Join us for an insightful episode featuring Alex Wettermann, the Head of Gaming at Shima Capital, as he discusses the current state of the web3 gaming market. Discover key trends, challenges, and potential opportunities within the space, including token design, in-game economics, user acquisition, and building strong gaming communities. Learn about the fundamentals of web3 gaming and get valuable insights into potential investment opportunities. Don't miss out on this episode! #ShimaCapital #Fundamentals #Gaming #Crypto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXzxl0VjAH8

Moonfrost recently concluded its first closed Alpha playtest, and the results were impressive. Playtesters had a blast terraforming the land, harvesting crops, and exploring the game world. The development team received crucial feedback, bug reports, and even suggestions for new features. With over 20,000 sign-ups for playtesters, Moonfrost is shaping up to be a pixel-perfect world for players to enjoy. Check out the article for more details and a sneak peek into the game's development.

https://medium.com/@moonfrost/alpha-testing-planting-the-seeds-of-change-39d73f263443?source=rss-b9cdc87823d6------2

Hey gamers! YouTube is making its move into the gaming space with the release of a collection of mini-games called 'Playables'. These games are accessible within the YouTube mobile app and desktop browser without any registration or installation required. They're looking to fully own the gamer's experience and transition from being a second-screen venue to the primary one. In other news, non-gaming industries are increasingly utilizing gaming technology, with a market worth of $1.6 billion. Check out the article for more details on these exciting developments. Drop a gg!

https://t.me/thecoreloop/425

Check out this article from Fabric Ventures titled "Game Over for Game Over." It explores the evolution of the gaming industry and how new business models, enabled by blockchain technology, are revolutionizing the way we play games. The article discusses the concept of "forever games" that provide ongoing challenges and progression for players, and how player-owned assets and permissionless development are driving this shift. It also delves into the history of gaming and the impact of modding on the industry. The article concludes by examining the future of gaming, particularly in the areas of autonomous worlds, hardcore/MMOs, and casual/mobile games. If you're interested in the intersection of gaming and blockchain technology, this article is a must-read.

https://medium.com/fabric-ventures/game-over-for-game-over-ca20f82b56e2?source=rss----bf736dc2a705---4

Attention gamers! Moonfrost, the pixel art game set in a long-abandoned village, is introducing a new feature: Build Mode! In this mode, you can customize and build your dream homes using over 190 individual building "blocks". From floors and walls to doors, stairs, and roofs, you'll have complete control over creating your ideal homestead. Check out the article for a sneak peek at how the Build Mode works and stay tuned for more updates on this exciting feature in Moonfrost!

https://medium.com/@moonfrost/game-dev-insights-a-new-feature-which-feels-somewhat-simsilar-8f23003af077?source=rss-b9cdc87823d6------2

Check out this article from the Bankless newsletter that takes a look at six scaling solutions in crypto and their potential impact on the gaming sector in 2022. The article provides an overview of each scaling solution, including projects like Arbitrum, Optimism, Ronin, Base, Immutable, and Starknet. It also highlights some of the games and projects being developed on each platform. If you're interested in how scaling solutions are shaping the future of gaming in the crypto space, this article is worth a read.

https://metaversal.banklesshq.com/p/crypto-gaming-hubs

- The article discusses six scaling solutions in the crypto space that are relevant to the gaming sector.
- The first solution mentioned is Arbitrum, which is the largest and most popular L2 scaling solution. It offers various features and has been attracting crypto game developers.
- The second solution is Optimism, which is the second-largest L2. It has a strong gaming community and is known for innovations in onchain game engines and autonomous worlds.
- Ronin, an Ethereum sidechain created by the Sky Mavis team for the Axie Infinity game, is another solution mentioned. It has facilitated billions of dollars in NFT sales and is home to several Axie-related games.
- Base, an L2 built by Coinbase using the OP Stack, is discussed. It hosts the Parallel trading card game and other experimental gaming projects.
- Immutable X, a validium L2, is mentioned as the sixth-largest Ethereum L2 and is known for games like Illuvium and Gods Unchained.
- Starknet, a zk-rollup L2 with its own programming language Cairo, is discussed. Games like Influence and Realms are mentioned as part of its ecosystem.

https://metaversal.banklesshq.com/p/crypto-gaming-hubs

- GameFi Sector Overview:
- 1.3M active Web3 gaming wallets in November, up by 19% month-to-month.
- Top blockchain platforms for game development are BNB Chain, Ethereum, and Polygon.
- Sweat Economy on NEAR Protocol reported substantial daily active users.
- GameFi market capitalization reached 10% of Bitcoin's total value.

