CryptoGames - The Road to Mass Adoption of Cryptos? [An Overview]

in #crypto7 years ago (edited)

Dear friends and readers,

if you haven't lived totally behind the curtain during the last weeks, you have certainly heard about CryptoKitties. Although it's not the first game, that has been built on a blockchain, most of the CryptoGames, that has been created before, dealt with betting and gambling.

In this article I want to give you some background info about CryptoKitties and an overview of a new kind of blockchain based games, that have the potential to bring crypto to the masses.

Bildschirmfoto 2017-12-11 um 14.38.06.png
MERRY XMAS KITTIE - Source

CryptoKitties

CryptoKitties is one of the world’s first games that was built on blockchain technology. You can buy, sell, or trade your CryptoKitty and if you have two of them, you're able to "breed" new ones.

The recent hype about those "adorable" collectibles has taken a dramatic scale, so that the whole Ethereum network became very slow. (They should have used the Steem-blockchain instead.)

Unprocessed ethereum transactions have risen about six-fold since CryptoKitties was released on Nov. 28 [...] CryptoKitties now has the busiest address on the ethereum network, accounting for nearly 12% of all transactions.

Source

What's the reason for Crytokittie's hype?

Maybe one reason for the success is, that even the inventor and co-creator of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin tweeted about Cryptokitties.

Bildschirmfoto 2017-12-13 um 10.00.54.png

But what makes Cryptokitties so different from other online games?

Why are they so successful?

One reason might be, that unlike in former games, where you could buy digital goods for real money, CryptoKittie's buyers aren't relying on the managerial efforts of a company to retain the value of their investment.

You don’t have to rely on the CryptoKitty team to take care of your cats or breed them for you, the cats don’t eat and “breeding” is just an ethereum transaction that you (and only you) can make by using any free and compatible Ethereum software client and by signing the transaction with your Ethereum private keys.

Source

One example of CryptoKittie's impact is the story of a Kitty, that has been sold for $75,000 US.

BugKitty

BugKitty

A guy named Nick Johnson was rewarded this BugKitty about a month ago for finding some modest bugs in the CryptoKitty code. He sold the BugCat for 175 ether (a bit over $75,000 at today’s rates ), making BugCat the second highest priced CryptoKitty sold so far. By the way: Nick donated the proceeds to Worldbuilders "geek-centered" charity.

Source

Check it out!

If you are curious about buying your own CryptoKitties, you should have a look at kittyexplorer to find some low gen kitty with rare traits and decent speed.


Cryptopets

Bildschirmfoto 2017-12-13 um 09.15.54.png
Image Credit: Cryptopets

It's no wonder, that after the success of CryptoKitties there are more CryptoPets coming. They basically seem to be a copy of CryptoKitties, but you will be able to play with many different species.

The first 5 animals to be released are the Dog, Galapagos Turtle, Giant Panda, T-Rex, and Unicorn. A portion of the proceeds earned from the sale of CryptoPets will be donated to WWF.

CryptoPets will have multiple species of pets that collectors can buy, trade and play mini-games with! #crypto 🦁🐘🐻🐪

Source


Colorglyph

aIvEcbbB.jpg
Image Credit: Tyler van der Hoeven's twitter

Colorglyph is a pixel graphics collection game. You can create those glyphs by yourself and trade for them.

Unlike the previous mentioned games, Colorglyph is build on the Stellar blockchain. It was developed by Tyler van der Hoeven as part of the Stellar Build Challenge.

Each glyph is made up of a limited set and number of colors and those colors are each their own crypto token on the Stellar network. They are distributed by a master account and owned by separate individual accounts which “trust” those color tokens from the master.

Source

Bildschirmfoto 2017-12-13 um 17.14.12.png
My first Colorglyph

Colorglyph operates on a limited 256 color palette. You also have a limited number of each color in your account so as you use colors in your glyph creations you’ll slowly use up available colors. To get more colors you’ll need to trade for them with other users.

