games without marketplaces, and design NFTs that have some semblance of being able to work in games with 100k concurrent users. Developers need to stop focusing on making elements artificially expensive, as well as stop with the idea that everything can be modelled.
What are your plans for the future and where do you see Web3 heading?
Matthew Buxton: The Beta for Call of the VoYd is coming out soon, called Call of the VoYd HeartlinerZ, and we have game two in the works already. We’re currently in the process of opening a new studio in Stockholm to finish production of it. In the short term, we’re heading to Token2049 in Singapore to spread some hot takes.
In the future, I believe Web3 will be seen as exciting tech that allows players more freedom in how they play rather than a means to grind money out of users. As the space evolves, players will expect that items they own in games belong to them in a more tangible way, and developers will utilise Web3 technology to meet that expectation.
The space does have a bright future if game developers can overtake NFT hype projects and the first generation Web3 ‘games’ – real developers with motives to build great games are coming.
Taking a user-oriented approach and ‘giving back’ to the players is how the industry grows. Just look at the difference between arcade and console. Arcade was pay to play – one game, one studio, no ownership. Console was ownership of the machine, multiple games, less exclusivity. This is the same with free to play mobile. We believe that if we reward players and give them something they might find value in, then they will play more – and so far, this is exactly what we’re seeing.