- Immutable Platform:
- Over 220 games are being developed on Immutable, an L2 solution for Ethereum-based gaming.
- Partnerships with Polygon and Merit Circle/Beam to support game development.
- Migrations to Immutable exemplify its popularity as 56 games moved to it during the year.
- Affordable transaction costs beneficial for mainstream users.

- Sandbox Land Metrics:
- Volume exceeds $110M, with a 50% increase in floor price.
- Plots are available on both ETH and Polygon, showing stronger volumes during price uptrends.
- Most holders of Sandbox Land are currently at a loss.

- Star Atlas Performance:
- Significant portion of Solana's daily transaction volume comes from Star Atlas, peaking at 13%.
- The game features various elements like resource extraction and a functioning in-game economy.

- Duel Arena Statistics:
- Over $6.9M worth of in-game wagers with ETH were seen in Duel Arena.
- Features high-stakes 1v1 duels and has a large number of active players and battles.

- Fren Pet Activities:
- Players take care of pets on-chain with several in-game actions and items.
- Diverse gameplay, including grooming and battling pets.

- Crypto Unicorns Developments:
- A blockchain-based game involving farming and mini-games.
- Features a strong secondary sales volume and increasing active player count.
- Hosts an in-game marketplace with substantial sales volume.

- General:
- The report was powered by Polygon.
- Gaming sector anticipated to witness new market entries in 2024.
- Collaboration with DAOs for game development decisions is being adopted by some games.

https://www.ournetwork.xyz/p/on196-gaming

- The Sandbox updated Gamemaker client and introduced Catalyst NFTs for item minting.
- Catalysts allow owners to create items with various rarities and bonuses.
- First airdrop of Catalysts is set for December 14th, based on a snapshot from December 11th.
- Gamemaker update includes game rules, multiplayer support, power-ups, travel options, gear interactions, and NFT-gated areas.
- Catalysts are ERC-1155 tokens, tradeable on secondary markets, replace Gems, and offer attribute points for minted items.
- Landowners completing the Season’s Greeting Event by January 22nd can earn Catalysts, alongside a 600k SAND prize pool.
- The Sandbox's virtual experiences are growing with partnerships including Atari, Snoop Dogg, and Warner Music.
- The Sandbox has land NFTs for game experiences, Asset NFTs for land plots, and Avatar NFTs for special access.
- For more information, visit The Sandbox's website, Twitter, and Discord.

https://www.playtoearn.online/2023/12/12/the-sandbox-catalyst-airdrop-and-gamemaker-update/

- Five versions of the game released since Closed Alpha in Fall 2022; sixth version available with Beta Key.
- A new gameplay mode was developed and is exciting enough to become its own separate game.
- The developer will return to the second version of the game based on community feedback, requiring the game to be temporarily pulled from the Epic Game Store.
- Live servers will undergo maintenance shortly, and new copies of WEO will not be available on any launcher after this weekend.
- The new "Extraction Game Mode" is available for playtesting to those with a beta key. More keys will be released in the future.
- Stay updated by visiting their website, joining the Discord community, or following on Twitter.

https://medium.com/world-eternal-online/weo-end-of-year-update-3e6a1e00f7d3?source=rss----8bd37fd1c0f4---4

