Expedite Studio had an exhilarating and jam-packed week in Singapore as we immersed ourselves in the world of web3 and gaming at Token2049. This epic event brought together top voices in the Web3 space.
With Ethereum Singapore and Token2049 in the mix, our journey was nothing short of a whirlwind adventure. It was an unforgettable week filled with IRL activities and meet-ups.
For those who couldn’t join us at #ExperienceExpedite last week, here’s a rundown of all the exciting happenings.
Highlights and Takeaways:
TimeStamp Summit in Singapore was all captivating talks about Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs). They announced gasless transactions, sending ZKP Roll-ups to send without the nagging gas fees. These innovations are shaping the future of Web3, and we can’t wait to continue our web3 adventures at Expedite Studio.
One of the prominent side events at Token2049 was The Web3 Gaming Summit 2023 showcasing the global excitement surrounding Web3 gaming. Topics included cross-chain games, Generation Z’s affinity for NFTs, integrating AI into Web3 games, and the challenges of transitioning from Web2 to Web3.
Various industry leaders and experts shared their perspectives on the future of Web3 gaming, including representatives from The Sandbox, AI Meta Club, Brilliantcrypto, KryptoGO, and more.
Another amazing experience at the Party By The Bay, where Henry Ferr, CMO of @MetaCeneGame, unveiled the cloud version of the MetaCene game in person!
Ethereum Singapore highlighted the concentrated liquidity, MEVs, dex & yield aggregators. Eth Singapore was all about discovering sustainable yields of RWA (Real World Assets) in the DeFi. with that, we’re thrilled to conjure up the next big thing in Web3 consumer apps at Expedite Studio!
Prominent venture capitalists including JT Law, Kelvin Koh, Jason, James, and Wesley delved into the Web3 gaming investment scene, expressing both optimism for the influx of talent and caution about the importance of grasping the distinct crypto community dynamics compared to traditional gaming.
The star of the show “Token2049” was an immersive plunge into the dynamic world of Web3 and Blockchain technology. Check out the notable mass adoption with the stats:
Amidst the vibrant ambience of Marina Bay Sands, we joined forces with Liteflow and other industry leaders like The Sandbox, Animoca Brands, Blockchain Game Alliance, Grease Monkey Games, and more, to explore the cutting-edge developments in the crypto space.
As discussions gravitated towards achieving mainstream adoption in Web3 gaming and fortifying the Web3 infrastructure, it became evident that our industry is on the cusp of monumental growth.
Our Token2049 experience left us invigorated, and ready to embark on further Web3 adventures, and we can’t wait to share this journey with the world!
Met these incredible minds from the saltwatergames. Some brilliant insights from Chriss Abbott, Len Findlay’s strategic prowess, to the innovation powerhouse of Bill Lee, CEO @DualMintNFT Paula Pettit of @LinumLabs. 🏆 The visionary leadership of Adrian from @ApexRepublica and the amazing work of @3vLabs - We’re super glad to connect with such forward-thinking individuals and companies in the Web3 space. Here’s to the exciting journey ahead! 🌐🚀
Huobi’s transformation into HTX and Telegram’s long-awaited crypto wallet debut. Vertu also had us on the edge of our seats with the MetaVertu 2, while Islamic Coin’s founder inked a remarkable partnership with CoinDesk Indices.
Meanwhile, Darewise Entertainment set sail with a Bitcoin-based metaverse token, and Circle brought Web3 into Grab SuperApp’s world. OKX raced into the spotlight with a Web3-themed “stealth mode” livery alongside McLaren, and Zeebu unveiled a game-changing on-chain invoice settlement platform.
400+ sponsors, 300+ speakers and 10,000+ attendees in just one Web3 event is exceptional growth in the Web3 industry. From the tokens to liquidity, entertainment to games all in web3 are promising inclinations towards innovation in the coming year. A promising future for Web3 game production emerged during TOKEN 2049, with industry leaders foreseeing a surge in high-quality titles. The Web3 ecosystem’s appeal to top-tier game developers promises a wave of innovative and engaging experiences on the horizon.
A crucial aspect highlighted at TOKEN2049 was the evolution of user experience (UX) in Web3 gaming. Experts acknowledged the need to refine and optimize the UX to make blockchain gaming more accessible and enjoyable for a broader audience, addressing usability challenges while preserving the core principles of decentralization and ownership.
Our partner companies @SpockAnalytics - dApp Analytics & Growth Product, and Unipilot - Automated Liquidity Manager got product validation from Web3 investors and users. This proves that the market is in dire need of such products that are solving real problems.
Looking at everything happening, it’s pretty obvious that Web3 is really taking off in Singapore and giving competition to the UAE. Singapore is really making a mark in the Web3 revolution. They’re hosting loads of crypto events, have a bustling crypto job scene, a bunch of crypto companies setting up shop, significant investments in crypto R&D compared to their GDP, and a solid crypto ownership culture.
GOT AN IDEA?
That’s Exactly What Our Web3 Game Development and Design Company is Prepared to Deliver. Let’s Start Crafting Your Vision Today! Schedule E-Coffee ☕️
Web3 Gaming: A Paradigm Shift in Ownership and Education
In traditional games, the players typically engage in competing with each other,
However, in the realm of Web3 gaming, the focus shifts from competing against others to challenging oneself or the game environment where players themselves become the core content. This transition represents a significant transformation in the landscape of gaming dynamics.
Imagine this: instead of just playing, you actually own the cool (shiny ✨) stuff in the game – like, for real! With Web3, all your in-game asset is truly yours to buy, sell, or even lend. So, you’re not just a player anymore; you’re a virtual tycoon.
But wait, how and where would you trade? This is where the Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have totally shaken things up. NFTs have given birth to marketplaces where gamers can swap digital treasures for real stuff. It’s a game-changer, especially ’cause it fixes the not-so-fair deal between players and game developers. Many traditional folks are dropping huge bucks in games but couldn’t cash in – total bummer, right?
QORPO Game Studio is doing things differently. They’ve put NFTs into their shooter game, Citizen Conflict. Imagine battling in a dystopian world where your characters, masks, and weapons are NFTs – they’re like digital gold! And it’s not just them; a big player like Animoca Brands is joining the NFT party. Other games like The Harvest and Illuvium are jumping the wave too. So, get ready ’cause Web3 gaming is turning the tables, and it’s leveling up your gaming experience like never before! 🚀
You know, gamifying education has been all the rage lately. It’s about making learning fun by adding game stuff to it. But here’s the cool part: Web3 tech, like blockchain and tokens, is taking it to a whole new level. we’ll break it down for you.
So, first things first, gamified learning is like turning your study sessions into game time. Teachers use game elements to make learning fun and interactive. But now, Web3 tech is in the mix, and it’s changing everything for the better.
A: Blockchain keeps a secure record of your progress in games. Teachers can see how you’re doing in real-time, making learning personalized just for you.
B: Tokens are like the digital rewards you earn in games, but now they’re part of your learning journey. You can use them to unlock new stuff and even trade with friends.
But there are some challenges too. Not everyone has super-fast internet or the latest gadgets. We’ve got to keep our data safe and make sure teachers know how to use these new tools. A better approach would be to introduce learning lessons into the current games and then smoothly shift to new games that are core educational experiences.
Web3 tech is making education cooler than ever. Blockchain and tokens are turning boring lessons into exciting quests. So gear up!
Web3 games are leading the charge into a multiplayer gaming ecosystem, and it’s a win-win for everyone involved!
Picture this: you’re not just facing off against NPCs anymore; you’re diving into thrilling adventures with friends from around the world. It’s like having a global gaming party, 24/7! Plus, these multiplayer blockchain games bring loads of benefits:
🎯 You learn to collaborate
🗣️ Communicate
💭 Strategize with your fellow players.
It’s teamwork and fun rolled into one epic experience. So, get ready to make friends from all corners of the digital universe in the world of multiplayer Web3 games!