Source

Until now, trading your Colorglyph's is the only way to get mor color tokens, but in the future there are plans to get more colors for example by sharing on social media, creating popular glyphs, etc. Also features like creating glyphs as a team or using path payments to convert one token to another might be implemented soon.

Each user on Colorglyph has their own Stellar account which maintains their token library dictating how much of each color they have to “spend” on glyphs. When a glyph is added or removed from their active library their color count is adjusted and a multi operational transaction is initiated.

Source


Cryptopunks

Bildschirmfoto 2017-12-13 um 02.28.11.png
Image Credit: Cryptopunks

The creator of Colorglyph says, that his work was inspired by Cryptopunks.

The CryptoPunks are algorithmically generated 24x24 pixel art images, that are almost an ERC20 token.

Most are punky-looking guys and girls, but there are a few rarer types mixed in: Apes, Zombies and even the odd Alien. Every punk has their own profile page that shows their attributes as well as their ownership/for-sale status.

Source

Cryptopunks are not really a game, because all you can actually do is collecting them, but besides being an inspiration for CryptoKitties and Colorglyph, they obviously also provided the technical base for them.

The actual images of the punks are too large to store on the blockchain, so we took a hash of the composite image of all the punks and embeded it into the contract. You can verify that the punks being managed by the Ethereum contract are the True Official Genuine CryptoPunks™ by calculating an SHA256 hash on the cryptopunks image and comparing it to the hash stored in the contract.

Source


Avatar Island


Image Credit: High Fidelity

Philip Rosedale, the founder of Linden Lab and creator of the very successful Second Life in 1999, just launched a new virtual world called Avatar Island. The new company behind it is called High Fidelity and they've built an open-source platform based on their very own blockchain.

Currently users can purchase more than 300 items for their avatars, that were created by digital artists around the world.

Each item is uniquely identified with a digital fingerprint (a hash algorithm) and can be purchased using High Fidelity’s blockchain currency, HFC. You can look at an item someone is wearing and then hover over it. It will show you its certificate, proving that the person owns that item.

source


High Fidelity's Blockchain: Virtual Goods and Identity

High Fidelity’s blockchain service is called Digital Asset Registry (DAR).

In the future, item ownership recorded on the DAR could also be used to translate purchases between the virtual and real worlds. You might buy a pair of shoes for your avatar in the virtual world and receive an unfalsifiable coupon for the same pair of shoes in a real store.

source

Rosedale said that High Fidelity couldn’t use existing public blockchain cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum because of high transaction fees and times and the limited number of transactions, that can be done simultaneously.

If a stable currency comes online with low fees in the future, then Rosedale said the company would consider shifting to it. In time, Rosedale hopes to make the currency convertible into other currencies, so users will eventually be able to cash out the money they make in the virtual world. Users might also take their money and leave the game to join another game.

source


Steempunk

The first MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online RolePlaying Game) based on a blockchain!


Image Credit: Steempunk

Steempunk is a Steem based browser game (currently in public beta), where you can build a charakter, challenge other players for fights and find chests. The game interacts with the Steem blockchain to save fights and actions.

As an additional component, the activity of individual users is also built into the game to create a unique user experience. Users who are more active on Steemit and contribute to the success of the network have a better chance to win fights and find items. Finally, the integration into the Steemit Blockchain also ensures that the player gets the opportunity to earn the cryptocurrency steem within the game.

Source

This means, the more you interact (vote, comment, post), the higher is your chance to be rewarded with ingame items and even Steem.

If you want to give it a try, you should check out the Steempunk Website or the @steempunknet Steemit account. You can also reach out to the developers at their Discord or install the Steempunk.net Chrome Plugin right away.


Conclusion

The huge success of CryptoKitties proves, that people are all set for CryptoGames.

Those games will not only satisfy CryptoGeeks, but will help onboarding more and more curious and creative individuals and educate them about cryptocurrencies in a fun way.