- Gam3s.gg announced the winners of the 2023 Gam3 Awards with 19 gaming categories.
- Parallel won Best Strategy, Best Card Game, and Game of the Year.
- Big Time nabbed three awards: Best Multiplayer, Best Adventure, and Best RPG.
- Shrapnel received Best Graphics, Most Anticipated Game with a release expected in Q1 2024.
- Deadrop won Best Shooter and Best Esports Game, still in early development.
- My Pet Hooligan secured Best Action Game, while Pixels won Best Casual Game.
- Mighty Action Heroes named Best Mobile Game, Pirate Nation as Best On-chain Game and NFL Rivals for Best Sports Game.
- Champions Ascension took home Best Fighting Game.
- Wildcard was “Gam3s' choice” and Star Atlas the “People’s Choice”.
- Awards considered subjective and influenced by community voting, with some going to unreleased games.
- Hopes for next year include award categories filled with released games, aside from Most Anticipated.
- Web3 gaming options are expanding, fostering excitement for future blockchain gaming.

https://www.playtoearn.online/2023/12/16/2023-gam3-awards-announced/

- Gam3 and Magic Eden announced winners of GAM3 Awards 2023.
- The contest celebrates the best Web3 games of the year.
- Awards recognize accomplishments in blockchain gaming.
- Event highlights industry growth and innovation.
- Image shows winners on stage receiving awards.

https://venturebeat.com/games/gam3-reveals-the-best-blockchain-games-of-2023/

- Blockchain game industry facing challenges in adoption.
- Looking towards Web2 studios and established franchises to boost Web3 adoption.

https://venturebeat.com/games/blockchain-game-industry-counts-on-web2-studios-and-franchises-to-drive-web3-adoption/

- Epic Games Store generally does not accept Adults Only-rated games.
- It is making an exception for blockchain games carrying this rating.
- This move suggests Epic is open to exploring blockchain technology's potential in gaming.
- The decision could attract a niche audience interested in both adult content and blockchain innovations.
- Epic's stance is in contrast to Steam's, which has banned blockchain games outright.

https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/epic-games-store-allows-adults-only-games-if-they-re-blockchain

- **Ronin Blockchain**: An Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible Layer 1 blockchain, created by Sky Mavis for Axie Infinity games, currently the leading gaming chain in the cryptoeconomy.
- **Comeback Story**: Despite being exploited in 2022 (Ronin Bridge incident), Ronin made a comeback with new Axie Infinity updates, new games, and becoming a hub for other crypto games.
- **Axie Infinity Upgrades**: New game mechanics, progression systems, and titles expanded gameplay, deepening experiences for players.
- **Non-Axie Games**: Ronin is attracting other games, benefiting from its infrastructure and active player base, like Pixels, Apeiron, and Zoids Wild Arena, diversifying the chain’s offerings.
- **Impressive Growth**: Significant increases in Total Value Locked (TVL), $RON token price, daily transactions, and monthly active users have been observed on Ronin.
- **Future Directions**: Exploring monolithic and modular scaling solutions such as zk-rollups to handle growth.
- **Resources**: Ronin Wallet, Ronin Bridge, Block Explorer, ecosystem database, Name Service, official docs, staking, and marketplaces are available for users.
- **Big Picture**: Sustainable growth of Ronin is expected, leaning towards becoming a well-rounded ecosystem including gaming and other services, supported by a shift to Delegated Proof of Stake and security improvements.
- **Call to Action**: Engage with previous literature and mint the article for further interactive learning.
- **Author's Credentials**: William M. Peaster, creator of Metaversal and a senior writer for Bankless, focuses on NFTs and crypto emergence.

[Note: This summary is for informational purposes only and not financial advice.]

https://metaversal.banklesshq.com/p/return-of-ronin

- Leslie Benzies, former President of Rockstar North, founded a new game development studio, Build A Rocket Boy.
- The studio is working on a project called Everywhere.
- Everywhere aims to create a "community-driven gaming" experience.
- The project's details are not fully disclosed but it is suggested to involve user creativity and sharing.

https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/former-rockstar-north-boss-nets-110m-to-launch-what-sounds-a-lot-like-a-metaverse

- Immutable partners with Endless Clouds to release blockchain-based games in 2024.
- Immutable, based in Sydney, is known for creating Gods Unchained and running the zkEVM blockchain with Polygon tech.
- Endless Clouds is a mobile gaming studio collaborating on this venture.

https://venturebeat.com/games/endless-clouds-will-launch-web3-titles-on-immutable-zkevm-blockchain/