Solving 7 Major DeFi Pain Points With Web3 UX-2023
Decentralized Finances (DeFi) have been gaining mass reach since 2018 but it is still not ready for them. For mass adoption, how easy should the application’s User Experience be? “Well, it should be smooth enough so my grandma can use it.” -Izzul Syazwan, a Web3 UX advocate.
DeFi, which exists as a promising alternative to traditional finance, faces seven key challenges that hinder its widespread adoption:
No Guided Tutorials
Money laundering and Safety Measures
Tutoring on Gas Fee and Implications
Wallet Delays
Error Messages with no clarity
Missing Stability Visualization
Knots of Networks
No Guided Tutorials
“We fear what we do not understand”
Jargon like DAPPs, DEX, gas fee, slippage, etc. is too technical for non-tech savvy people to begin with. And seeing crypto platforms that are graph-heavy with blue UI–straight out of futuristic movies–can feel ‘alien’ to older generations.
Letting the user blindly walk around the complicated platform, figuring things out on their own or getting tangled in jargon is daunting.
UX Solution:
Walkthroughs or guided tutorials for first-time or returning users help them understand the flow, following updates or complicated steps to perform rather easily.
TransferTo includes some video tutorials on hover. In the clip above, you can see a video explaining how to disconnect your wallet. One step beyond a standard tooltip.
Another engaging strategy implemented by StarGate is to let the users switch to walkthrough mode and to guide them on the time it takes for the token to exchange by providing a cool animation.
With everyone allowed to participate in DeFi, it is very easy for criminals and terrorists to launder money and finance their terrorism and criminal operations. It should be controlled and under surveillance. However, some UX operations to tackle the Money Laundering:
UX Solution 1: Decentralized Identity and KYC/AML Integration
Implement decentralized identity solutions and streamlined KYC/AML processes to ensure user accountability and compliance with regulations, while maintaining user privacy.
UX Solution 2: Enhanced Transaction Transparency
Develop user-friendly tools that enable users to easily trace transactions, addresses, and interactions, enhancing visibility and enabling quick identification of suspicious activities.
UX Solution 3: Collaborative Governance
Establish decentralized governance models involving stakeholders and regulatory bodies to collectively set rules and standards, alongside real-time reporting features for users to flag potentially illicit transactions.
Swapping tokens and getting declines due to not having enough fees to complete other transactions can be a frustrating situation.
UX Solution:
To make your swapping experience smoother, educate the users on how much gas fee will be consumed additionally how much is left/ if it is enough for another transaction or not.
Balancer offers a helpful feature. When you swap some of the native tokens, like Ethereum, Balancer calculates how much will remain in your wallet after the swap. It also checks if the remaining amount will be sufficient to cover the required gas fees for future transactions. This information is presented to you through a simple progress bar and message displayed in traffic light colors.
By providing this user-friendly interface, Balancer ensures that you are aware of the implications of your token swap. You can easily see whether you will have enough tokens and gas fees to continue your transactions after the swap. This way, you can avoid any frustrating situations of being left with insufficient funds.
Wallet Delays
The challenge of wallet delays in updating balances within the Web3 ecosystem poses a significant hurdle to mass adoption. While early adopters might tolerate such inconveniences, mainstream users expect seamless experiences. Current excuses like “building the future of finance” no longer suffice. Decentralized wallets, connected to various protocols, struggle with delayed balance updates due to technical complexities, fostering fear and uncertainty among users.
Enhancing network performance, improving user interface communication by providing timely notifications about slowdowns, and exploring decentralized notification systems like EPNS, which could bridge the gap between users and their wallets, fostering confidence and trust in the ecosystem.
Error Messages with clarity
DeFi platforms often fail to provide clear and informative error messages during transactions or interactions with smart contracts. Bar notifications or relying on external tools can leave users confused when errors occur, as these messages are fleeting and lack prominence. Users are left uncertain about what went wrong, hampering their overall experience.
UX Solution:
Implement modal pop-ups for errors. These attention-grabbing modals not only highlight errors but also offer user-friendly instructions for resolution, enhancing clarity and transparency.
DeFi platforms can adopt Spookyswap’s approach by using modal pop-ups for every state, including errors. This approach ensures users are well-informed and reduces frustration, fostering trust and confidence in DeFi platforms.
In DeFi platforms, demonstrating stability in each currency poses a crucial challenge. When swapping tokens on a DEX, transactions typically involve multiple swaps, and some DEXes show this route, which can be especially valuable when dealing with stablecoins as choosing one stablecoin over another might yield a better result. However, in a rapidly changing token price environment, users might end up with a different amount of their desired output token than expected. This can cause confusion in the total amount spent versus the expected.
UX Solution:
Displaying the swap route and quantifying the volatility of that route, offering users valuable insights into potential price fluctuations.
Velodrome incorporates a separate price information section, ensuring that the USDC price for any tokens is prominently visible. This design approach, with its generous use of white space, provides with the clarity and prominence it deserves, enhancing the overall user experience.
A DeFi that has embedded many networks from currencies can become overwhelming for the users to keep track of. Sometimes it can also create confusion with similar names and logos.
UX Solution:
To include description notes for each network helps to educate any kind of user for that network particularly.
Idle Finance is doing a good UX job mentioning a bits of all the networks it has included.
Why is is so important that users get best experience and know the technologies they are interacting with? Simply put, “Communicate value to users, not just technical terms”.
Now, more than ever, an increasing number of crypto and DeFi firms are dedicating significant resources to UI/UX enhancements, recognizing their pivotal role in achieving widespread adoption.
What does Apple Vision Pro mean for Gaming in Metaverse?
You’ve never seen everything like this before. Apple Inc. welcomes the world to a new era of spatial computing with its Apple Vision Pro. The company entered the Extended Reality (XR) market with its new headset in early June 2023 with a heavy price tag of $3,499.
Whereas the gaming industry, where XR is becoming X-tReme normality (pun intended), has raised the top 5 games rake of $500M+ since the 2023 kickoff! With the blend of Gaming x Vision Pro, know what possibilities might knock on the door next? let’s explore!
What’s the new XR device in town?
To define it in a sentence it is, as Apple says “More pixels than a 4K TV. For each eye.” An XR device refers to a technology that encompasses Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). Apple’s new headset Vision Pro took the spot next to XR industry competitors; the famous Microsoft HoloLens, Meta’s Oculus and Magic Leap. But Apple’s new spatial device in town has claimed to “seamlessly blend digital content with the physical world while allowing users to stay present and connected to others.”
What does Apple Vision Pro mean for Gaming?
Gamers have been extensively involved in the headset experiences for gaming since 2012 when Oculus was released. It was purely focused on Gaming, unlike Hololens and Magic Leap created for increasing accuracy and efficiency in daily businesses.
But Meta’s headset and Apple’s Vision Pro are not only different in design but also in philosophy.
Apple Vision Pro is packed with cutting-edge technologies that take user experience to new heights. One standout feature is the micro-OLED display, combined with mind-blowing 23 million pixels. Showing jaw-dropping visuals and razor-sharp details that take users to virtual realms like never seen before.
Powerhouse Performance: Fueling the Vision Pro is Apple’s mighty M2 chip, designed to conquer the mind-bending demands of immersive experiences. Prepare for a smooth ride with seamless interactions and unrivalled performance, ensuring users stay fully engaged in the virtual wonderland.
Tracking Magic: The R1 chip of the Vision Pro, is a ticket to next-level tracking and responsiveness. It works behind the scenes, processing external inputs and transforming the movements into seamless digital interactions. Syncing with the virtual world like never before.
Larger Display, High Resolution: The Vision Pro’s larger display with high resolution offers a wider field of view and detailed visuals. This immersive visual experience allows gamers to feel more connected to their virtual environments and enjoy stunning graphics.
Interactive 3D Camera: With the 3D camera feature, the Vision Pro enables interactive elements in gaming. Players can engage with virtual objects using natural movements or gestures, adding a new level of interactivity and immersion to gameplay.