At the same time a multi-billion dollar video-game industry is looking for blockchain technology, that is able to handle thounds of transaction per second, providing low transaction fees and a stable currency.


Image Credit: @dasan-oneia

The Steem blockchain can fulfil these demands and with the introduction of SMTs (Smart Media Tokens) it is providing the necessary token-tools in the near future.

Wether you're a game-designer or developer:

You really should take a closer look and use the potential of Steem to create a viral video game!

I'd like to know your opinion: Are you already playing CryptoGames? Have you checked CryptoKitties or tried the public beta of Steempunk.net?

Please leave your feedback in the comments!

@shortcut - posting about art & creativity



follow_shortcut.gif

Sort:  

It's the age of homo ludens, so gamification is key for (almost) everything.

Thanks for the review, will have a look at those instances that I haven't heard of so far.

Cheers!

Thanks for remembering me of that homo ludens term. Gaming seems to be part of the human nature like sex and cats ;-) However, I'm happy, that I could provide you some infos, you've not heard about yet :-)

Hi @shortcut - Please take a look at @sfeos and let us know what you think of the idea :) This post helped us pull the trigger on starting the development.

Thanks for pointing me to this. I‘m happy to be able to help. Looks very interesting so far. I upvoted, resteemed and followed and will watch closely. Have a successful new year!

@creutzy recently bought me my first one and named it Mean Mommy, like me [ @meanmommy33 ] !!! How cute huh???
I also wanted to know that CopenSteem is live and evolving [hope you can join us!] and I contacted all the Danes you suggested and they/we are all so excited !!! So thanks again !!! :D

Aw, that's sweet ;-) Hopefully she will get lots of "Mean Mommy CryptoKitties Kids" in the future 😺
Great to hear that CopenSteem is getting real. I followed the account and will watch closely.
And thanks for the invite. Would be amazing to join you guys. Let's see, if i can make it.

Crypto Kitties... Very Adorable!!

Did you hear about Crycash? the ICO started yesterday and it's Farcry/CryEngine company making a crypto token... I joined just for loving companies who do this!!

By the way, I just Attacked you on STEEMPUNK... for now I don't think it's an engaging game yet, but I can see its potential!! We live in an amazing world right now.

Ah, that's great! Let's fight :-)

I did not hear about Crycash yet, but will check it out. Thanks for bringing this up. I'm sure there is so much more to come.

Damn, I lost ... congrats!

Gamification at its best!

And the potential is amazing. I just can imagine a mario game clone with all the coins actually giving you.... well, "coins". :D

Thank you, THANK YOU for letting me know about Steempunk. It has instantly become one of my top projects to follow.

Cool idea :-) There is a Steem related Pacman already, but it's not fully integrated into the blockchain. I guess, Mario and lots of classic games would work as well.

I'm happy, that I could point you to Steempunk. It's one of the coolest Steem related projects at the moment. That's for sure ;-)

also to add to this, how cool would it be to have a steemian town built in one of these places, with a town square and people voting on stuff in real time, like a proper curation place. that would be fire.

Awesome idea, a virtual Steem-place like in Second-Life of Minecraft.
Maybe the blocktown idea of @voronoi will develop in that direction.

yeah kinda mentioned it over there.

Ah, somehow overlooked your comment over there. Then I guess, we share the same vision.

this was an excellent overview of all the new crypto games.

Aw, thanks a lot for your feedback @slothicorn. I wonder, when we will see the first cryptogame feat. you ;-)

Yes, we are looking for programmers to make this into a reality!

Nice, hopefully you will do this based on the Steem blockchain.

Nice. I believe cryptokitties has lots of potential to grow. Remember that the are millions of cat crazy ladies, that just want their digital mainecoon. The marked has crashed, and it might be a good time to pick up some cats for almost free:)

Agreed! The internet is made of cats, so maybe they also bring crypto to the next level. The biggest obstacle might be the lag of transactions on the ethereum chain right now. But when someone would create a hardware wallet working on the Steem chain, that looks like a Tamagotchi, that could be a game-changer.