- *SHRAPNEL* game set in 2045 Tokyo, where players act as MEF Operators.
- Early Access starts on February 8th, 2024, exclusive to Extraction Pack holders.
- STX (SHRAPNEL Training Exercises) offers gameplay events with unique rewards, separate from Extraction Packs.
- STX naming system reflects update size: whole number changes for big updates, decimal for minor ones.
- Major updates include new weapons, attachments, inventory persistence, duos, and skin fragments as loot.
- STX1 provides early gameplay, feedback opportunities, and mission rewards.
- The Ultimate Competition features a leaderboard with a $3M SHRAP prize pool.
- STX1 gameplay includes three weapon types (pistol, assault rifle, shotgun), a throwable Sigma Grenade, and items like medkits and ammo.
- Sigma Abilities boost in-game powers; using the first ability, Sigma Wave, doesn't consume collected Sigma.
- Playable Operators, like Aniki, utilize Unreal Engine's MetaHuman technology.
- STX1 sessions for Extraction Pack holders begin February 8th, 2024, with access twice per month.
- Game design includes polished areas ("The Beautiful Corner") and unpolished 'greybox' areas for flexible gameplay evolution.
- After STX1, "Always-On" Early Access will release, offering continuous play and new missions.
- Following "Always-On", SHRAPNEL will become free-to-play.
- Links provided to purchase Extraction Packs and join Early Access.

https://medium.com/@playSHRAPNEL/shrapnelearlyacccess-14d1bea6318d?source=rss-124eff8ef141------2

- Starknet is an emerging Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, utilizing zk-rollup technology and its own Cairo virtual machine, garnering attention in the gaming sector.
- Jean-Paul Faraj, head of community at Unstoppable Games, provides a guest post discussing Starknet's impact on blockchain gaming.
- Crucial factors for blockchain gaming advancement are flexibility, scalability, and fostering creativity without compromising openness and security.
- Starknet's Account Abstraction (AA) enables more seamless interactions on the blockchain, simplifying complex, multi-stage transactions, and offering tools like Session Keys for a better user experience.
- Notable gaming projects on Starknet include Dojo (an onchain game engine), Influence (a space strategy game), and Realms.World (a fantasy multiverse ecosystem).
- For those interested in exploring Starknet's potential, various resources are suggested, such as the Starknet blog, documentation, FAQs, block explorers, and a guide to Starknet wallets.
- Kraken NFT's collaboration is highlighted for offering a secure, user-friendly trading platform supporting multiple chains without gas fees.
- The content emphasizes the educational aspect and encourages readers to conduct their own research before making any investment decisions.

https://metaversal.banklesshq.com/p/starknet-gaming-thesis

- STX (SHRAPNEL Training Exercises) offers Early Access to SHRAPNEL with gameplay events before full access.
- Only Extraction Pack holders can join STX events, typically twice a month, 3-day events with 8-hour play windows.
- STX feedback is critical for refining SHRAPNEL and will transition to "Always-On" access later, with more features.
- STX events range from major feature updates to minor fixes and feedback-based level design adjustments.
- Participants can earn exclusive rewards, with a total Early Access prize pool of USD $3,000,000 in SHRAP.
- STX rewards differ from Extraction Pack rewards, including unique missions and item unlocks like weapon skins.
- System requirements for SHRAPNEL will be available on the Epic Game Store; game currently targeting PC release.
- Controller support and console release are being considered for the future; anti-cheat measures will be in place from STX1.
- STX1 event runs February 8–10, 2024, with a $100,000 SHRAP prize pool and leaderboards competition.
- STX1 features a map named "Yomi," solo play mode, a single playable operator with unique traits, and no persistent inventory.
- Gameplay details: Sigma abilities, a selection of weapons, attachments, throwables, healing items, and exclusive missions with rewards.
- STX1 rewards include NFT weapon skins, with post-event airdrops and upcoming trading functionality.
- Installation and game access require an Extraction Pack and a verified SHRAPNEL account through the Epic Games Store.

https://medium.com/@playSHRAPNEL/shrapnel-stx1-faqs-803d6ec759e0?source=rss-124eff8ef141------2