Immersive Gameplay Environment: The combination of spatial audio, a larger display, high resolution, and interactive features make the Vision Pro an enticing choice for gamers seeking a more immersive and captivating gaming experience. It brings virtual worlds to life, making gameplay more engaging and unforgettable.
Audio Wonderland: The Vision Pro introduces spatial audio that transports the users to a three-dimensional sonic. The sounds can be felt coming from their sources, dynamically shifting as you navigate virtual spaces. With spatial audio, players can enhance their situational awareness and feel fully immersed in virtual worlds.
In a nutshell, Your gaming adventures reach new heights of realism and experience!
The recent handshake of Apple and Sky Mavis (Web3 Game Company) for launching Axie Infinity: Origins on iOS has given the potential to many blockchain-based gaming companies on iOS. At Expedite Studio, as the leading company in Web3 games, we see Apple pushing to put gaming at the forefront of Vision Pro’s use cases when it launches in 2024. It should not only enhance the UX with Web3 game characteristics but a whole new world of realism that comes with the fusion of the two. We can also look forward to:
Immersive Web3 Gaming: With The Apple Vision Pro high-resolution display, gamers can dive into decentralized meta virtual worlds, interact with NFTs, and blockchain-based assets, and engage in MMORPGs experiences like never before.
Seamless Metaverse Integration: The Vision Pro’s advanced spatial audio and an interactive 3D camera, make it a perfect fit for the emerging Metaverse. Users can seamlessly navigate and interact with the interconnected virtual universe, connecting with other players, exploring virtual spaces, and engaging in various activities within the Metaverse ecosystem.
Enhanced User Engagement: Everything flows with a tap and eye movement, giving players the liberty to engage efficiently and play effortlessly. The Vision Pro’s immersive features enhance user engagement in Web3 gaming through a smooth run, walking, and supporting other gaming mechanics. With its larger display, high resolution, and interactive elements, users can deeply immerse themselves in virtual environments, amplifying the sense of presence and interactivity.
Future-Proof Technology: Apple’s Vision Pro is designed to meet the evolving needs of Web3 gaming and the Metaverse. Its powerful M2 chip and dedicated R1 chip ensure smooth performance, seamless tracking, and responsive interactions, making it a reliable and future-proof device for users to stay at the forefront of these industries’ advancements.
Access to Innovative Experiences: With Vision Pro, users can access a wide range of innovative experiences and applications within Web3 gaming and the Metaverse. From exploring virtual worlds to trading and owning virtual assets, the Vision Pro opens doors to a whole new dimension of interactive and immersive possibilities.
In the near launch in 2024, the Apple Vision Pro will bring the future of decentralized gaming and virtual experiences to users’ fingertips, enabling them to fully embrace and unlock the transformative potential of Web3 and the Metaverse.
Food for Thought
Since the company is openly launching the spatial device for B2C and not just B2B, it raises the question of whether or not many gamers will adopt a device with such a heavy price tag.
In other news, Matthew Ball, who is a Metaverse expert and author of the book “The Metaverse”, in a recent interview said that “Apple will mandate a 30% fee, which does not work for high-valued NFTs or related experiences”. This might be a big mood turn-off for Web3 gamers.
However, on a positive note, Cathy Hackl, who previously worked at both Oculus and Magic Leap, said about the Vision Pro that “This is the most advanced tech product ever created.” which can be a game changer for the Gaming industry. Assuring more advanced and immersive experiences for the metaverse game developers and studios.
Apple in their ad announcement disclosed that the company have been working with Unity engine for the Vision OS, this is also one step forward to the future of gaming with Vision Pro.
Web3 Gaming: Breaking the Limits of Web2 Gaming
Before We Begin…
Before we begin with Web3 gaming, remember the time when we earned coins and harvested fields in FarmVille? But farms would all go away if the account is compromised or the server is down. This is an example of Web2 gaming.
Web2 games often rely on a centralized server to store player data, which can be problematic if the server goes down or is shut down. Players may lose their progress or even their entire account if the server is not properly maintained.
Let’s jump into the exciting world of Web3 gaming! Further in this article, we will provide a comprehensive analysis of how Web3 gaming solves issues like the one we discussed above and a few more that exist in Web2 gaming, and why Web3 is the future of gaming.
What is Web3 gaming?
But first, let’s understand what Web3 gaming is. In simple terms, Web3 gaming is the next generation that utilizes blockchain technology to create decentralized, transparent, and secure gaming environments. It provides gamers with complete ownership of their in-game assets, enabling them to trade or sell these assets for real-world value.
Problems in Web2 Gaming and How Web3 Is Solving Them
Are you tired of playing Web2 games and experiencing endless bugs, server crashes, and pay-to-win schemes? Fear not, my friend, because Web3 gaming is here to save the day!
Third-party Data Selling: Web2 gaming, it’s mostly about money. Developers are constantly bombarding you with ads and pushing in-app purchases to stay afloat. And let’s not forget about those pesky bugs that always seem to ruin the fun. Web3 gaming has got you covered with its decentralized infrastructure.
Losing Game Assets To Game Owners: In Web2 gaming, players risk losing in-game assets to centralized game owners due to limited ownership and control. This may occur if the game shuts down or changes its policies, resulting in a loss of asset value.
In Web3 gaming, the focus is on creating a fair and transparent experience for all players. With the help of blockchain technology, games like Axie Infinity and Decentraland are providing players with a new level of ownership and control over their in-game assets.
Whole Game Can Go Down: Instead of relying on a single server that can go down at any moment, Web3 games are hosted on a network of computers, making them virtually immune to downtime.
Cheating and Scams: Cheating and frauds are common in both Web2 and Web3 games but Web3 gaming is taking strides by using smart contracts and blockchain-based authentication, games like The Sandbox are able to prevent cheating and protect players’ investments. Whereas in Web2 players suffer bad consequences due to scams.
Decision-making Power in Games: Web2 gaming gives decision-making power to game developers and publishers, while players have limited input and control over the game’s development, distribution, and monetization. In Web3, players can influence game development and direction by voting on changes and contributing through community-driven initiatives (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations DAOs).
The members of the DAO have voting rights on important decisions, such as which projects to fund, how resources are allocated, and how the DAO is managed through governance. Voting is done through mechanisms, such as token-based voting, or through off-chain mechanisms, such as signalling and deliberation.
So, How Can You Identify A Web3 Game?
Here are some of the key differences between web2 and web3 gaming:
Infrastructure of Web2 vs Web3 gaming
Why You Should Switch to Web3 Gaming Today?
1. Improved Security And Transparency:
Web3 gaming platforms use blockchain technology to create reliable and transparent records of game actions, establishing trust between players and developers. Smart contracts also help enforce rules and promote security and fairness.
2. Enhanced Ownership Of In-Game Assets:
Web3 gaming uses non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to give players complete ownership of in-game assets, unlike traditional gaming platforms with central control over items. This player-driven economy enables easy buying, selling, and trading of assets, fostering a vibrant gaming ecosystem.
3. Lower Fees And Costs:
Decentralized systems in Web3 eliminate intermediaries and reduce transaction fees, making gaming more accessible. Developers can create decentralized applications (DAPPs) that use cryptocurrencies or custom tokens for in-game transactions, fostering a more open and cost-effective environment.
4. Decentralized Governance:
Web3 gaming utilizes decentralized governance structures such as DAOs to give the community a say in platform development and asset management. This allows for a more democratic and fair gaming experience while ensuring power is distributed and shared among stakeholders.
5. Finance Market in Web3 Gaming
Web3 gaming, proven by companies like Axie Infinity, Decentraland, and Sandbox, is creating a positive financial market through disruptive gaming monetization models such as play-to-earn (P2E), and decentralized finance (DeFi) mechanisms. These enable players to earn cryptocurrency and real-world value through secure and transparent investment opportunities within the gaming industry.
