#web3gaming #web2引流 #老兵同你吹下水 #長文慎入
I believe many users or players paying attention to chain games will have seen three high-end, grand, and upscale projects promoting the business of attracting Web 2 traditional games to the Web 3 gaming space at the beginning of the year. These projects are targeting traditional game R&D companies and traditional game players as their audience.
The veteran wants to explore these projects as a Web 3 gamer identity and walk through the following three different projects together~!
1) Oneness Labs (i.e., http://TheGame.fun)
2) Gamer Boom
3) Xai Games
1) Oneness Labs
Oneness Labs focuses on attracting traditional Web 2 game developers or projects to Web 3, creating an infrastructure through blockchain technology that allows Web 2 players (non-cryptocurrency users) to seamlessly participate in the Web 3 gaming ecosystem.
In simple terms, this includes two target groups:
A) Traditional game developers – target customers or partners.
B) Attracted Web 2 players, Crypto Natives, Web 3 players, investors, and profit seekers.
Oneness Labs' role is to market their core technology and develop unique Web 3 strategies tailored to different games for various customers, persuading them to use Oneness Labs' services or become partners, helping them establish a foothold in the Web 3 space.
Therefore, when it comes to this point, games/game developers are the most fundamental and critical part of this business. If suitable games cannot be found or truly willing game developers aiming for Web 3 do not exist, then this business approach cannot be established. Because all Web 3 on-chain assets and plans are based on the 'Web 2 games' subject. If games cannot even be negotiated, then there is no need to talk about attracting Web 2 players.
Looking back at the current situation, many onlookers are already aware of the Oneness Labs and Nekcom Games incident. The veteran does not want to speculate on who is right or wrong in the situation, but the current fact is that the Web 2 game cannot be transitioned into Web 3. Therefore, the value of any Web 3 on-chain assets related to this game has lost its supporting rationale.
So, can this business approach be successfully implemented? Of course, it is possible. First, one must find a ready-made Web 2 game to achieve the seamless transition to a Web 3 game that Oneness Labs describes. By releasing on-chain assets, the game developers can generate profits and simultaneously extend the life of the game. This can also allow original players to unknowingly enter the Web 3 gaming realm. Once there are solid foundations and successful examples, they can then look for developing or potentially explosive titles. Only then will it be convincing.
To be honest, traditional game operations will resist Web 3 on-chain assets. Because their nature contradicts existing marketing methods, it could even result in situations where one's own people 'steal' their own business. For example, should players spend money on traditional in-game items or spend money to buy virtual currency to purchase NFTs? When the same skin exists in-game but has both Web 2 and Web 3 versions at the same time, the design considerations in the initial stages and the marketing strategy after the game is launched will have a 'qualitative change' impact. This is not something that can be resolved in a moment with a few PPTs. Without real experience and actual data, to be honest, which game developer would take this risk to move towards Web 3? If not managed well, it could affect the existing Web 2 profits, making it difficult to recover costs, so how can there be money to repurchase Web 3 assets?
Therefore, in summary, this business approach needs to be explored and operated in a stable manner. Once there is solid experience and a track record, they can develop step by step.
2) Gamer Boom
Gamer Boom's core business is to create an 'AI-driven game data mining protocol and incentive layer'. Therefore, it does not directly develop games, but acts as an intermediary layer, tagging and analyzing game data through AI technology, and using blockchain to provide incentives (such as tokens or NFTs) for players.
In simple terms, this includes two target groups:
1) Players whose game behavior data is collected (mainly targeting current Web 2 players)
2) Potential data clients such as game developers, advertisers, or market research agencies.
As a Web 3 gamer, what I'm concerned about is whether playing games can also yield 'incentives'? It’s essentially selling personal gaming behavior as a commodity. It sounds quite appealing, but... DYOR, is making money really that easy? First of all, where does the incentive money come from? According to limited information, it comes from the 'airdrop' and mining tokens of collaborative projects. So where do these 'funds' come from? It comes from selling AI technology that tags and analyzes game data. Currently, this business's key seems to have nothing to do with chain games; it is purely a model of selling data as a commodity for profit. So, is this feasible?