A couple of days ago, I did buy three of those cryptokitties. Now, I am wondering, what I am supposed to give them to eat????

Lol, don't they just live from gas and love?

you have a lots of awesome post but this one is fabuluos...

Thanks a lot for letting me know! Your feedback is much apprecited :-)

gaming, rewards, live streaming, interaction and interactive are all gonna come together and be joined together with multiple blockchains eventually. we won't know when we are playing or not! and you know what i'm all for it! :)

Appreciate your feedback! It could be really interesting to buy a digital asset in one game and then also own it another game. This could be the beginning of a new level of digital identity. Exciting times ahead ;-)

as long as we don't drop the real bombs in real life we will be all good! :)

Yeah, that's for sure ;-)

Guess i gonna start playing cryptokitties now :)

Haha, enjoy!

I am enjoing myself 😈

ONE think I am asking myself with the Cats: What they can do inside the Game till now? Right now not much..... So far I knew, there is now functions like the old Games ( I forget the name..) ahhh wait - Tamagotchi. There was real features, but what have this Cats till now ? Maybe I am wrong, but this Game is by far not completed und very unripe like a unripe fruit to me....

You're right, basically the game is really simple. It's just about collecting CryptoKitties and creating new mutations by breeding, which you can then sell for profit.

Great post @shortcut
I agree there is huge potential in gaming and the blockchain together. I will have to check this CryptoKitties out :)

Thanks a lot! I'm pretty sure, blockchain technology will be the standard for monetarisation of gaming assets pretty soon. Don't get too addicted to those CryptoKitties ;-)

Nice article. I must be one of the ones under the rocks, haha thanks you have given me a bunch to look into.

Haha :-) I'm glad if I have given you some new infos.

Block chain based gaming is an other new arena and it is starting to get explored. This is just a beginning.

Totally agree, but this is the beginning of something huge.

Yes indeed my friend...:)cheers

just ah perfect click!!

Thanks :-)

great article. resteemed!

Thanks a lot :-) Appreciated!

Thank you for sharing this. I didn't know there are blockhain-based games until today...

Welcome, I’m always glad to share some news about things, that excite me.

These are just amazing thanks for sharing the post

Welcome ;-)

This was excellent overview of all the new games.

Thank you, appreciate your comment ;-)

i still haven't checked that out seems like i need to do it right now cryptokitties is everywhere now a days

Yeah, they're everywhere. Cats rule the world. Don't miss out ;-)

thanks for sharing your valuable content..especially thanks for discuss about crypto..cause i gain knowledge to your post in crypto..well done✌✌✌

CryptoGames are a fun way to learn about crypto, aren't they?

yes you are right my friend..
when create you new blog??

I usually post every 1-3 days.

ok my friend..i will wait for your new blog...☺☺☺

I am SO excited for what's coming in the future

Yes! Me too :-)

The game has a nice concept, and shows the power of the blockchain.

You're talking about CryptoKitties? This is just the beginning, there's much more to explore.

Nice review of what's out there, thanks 🙂

You're welcome! Thanks for your feedback :-)

2564.jpg

Thanks :-)

welcome shortcut

amazing post,thanks for sharing

Thank you for your feedback!

if you not afford a cat, can surely from cryptokitty!

Haha, yeah! Maybe, but cryptokitties are quite expensive, too...

Excellent articles. Beautiful art and creativity. Thanks a lot for sharing

Another good post by @shortcut.
Thanks man for sharing with us. You are rockz.

Thanks for your feedback!

You are welcome.

Amazing post. Crypto rocks ! thanks for sharing.

Thanks for reading ;-)

I can see crypto kitties everywhere now. Nice post. Thanx for your effort.

IMG_1199.JPG

Lol :-) 😸