Where to get the latest Web3 Games?
Following are the best-rated Web3 gaming platforms and their flagship games:
1) Axie Infinity - Axie Infinity is one of the most popular Web3 game. It allows players to collect, breed, and battle fantasy creatures called Axies.
2) Gods Unchained - Gods Unchained is a digital trading card game that uses blockchain technology to ensure that each card is unique and owned by the player.
3) Decentraland - Decentraland is a virtual world that allows players to build, explore, and trade in a completely decentralized environment.
4) Splinterlands - Splinterlands is a trading card game that allows players to battle monsters in a decentralized environment. Players can earn rewards while playing and trade their cards on the marketplace.
5) The Sandbox - The Sandbox is a virtual world where players can build, own, and monetize their gaming experiences. It is built on blockchain technology and offers players complete ownership of their in-game assets.
6) CryptoKitties - CryptoKitties is a blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and trade digital cats. The cats are unique and cannot be duplicated, making them valuable to collect and trade.
7) My Crypto Heroes - My Crypto Heroes is a blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, train, and battle historical heroes from around the world.
Final Word:
So, if you’re tired of being swindled by Web2 games and want a more fair gaming experience, look no further than Web3 gaming. With its focus on decentralization, ownership, and security, it’s the future of gaming. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to be a part of the future?
In conclusion, Web3 gaming solves the issues that exist in Web2 gaming by utilizing blockchain technology to create a decentralized, transparent, stable and secure gaming environment. It provides gamers with complete ownership of their in-game assets. It also introduces new gameplay mechanics that are not possible in Web2 gaming, creating a new type of gaming economy where players can earn a living by playing games.
According to the observations of GameFi in 2022, the ecosystem has already risen and fallen on the back of the 2021 NFT hype cycle. Early token rises and NFT mints were rewarded by the “NFT go up” mindset for games that were still in development and solely intended to provide players with an opportunity to earn money.
Many P2E gaming projects that were released in the last 12 months include sustainable design rather than providing genuinely enjoyable play experiences. These games instead of holding the Ponzi schemes are controllable using WASD (The game controlling keys other than arrow keys).
As traditional equities and other assets saw a wider worldwide decline, the 2022 cryptocurrency market also had a severe correction. Investors have tightened their decisions to risk-on assets, such as cryptocurrencies, as a result of rising interest rates that are intended to fight inflation. With the exception of Web3 gaming, which is proving to be a significant factor in the global growth of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, venture capital funding in those industries has also somewhat decreased. Despite the weak market, blockchain gaming has been demonstrating its strength in these trying times. Blockchain games may receive over $10 billion in investments this year, more than tripling the US$4 billion raised in 2021, according to a report by market watcher DappRadar. To be precise, 2022 has been a significant year for growth, investment, and development in both web3 gaming and NFTs, indicating a fruitful crypto winter.
According to the Binance research, the situation at current leading Blockchains in Web3 gaming are:
Moving forward let’s review some of the major topics and metrics that indicate the development of these markets in this 2022 Web3 Gaming report. Read below how these turning points handled the market slump and how things are shaping up for next year after a year of significant growth for cryptocurrency markets and increasing attention to the web3 gaming field in particular.
Web3 Gaming
1. Gaming Model Switch
The gaming model transformation is partially a result of the game developers switching to concentrate on the game play aspect rather than the earning part. The phrase “play to earn” also establishes certain standards for the playerbase. In some regions of the world, playing Axie Infinity used to be a full-time job. However, their faltering economy made it clear that this was an unstable arrangement.
Developers started using the phrase “play AND earn” instead of “play to earn (P2E),” suggesting that you can make money while playing. Actually, this more closely reflects what true gamers desire. They prioritise enjoyable games. Additionally, if they manage to uncover a way to earn a little money while playing their games,
The problem gap arises when the small gaming startups embracing the new economic model and the profound AAA studios with high-calibre games devoted to a premium $60 price tag and paid subscriptions. But the twist comes as the AAA studios that are now converted to the wildly successful F2P(Free-to-Play) model. The difference between the rising P2E economic model and AAA game quality will eventually close.
Many studios and developers are working to create a Web3 game that is genuinely entertaining. Businesses are exercising a formula that is entertaining, equitable, and profitable for both the gamers and their creators of them.
Web3 gaming is not readily switching back to a free-to-play (F2P) model from a pay-to-earn (P2E) model, as both models can coexist in the web3 gaming space. However, there are a few reasons why some developers and players in the web3 gaming space are experimenting with F2P and other models such as play-to-play (P2P), Factory Models etc.:
Player engagement: F2P models give players the opportunity to earn rewards for their skill and effort, rather than just spending money. This can create a more engaging and satisfying experience for players.
Fairness: F2P models can be more inclusive and fair for players, as it allows everyone to access the game without spending money.
Revenue generation: F2P models can generate revenue through in-game purchases, while P2E models generate revenue through the sale of in-game assets or currency.
Community engagement: F2P models can build larger communities, as it’s more accessible to a wider range of players.
It’s worth noting that many developers and players are experimenting with different models to try and find the best balance between player engagement, revenue generation, and fairness.
2. Newly Launched Web3 Games in 2022
The top games with the most DAUs (Daily Active Users) in 2022 are listed by collective Research as follows:
Alien Worlds is a space-themed metaverse game.
Benji Bananas is a ridiculously informal smartphone game in which players gather bananas.
Solitaire Blitz is a simple card game.
Splinterlands is a game of card accumulation.
Illuvium is an open-world RPG game that invites you to gather NFT monsters called Illuvials. In PvE and PvP arenas, the player must engage opponents using these monsters.
Legends Reborn: Essentially a deck-building game, Legends Reborn by Gala Games is enhanced with web3 concepts.
My Neighbor Alice: Similar to Animal Crossing, My Neighbor Alice is a multiplayer-building game.
3. 2022 As The Year of Alphas
An essential stage of development is the alpha release. In software development, reaching a working build that you’re ready to share with the public is a significant accomplishment. It’s encouraging to see so many alphas and betas released this year.
It is true that 2022 was the year of the alphas. Axes Metaverse, Mytheria, Everseed, Sunville Farms, Moonville Farms, Eternal Dragons, Big Time, Ancient Society, Phantom Galaxies, Star Atlas, Farsite, Spider Tanks, Mirandus, Legacy, Superior, War Park, Chicken Derby, Green Rabbit, Guild of Guardians, R-Planet: Conquest, Farming Tales, My Neighbor Alice, TreeVerse, Life Beyond, etc. are some examples of games that fall under the initial release category.
4. Web3 Gaming investments/Funding review
The Web3 gaming and metaverse sectors received a lot of investment from venture capital firms this year. But the overall amount of money invested in these sectors fell from $5.5 billion in 2021 to $3.7 billion in 2022. (Footprint Analytics).
Animoca Brands is the market leader as of the publication date of this study, having invested in 61 projects in the web3 gaming and Metaverse categories. They are followed by Shima Capital with 29 projects and Infinity Ventures Crypto with 30 projects (CoinMarketCap). Even if it is happening more slowly than in previous years, the number of Game-Fi projects is still increasing. Yat Siu, a co-founder of Animoca Brands, has also made plans to launch Animoca Capital, a $2 billion metaverse fund.
With a $50 million B round, indie gaming studio Theorycraft secured the largest investment of the month in September. The trend of well-known gaming firms and developers entering the Web3 area is evident, with the founding team including members of Blizzard, Riot Games, and Ubisoft (Cryptoslate).
In October, Ubisoft and Take-Two Interactive participated in a $40 million Series A fundraising round led by Horizon Blockchain Games, the company that created the video game Skyweaver (DappRadar). More recently, Web3 game producer Fenix Games secured $150 million in order to purchase, fund, and distribute blockchain games (DappRadar).
Despite the unpredictability and difficulty of the market in 2022, it is evident that investors are still upbeat about the future of the blockchain gaming sector.