First, which organizations in the market can effectively collect player behavior data? 1) The game developers themselves 2) Game release platforms. Thus, the sample size of data collected by Gamer Boom is very critical. For example, LOL, the game developer/release platform must have access to all player data for this game. So, how much of that data can Gamer Boom collect? 10%? 30%? Is the collected data even representative? After data collection, which target customers would be willing to pay for it? Competitors of LOL? New MOBA development companies? What player coverage behavior data is valuable or representative or beneficial for product development? Additionally, there is a risk that if you start a game through Gamer Boom's program, it may be flagged as using cheating software? (The veteran is not a technical person and lacks knowledge in this area, so having such concerns is quite normal)
Therefore, the focus of this business operation model is how to expand the number of players collecting data as much as possible. And, whether the results analyzed from the behavior data of players, which cannot possibly cover 100% of all players, really have commercial value (i.e., whether any companies would buy this data). If the project is not profitable, where would the funds come from to incentivize players?
On the other hand, Gamer Boom's practice of selling limited NFTs contradicts the philosophy of expanding the number of players collecting data as much as possible... Additionally, the players whose data is being collected should be incentivized (that is, the ones receiving money, because they are essentially selling data), so why should players pay 1 SOL to mint NFTs? (Selling data and having to pay money?)
Such strange operations are truly puzzling... Personally, the veteran would not purchase.
3) Xai Games
Xai Game is a Web3 gaming infrastructure platform based on Arbitrum Layer 3, built on Arbitrum Orbit technology, providing efficient and low-cost blockchain transactions, ensuring scalability and security of in-game economies. The XAI token is the platform's native token, used for paying transaction fees, staking Sentry Nodes, and incentivizing players.
Currently, the games developed or deployed on the Xai chain include Tarochi, Final Form, and LAMOverse.
Confirmed migrations or planned launches include Crypto Unicorns, Chains of the Eternals, Valeria & Hit ’Em Up Highrise.
The most eye-catching aspect for Web 3 gamers is probably its recently announced Proof-of-Skill protocol reward distribution plan, which aims to convert players' gaming skills and achievements (such as game records on Steam) into tangible rewards. Rewards may include XAI tokens, NFTs, or other digital assets. Xai emphasizes that 'no purchase of NFTs or tokens is required to participate', lowering the entry barrier for players. The internal testing event for Xai Play (expected to launch in March 2025) allows players to earn rewards directly through gameplay, without additional payment.
The aforementioned methods are indeed the best way to attract Web 2 players to Web 3. But the key point here is: will Steam's account linking feature for obtaining achievement data be changed and revoked by Steam's user terms? In other words, will Steam authorize the relevant achievement data to Xai/users for use? Linking to a Steam account is similar to linking other Web 3 projects to X accounts. It is a public and unilateral authorization action. However, Steam has not announced any collaboration with Xai or authorized Xai to use their data. This link to the Steam account should be an authorization relationship between individual users and Xai.
Additionally, where does the funding for the rewards come from? Is it from the funds of holders who previously bought XAI/Sentry Nodes? Are the incoming Web 2 players merely collecting tokens and then cashing out? Have they truly been introduced to Web 3? Will they actually play games on the Xai chain because of this?
The approach is good, but the effectiveness is questionable. Of course, if players can simply provide their Steam achievement data to earn rewards on the Web 3 chain, why not? The only question is... where does the money come from...? Is it using the funds from holders who previously invested in Xai tokens to reward Web 2 players? The veteran is currently confused, hoping someone knowledgeable can provide answers.
The above is just the veteran's simple integration and analysis based on the current information from the project party and tweets on X.
It is not investment advice or FUD.
All roads lead to Rome... how can we know which business approach will ultimately succeed?
In the world of Web 3 gaming, DYOR, TYOR.
Veteran out~!