Even if Axie Infinity and STEPN may have been the first projects to become widely popular, they are no longer the leading initiatives in the field. Alien Worlds and Splinterlands are the current leaders in terms of active users, with Alien Worlds claiming 131K average active users and Splinterlands closely trailing at 98K. Only the players of these two games account for almost 30% of all gamers on the web3 platform (Footprint Analytics).
The best performers in terms of transactions are WAX and Hive. The popularity of Alien Worlds and Splinterlands, which account for 54.55% and 99.85% of each platform’s overall users, respectively, is crucial to both of them as a blockchain technology (Footprint Analytics). BNB, the third-largest chain in terms of gamers and gaming transactions, hasn’t yet created a standout game in the genre.
Despite this, BNB Chain is still one of the gaming industry’s most resilient chains. With 299 new projects debuting on the platform in 2022 alone (excluding December) and a 37% market share in terms of web3 gaming protocols, BNB continues to dominate in terms of both new project launches and market share (Footprint Analytics). When it comes to new initiatives, Ethereum comes in second.
It is obvious that the world of cryptocurrency gaming is continuously changing, with new players appearing and established ones fading away. Although Splinterlands and Alien Worlds may currently be the dominant powers, the future is still uncertain.
6. Rise of Metaverse
The six basic elements that make up the Metaverse—blockchain, interactivity, games, AI, networks, and IoTs—are more popular than ever. According to Goldman Sachs, the potential Metaverse economy could represent an $8 trillion opportunity by 2022, according to Gartner, which recently designated the Metaverse one of the top five emerging trends and technologies for that year (Bitcoin.com). Due to the fact that gamers have long been participating in immersive virtual experiences and creating social ties, gaming is crucial to the growth of the Metaverse.
Free-to-Own: The Limit Break gaming studio’s Free-to-Own (F2O) marketing strategy is minting a genesis NFT collection (in Limit Break’s case, DigiDaigaku) and giving them away for free in an exclusive and covert manner. A new gaming economy is being proposed as an enhancement to both free-to-play mobile games and play-to-earn business models that sell game NFTs to players up front. F2O sets the groundwork for this new economy. This model is among the most encouraging ones we’ve seen in 2022 for web3 gaming, regardless of whether F2O is fair or not.
Soulbound Tokens (SBT): SBTs are non-transferrable digital identity tokens that can stand in for a person’s or an organization’s credentials, expertise, and/or reputation. These tokens represent and publicly validate an individual’s reputation, accomplishments, and skill level in a novel way that will have broad repercussions for web3 games, guilds, players, etc. Although SBTs are still a relatively new idea, developers are actively working on SBT products that may be available by the end of the year.
Permanent Death: This refers to the gameplay mechanic in which a player’s character is reset to zero upon death. The more battles they win as they advance in the game, the more competent their character becomes, and the more the game’s owner is rewarded. However, if they lose, their character passes away for good and the NFT that represents it is burned. As it promotes talent, strategies, and more deliberate risk-taking, the idea can assist web3 gaming transition from playing for profit to playing for fun and embracing difficulty.
Physical Backed Tokens (PBT): The developers of Azuki, Chiru Labs, released this novel open-sourced token standard in October. It links a physical object to a virtual token on the Ethereum blockchain. Using physical objects to create digital experiences; tracking the ownership history of physical commodities; and decentralized verification of goods are all possible with PBT. With PBT, users may now create a collection that includes both digital and physical items, exchange authenticated goods, or take part in physical quests.
ERC-4907: Since NFT rental platforms have grown in popularity in the digital sphere, the Double Protocol-proposed ERC-4907 standard has quickly emerged as one of the most significant token standards thanks to its novel and surprisingly straightforward implementation. The ERC-4907 standard does away with the requirement for collateral in lending and borrowing NFTs thanks to its dual-role capability. NFT owners, buyers, marketplaces, and artists will have access to safer and more lucrative opportunities if it becomes generally accepted as the norm for NFT creation and programming.
Sensational Projects In 2022
Kiraverse: Built on Unreal Engine 5, is an online multiplayer game, which allows players from all over the world to participate, compete, and gain achievements to unlock or rent avatars, skins, weapons, and other items. Battle Royale and Elimination are the two game types that KIRAVERSE will debut with. To improve their gaming experience, players can acquire in-game achievements and own, buy, or rent characters, skins, weapons, and other items.
Illuvium: A collectible 3D fantasy RPG game with 343k Twitter followers that has developed a substantial and devoted fan base. In addition to concluding a virtual land deal for over $72 million this year, Illuvium also just made the auto-battler game mode’s first private beta available. The game has received overwhelmingly positive reviews so far and has AAA visuals and gameplay.
Shrapnel: The project has garnered a lot of interest from the public, particularly in the West. It is being developed by a team of seasoned developers that have won BAFTA and Emmy awards from series like HALO and Call of Duty. Shrapnel, which won “Most Anticipated Title” at the Polkastarter GAM3 Awards this year, is evidence that Web3 games’ quality will continue to rise.
Big Time: A forthcoming multiplayer action role-playing game that is now in early access. This project’s aim of creating a “second-generation crypto game” in terms of its in-game economy has been obvious this year, among other things. Big Time recently unveiled full information on its token and economy, which aspires to build a player-driven circular economy.
Tatsumeeko: A multi-chain MMORPG designed to “build communities and deepen worldly relationships” and based on the Tatsu.GG Gaming Bot in Discord. The Tatsumeeko proof-of-concept generated over $369K in microtransactions, surpassed 62K MAU, and over 4.7M virtual products sold. The well-known Discord communities of PewDiePie, Davie504, Moistcr1tikal, Mobile Legends, and Team Liquid, and the fan community of Kanye West, Ariana Grande, and Hololive Fan Server already have Tatsumeeko.
What’s in for 2023?
Cryptocurrency volatility is nothing new, and 2022 was a true rollercoaster for the entire sector. It also represents a remarkable chapter in the artifacts of crypto history. It will be a useful lesson to educate both experienced developers and beginners that cryptocurrency is still “a work in progress” while simultaneously highlighting how far it has come. Future developments in this quickly evolving industry will be shaped by innovators and visionaries who remain focused and persistent.
The two industries that are most likely to use blockchain technology to spread cryptocurrency are Web3 gaming and Metaverses. Following a bright start to 2022, economic and social unrest has had an impact on international markets, particularly tech.
Crypto and NFT advocates have had to deal with hacks, significant falls, and plummeting token prices. Web3 gaming and NFTs are still very much alive and moving forward in spite of all the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt).
As the industry develops, there will be more obstacles and setbacks, but we also anticipate that market recovery, adoption by Web2 businesses, and significant technological advancements will serve as the catalysts for a number of innovative NFT and Web3 Gaming projects and trends in the coming year and for many years to come.
The blockchain sector may have been jolted by the bear market and other problems, but the web3 gaming alternatives are just becoming better. In 2023, It can be confidently expected that there will be even more advancements in blockchain gaming with good value returns.
Web3 Design Principles
What is Web3
Everyone seems to be talking about Web3, how it will transform the current apps we use, manage our data, and handle our accounts, how Web3 Design looks and is created and what makes it different from Web2?
To begin with, Web3 is all about the decentralization of the Internet. For easier understanding, the following features would be the best way, to sum up, the new Web3.0 era:
Decentralized websites and apps
Complete transparency
New (and improvised) Security
Driven by Crypto
What does Web3 Design mean?
In terms of the acceptance and use of web3, design is an important element. Since the majority of the users interacting with the terms of Web3 are exposed to DApps. To help them overcome the complexities of new technology, design is used as a primer in between.
Depending on the Web3 applications type, design rules will differ slightly depending on the type of dApp from standard web 2.0 apps to Web3.0 apps and all it contains (Gaming, NFTs and DEXes, etc.). However, there are some general design concepts that a designer should be educated about.
The three main pillars of Web3 UX
Pillar 1: Educating on technology
Help the user understand any step he is going to work on and make it simpler for them to navigate the function by adding minor user interactions, tooltips, straightforward animations, pop-ups, or familiar, clearer terminology.
Web3’s status makes one thing quite clear: individuals won’t typically have the mental models and ways of thinking that it will require (yet).
It is the responsibility of designers to assist users in navigating the blockchain learning curve as they become more aware of the technology and its potential.
There are certain resources that can help anyone learn about the jargon, processes, mindset shift, etc.
The need of defining the terminologies will be not much necessary once when blockchain becomes more common. However, businesses are correctly focusing their efforts in this area for the time being.
Specifically, the designer’s goal of assisting the common person is comprehending blockchain.
Example: Binance Academy has listed all the crypto jargon as a glossary with one-liner definitions.
Pillar 2: Transparency
Users should have access to all relevant transactional information, especially for De-Fi apps that support a large number of transactions. As for design, this comprises:
Displaying the transaction’s breakdown. Allowing consumers to view all charges connected with the transaction. There should be an option to view the additional details if there are any.
To guide users in understanding the transaction by explanation. Keeping the general good design principles aside, it helps users in learning more about the technology, especially when accompanied by explanations.
Displaying confirmed and pending transactions. Initiating transactions using dApps, connecting a wallet, and ensuring that the state of a successfully completed transaction is reflected in the dApp itself. Users should be informed about any transaction delays and their expectations should be constantly managed through feedback.
Displaying the price in FIAT money. Help consumers comprehend the worth of components in the transfer by displaying USD because “regular” money is still thought of in terms of fiat currencies like the US dollar (or whatever currency).
Pillar 3: Familiarity
As Jacob’s law of UX design states,
“The majority of user time is spent on other websites. This indicates that visitors desire your website to operate similarly to every other website they are already familiar with.”
Specifically, a Web3 application should be similar to a Web2 one in terms of user experience. Following this, you make it easier for people who are still learning about topics like cryptocurrency wallets, blockchain technology, etc. to utilize them.
Example:
The user should not find the connection of the crypto wallet procedure any different than using his/her conventional online banking procedures. Whatever they are transacting should be as easy and as similar to their daily banking experiences.
Secondly, minting their audio NFTs should be as smooth and familiar as their normal Spotify uploads, or YouTube video uploading process so that they do not find it an additional complexity as cost of ownership.
Web3 UX principles
When creating web3 user experiences and interfaces, designers should consider the best practices in the Web3 Design Principles collection.
Active Guidance
Definition:
Users must have easy access to steady navigation that makes it clear how to return to a previous state and what to do next.
Principles:
Consider user needs
Consider where your personas are most likely to turn for assistance while anticipating the need for additional assistance and working to reduce it.
Possession of visibility
One must take into account various perspectives of an interface because visibility management is crucial for business.
Streamlined User Interface
Avoid adding components that will clutter an interface or mislead users. Every component has a function.
Patterns of Existing Designs
Utilize standard design patterns to minimize user learning requirements.
Examples:
Dodo is a decentralized exchange. On the exchange right now, there are 8 coins and 14 trading pairs.
When the users visit the website. Dodo provides a visible and simple use case for anyone willing to liquidate.
It reflects the text in real-time currency exchange value right opposite to it. The play cards can be navigated back and forth to find all the currency values in real time that the platform supports.
Moving along the sentences highlights the words and explains to the user about the platform’s service definition of it.
B. DTube is a decentralized (Web3-based) video streaming platform. At first glance, a user will find it similar to any other web2 video streaming service. Like YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, etc.
The approach behind DTube is the design consistency of what the viewers’ UX is trusted to till now.
Consistency
Definition:
The establishment of uniformity across products and the customer’s experience is important for building trust.
Principles:
Typographic Uniformity
Use the same “Blockchain color” consistently throughout your project and be consistent with your font selections.
Use color to convey meaning
Keep your color choices and associations uniform and similar by maintaining consistency.
Grid-Based Design
Grid-based designs with proportional and meaningful negative space should be kept in the design.
Globalization: Design Across All Boundaries
Wherever our users are, we design for them.
Examples:
Rarible, a popular NFT marketplace, states a good expression of consistency in the design such as the ground alignment, typography choices, and spacing. The strong-grid layout throughout the web page is quite impactful.
Community
Definition:
The services of Decentralized Applications may be only used by individuals but the basis of development of any application is planned for and also used frequently by, a sizable group of people worldwide. Community formation of a single type of user is beneficial for making the user experience better with uniform holistic feedback.
Principles:
Community
Indicate the number of community members worldwide independent of any region.
Who are the Community, exactly?
Categorizing the community with the law of proximity.
Subgroups and Responsibilities
Describe the community’s composition in detail (that is sub-groups and their power over the project)
Mission Statement
Describe the project’s larger purpose (if any) and how their participation helps it to be fulfilled.
Examples:
Parsiq Network gives quick access to web3 data, enabling particular features in your applications. The platform has been designed specifically for developers who want to build event-driven apps with a focus on trending reactions to events. It has a supportive community system integrated into the site.
Data Transparency: Provenance
Definition:
A user must be able to determine whether a certain piece of information or piece of data is actually saved in the Blockchain, maybe just by looking at the page.
Principles:
Data Reliability
Make it clear which information originates from the Blockchain and which does not.
Data Address
Make the contract’s address clear (s)
Links to Blockchain
Connect all Blockchain information to unbiased Blockchain explorers.
Oracles
State what data is derived from oracles
Examples:
When Data Provenance option is turned on. It highlights the blockchain data in Green color for better visibility. The value is also made prominent.
Data Transparency: Transactions
Definition:
Allowing users to make assumptions and assume that “all” data visible is saved in the Blockchain is not user-friendly. The design should communicate enough at just a glance.
Principles:
Permanence
Clarify actions that are irreversible.
Value
Clarify actions that involve money or value.
Privacy
Clarify actions that could potentially lead to user identification.
Factory
Clarify actions that generate new contracts in users.
Examples:
In the SuperRare NFT market when placing a bid, this screen is captured. The message informs you of the value and permanency of your activities.
Don’t Forget the Newbies
Definition:
If we want Distributed Applications to be widely used, we must remove the entrance barriers for those who lack technical expertise or familiarity with the Blockchain and its jargon. The user would also benefit from being aware of the key distinctions between Decentralized applications and other applications.
Principles:
Don’t Lose Context
Apps should try to minimize the use of new words and concepts, especially on the pages for the generic public (ie. homepage), and progressively show more learnings on pages for engaged users (ie. User dashboards).
Terminology
Make every effort to use jargon-less, consistent terminology. Language should be concise, clear, and align with our users’ natural communication patterns.
Learning Process
Provide 2 or more levels of educational content: Blockchain Basics and Decentralized Application-specific terminology.
Friction & Confirmation
Try to weave in the snippets within the interface, with temporary pop-ups that can be easily dismissed that then could open more detailed information in another tab.
Examples:
OpenSea has a learning service available for newbies entering the NFT market. Gives a complete service to the user from learning from scratch, building NFTs, selling, and purchasing.
Feedback
Definition:
Through the design of constant feedback, we assist our users in understanding what is happening and lower anxiety.
Principles:
Motion Animation
When used sparingly, motion and animation support the understanding of what ia happening.
What is Going On?
The user should always know what is happening, what just happened, and what will happen next as time is a significant element in Blockchain.
Examples:
Upon connecting the wallet or refreshing funds OpenSea provides prompt feedback to let the user inform about his confirmation of activities.
Trust
Definition:
Maintaining the trust of our users, many of whom work in fields involving highly sensitive data, is essential to the success of our company. The blockchain is “new” to almost everyone, with varying degrees of knowledge and assurance. Users must believe that our goods (and the people who created them) are stable, dependable, and trustworthy.
Principles:
Reliable
Stable
Secure
Transparent
Final word
Dapps are fundamentally distinct from regular web or mobile apps because they are built on the powerful Blockchain-enabled principles of decentralization, transparency, trustlessness, immutability, not hidden etc. and should strongly convey these values.
These Design Principles translate the characteristics of the Blockchain into useful tools by reflecting them in the front-end of Dapps for a promising and smooth User Experience.
Remember when our parents complained about how we lived on the internet 24/7? Well, we will be proving them right soon enough! 🤣 How? Thanks to the Metaverse Technology. At this point, you must be questioning, what is a metaverse.
The metaverse is a virtual replica of our real-life world. First, let’s see how the creators of the metaverse explain it.
“Today, I think we look at the internet, but I think in the future you’re going to be in the experiences” -Mark Zuckerberg
“With the Metaverse, we are transitioning from viewing a 2D world looking at the internet to living inside in a 3D world ” -Dave Water
“The Metaverse has become the newest macro-goal for many of the world’s tech giants.” -Matthew Ball
Other than the Meta-makers, this is what the internet-people who are curious yet do not know much, have to say:
And trust us, we are enjoying the creativity 😜
So, is it actually all pile of nothing? Yes and No.
Yes, because it exists virtually, and No because it is not about investing and dealing with imaginary stuff. Here is a proper explanation of the Metaverse:
What is the Metaverse?
The entire metaverse network is a decentralized platform meaning: shared by everyone, which may be continuous and in real-time, which is present in the post-internet era. The metaverse is not something you can physically own.
It is an open 3D virtual world where everyone can take part. There are various metaverses made by various individuals or groups.
Something people often mistake the Meta for the entire Metaverse is the owner Mark Zuckerberg. The founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, has shared his vision of the Metaverse’s future as well.
For investing, unlike The Mask movie, 🎭you do not become a billionaire overnight. But investing in the metaverse is also not something imaginary as most people have perceived about.
Investing in the Metaverse entails buying stock in well-known companies, buying non-fungible tokens (NFTs), creating one’s own non-fungible tokens, and buying or renting real estate on virtual platforms. There are numerous choices, and they are all promising.
If the metaverse is widely used, there could be high profits. Investors have institutional backing, indicating a firm position in the market.
How to get into the Metaverse Design
To master some skills, we recommend experiencing them. That’s right, to be a metaverse designer you must fully experience it.Have a virtual tour of it, meet new people, buy real estate in the metaverse, get metaverse equipment, and so on.
This will not only give you a fun adventure in a new world but will also provide first-hand experience of what is up-to-date, which UX components are already available, what else can be done to enhance the usability of the system etc.
We have curated a list of important features to guide you to become a Metaverse Designer and explore the possibilities of Metaverse as a UX designer.
Design is everything
Mandalorian is absolutely right. Metaverse is nothing without design. Metaverse requires compelling storytelling, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), 3D animation, etc. Here designers play the most crucial role in getting the metaverse integration’s design component just right. After all, Design has to be something that makes it feel like users’ real-world space. The three core spaces where designers need to focus are:
Imagine people inside the verse navigating like dead zombies 🧟 because of the poor map designs. Map design should be simple to direct the user so they do not go off-board in the infinite space. Design should prioritize smooth navigation.
You-know-who loves darkness? Voldemort, that’s right! But for the muggles and wizards visiting the metaverse, don’t use dark patterns. Avoid employing patterns that pressure users into making choices they do not want to make. ⚡🧙
Make designs that are more accessible. Allow users of all capacities to participate in the system you create.
The successful design would be to provide a truly immersive experience, aiming to “bring things to life” in the metaverse and make them seem tangible and as life-like as possible.
The metaverse designer needs to reform their mindset for the technology so that the user interacting with it is not just a mere user, but a player. To do this, UX designers will need to broaden their perspectives on skills and disciplines. Because these virtual worlds are comparable to societies with entirely different systems of ethics, economics, sociology, and psychology are all involved.
Accessibility
A critical component of effective design is accessibility. Since many other design elements, such as the motion sickness in VR, can negatively affect users, creating an accessible metaverse experience is definitely a challenge.
The early stages of metaverse design offer a great opportunity to incorporate accessible technologies right away rather than later trying to improve systems to be more inclusive. Designers will probably need to come up with brand-new, easy methods to encourage people to spend a lot of time in virtual environments.
Everyone’s a Noob:
It is not bad being a noob, noobs act as the bridge to create smoothness between the initial trial and mass adoption of any technology.
In fact, it means creating such User Interfaces that are represented as walk-throughs and have the tendency to communicate with new users. It allows more opportunities to learn, explore, and interact with new technology. The metaverse itself is supposed to be the new, more interactive internet.
Protection of privacy
In the metaverse, data protection, security, and privacy should be included from the beginning as the top priority. It’s crucial to create environments that discourage cyberbullying. Users should be allowed to choose whether they want to be alone or with the firm, and individuals who negatively affected them should be removed from their connection. To design more safe and more user-friendly services, product designers will need to collaborate closely with data security experts and behavioral psychologists.
No more Technical barriers:
As the designers have to keep the critical factor of making learnability, findability and usability a priority they must also concentrate on the importance raised by the development side of these virtual universes.
As a result, it will allow the players to not have to face any technical barriers throughout their interactions. Learnability and ease of understanding will assist the players to spend a good, satisfactory time in the virtual world.
What is the required expertise?
Here comes the good part! Below is the concrete skills info that the designers need to pull in order to become the metaverse UX designer.
Using Extended reality
Holograms sound cool, right? It is exactly the kind of technology that the matrix movie introduced to us to fantasize about the magical virtual world. 👩💻 Metaverse designers highly utilize extended reality in the virtual world to create smooth user experiences.
Designers use Extended reality which is a fusion of AR (Augmented Reality), VR(Virtual Reality), and MR (Mixed Reality). This Extended Reality helps the players to experience a life-like world in a virtual environment.
Encouraging Context awareness
Recognizing the user’s physical environment, User Perspective and depth are three important aspects of the physical world. In order to create experiences that keep users safe while they are in the virtual world, designers will be able to map the environment surrounding the user using sensors in VR headsets.
Creating Expressive realistic Features
We are aware that non-verbal communication makes up a significant component of human connection. Face expressions can be used to convey emotions. As you connect with others, Avatar will be able to depict current human emotions. Standardization of head, hand, and body movements for gestures in virtual reality.
Standardization will enable the usage of traditional patterns, making it easier for people to learn how to use products created for the metaverse.
Animating in VR/AR
The next stage in the growth of the animation sector is a virtual world. Immersive virtual worlds can be made possible using NFT, or metaverse technology. As this technology gains in acceptance, interesting new prospects are emerging for all kinds of animation.
Making unique avatars
The avatar can move, communicate, and carry out specific actions automatically for each player. These avatars are becoming more prevalent in online gaming communities like Second Life and Roblox. These are created using traditional as well as contemporary 3D animation.
Methods & Tools:
Many designers are curious about the tools they can use to create a metaverse experience because the metaverse is still more like an early technology. We have summarized the majorly used tool for building genuinely immersive experiences in this section.
Metaverse Engines
You may design virtual places where players can engage with each other using platforms and engines.
Using 3D objects, the Metaverse’s virtual world will emerge as a real world. The ability to create 3D models will be a challenging one for metaverse creators.
Blender
Houdini
Adobe Medium
3Ds & Maya
Ready Player me
Spatial
Challenges in Metaverse Design:
1. Creating the UI
What is the primary interface distinction between the world as we perceive it and the Metaverse? In the actual world, the user can see and touch the interface since it is in front of them. In Metaverse the user is inside the interface in a virtual environment.
The fact that a static design is no longer essential but rather an addition to a more immersive design poses a dilemma. The task of creating environments and experiences in a virtual world then falls to someone with extensive architectural knowledge.
2. Heads-up display (HUD)
The panel that projects information onto the windscreen into the driver’s or pilot’s line of sight is known as a heads-up display. When it comes to gaming and user interface, the status bar is where information is displayed to the player or user.
A packed HUD seems only natural playing an important role in promoting the Metaverse. Consider it; it’s a brand-new world that only exists in your sight, and you’ll require assistance navigating it. You will need HUDs in the virtual world since they provide info panels, minimaps, inventories, colour filters, accessibility filters, and other features. Concise the info is then UX’s job.
3. Virtual Reality Sickness
Speaking of VR sets, while they may be your definitive route to travel and explore the Metaverses, they are also causing worry because they are uncomfortable. Cybersickness is a condition brought on by VR headsets that imitate the effects of motion sickness.
In essence, you are deceiving your brain into thinking something is moving when it isn’t. It is this separation that makes people sick of virtual reality.
4. Dislocation
It’s possible that this young technology may reach us in many years. However, users do not go from one static page to another in the virtual world rapidly by clicking or tapping, which is the basic foundation of contemporary UI and UX design. Instead, even in non-tangible spaces, users move from one spatial entity to another
The virtual space might be rather confusing for the user if there is no sense of continuity from one stage to the next. The connectivity of all the spaces inside the metaverse is a critical factor for the designers to keep in mind.
What is it like painting the infinite canvas?
Know what the video game players 🎮 first notice and enjoy the most? It is definitely the game plot and the design. The people who build the connection between users of technology and those who create its interfaces are mostly UX and UI designers. They “interpret” it for the players, removing obstacles and facilitating communication with devices and apps.
People can work, play, shop, interact and engage in other activities in the “metaverse,” which is a graphically rich virtual area with some resemblance to the real world (or, perhaps, more importantly, the internet).
To create experiences that become the gateway into other universes, UX designers will need to adapt their perspectives, skills, and processes. To do this, they must first stop considering those who use technology as “users.”
They should think of them as “players,” or individuals who exist, inhabit, and live in this virtual environment.
UX designers must develop an immersive design in order to give “players” excellent experiences. One that enables users to live in virtual environments not just visit them. To not achieve sustainable yet simple goals, designers are to be fully committed.
What Is The Mighty Ethereum Merge: How It Will Affect GameFi
What is The Ethereum Merge?
The Ethereum blockchain, as we know it, is the foundation of numerous Web3 applications, cryptocurrency, and NFT projects. The Ethereum Merge, also known as Ethereum ETH 2.0, is essentially an upgrade to the Ethereum blockchain that will lessen its environmental impact, boost network security, allow Ethereum developers to add new features, and improve the chain’s scalability. This is due to the converging of two independent chains “Beacon chain” & “Ethereum”. The latter one will integrate the consensus mechanism of the Beacon chain into it. Let’s dive deep into it below.
When will Ethereum Merge?
The existing Ethereum Mainnet and the Beacon Chain proof-of-stake network will soon converge, indicating that Ethereum will entirely switch to proof-of-stake, putting an end to the proof-of-work. The merge is expected to be in operation in Q3/Q4 of 2022, with the tentative deadline of September 15 this year.
This will result in Ethereum’s 99.95% reduction in energy consumption.
What is Proof-of-Work & Proof-of-Stake?
Algorithms that are used to validate cryptocurrencies on a blockchain network using proof of work and proof of stake. The key distinction is in the method used to select and qualify users for adding transactions.
The Proof of Work consensus algorithm involves challenging puzzles that must be solved by powerful computers used by miners. Trial and error are used to find solutions to the issues. The right to add new blocks to the blockchain for transactions is granted to the first miner to solve the puzzle or cryptographic equation.
In Proof of Stake, before confirming the transactions, miners promise an investment in digital currency. Miners need to put up a stake with their currencies to validate blocks. Miners also provide the duration of their transaction validation history. A weighted algorithm that is weighted based on the stake and validation experience determines at random who will validate each transaction.
Integrating the Mainnet
Since Ethereum’s inception, the Mainnet has used the proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism. The PoW holds each transaction, smart contract, and balance from 2015 till now.
The Beacon Chain, however, was established on December 1, 2020, and it has functioned parallel to Mainnet as a separate blockchain. Beacon Chain has not done transactions on the mainnet, but it reaches consensus on its own by agreeing to active validators and their account balances.
When the Beacon chain is integrated with the Mainnet, and then this composition is merged into Ethereum, the Beacon Chain will work as a consensus engine for all data, account balances, and execution layer processes.
The Merge Impact on Game-Fi
Now that we are fully equipped with the Ethereum merge, it can be simply put as a quick swap of the new engine for the old one of the jet mid-flight. Everything, including the games based on this blockchain, will be swapped and altered eventually in The Merge spell. The three pillars: transparency, immutability, and traceability are fulfilled via wallet, smart contract, and the game server in blockchain game architecture.
Games Security
Research shows 34,200 smart contracts in blockchain games are vulnerable to attacks. The causes of vulnerability are platforms and contract programming languages. Which opens up to Calls to the unknown, Gasless send, Exception disorders, Type casts, Re-entrancy, etc.
The merge promises a better tomorrow with higher security for the game-fi industry. The upcoming updates will increase Ethereum’s security by requiring major ETH deposits from validators. In addition, the protocol has the authority to delete their ETH immediately in the event of attempted fraud.
Faster Transactions In Games
Currently, when the players make microtransactions in the games to buy any virtual assets or skins, it takes time due to the PoW consensus. The merge update, however, will not speed up the transactions. It is here to lay down the foundation for all the anticipated upgrades. The next updates planned in the Q4 of 2022 and Q1 of 2023 will bring high core speed to the chain.
Less Gas Fee
For those who wonder what is a Gas Fee? On the Ethereum network, the user must pay a set amount of gas for each transaction. So in essence, “Gas” serves as a unit of measurement for determining the costs associated with putting a transaction in the “blocks” that make up the ETH blockchain.
Since 2020, there has been a dramatic increase in Defi and NFT activity in the Game-Fi, which has greatly increased transaction volume and can also clog the network with raised gas fees during peak times.
The merger won’t directly reduce gas prices. The Merge’s technical advancements have included nothing intended to minimise fees. However, activating PoS would be the first step in allowing sharding.
Sharding is the division of a network into “shard chains” that distribute Ethereum’s load, relieving congestion and boosting transaction throughput. It is expected to start in 2023, which will allow the network to scale dramatically and eventually lower the gas fee to an exceptional level.
More Players at a Time
As discussed above, the merger will focus on security and reduce the energy consumption of the current transactions. But it will set the stage for all other areas that users have been waiting for so long. After the merge, sharding could hypothetically boost Ethereum’s transaction throughput to 100,000 transactions per second, outpacing all major credit card providers in speed and throughput. This allows more users to play games at once. Reducing the time consumption for data processing and transactions.
99.9% Reduced GPU Energy Consumption Cost
There are glad tides on the way with merge for the gamers. Game Processing Units (GPUs), which are used for mining Ethereum, are becoming less expensive as the network gets ready to convert from a proof-of-work (PoW) mechanism to a proof-of-stake (PoS) one, which would make these gaming processing components essentially useless for Ethereum miners.
According to calculations made by Ethereum experts, the GPU models on eBay have decreased by 37% since May 2021, and more are expected to drop very soon after the merge. Much more GPUs will be pushed to the secondary market when Ethereum eventually switches to PoS, which will probably cause prices to rise even higher.
The fact that the price of Ethereum has been relatively low, as mining has become more challenging, adds to the downward pressure.
Reduced Costs and Increased Speed
The major 2 upgrades after The Merge are the “Sharding update” and the “Shanghai update”. Both of the upgrades are anticipated in Quarter 1 of 2023, possibly in action by January. Sharding following the merge describes the division of the whole blockchain ecosystem into manageable units called Shards.
Sharding will assist the network in facilitating secure distribution of data storage requirements, as well as making transactions quicker and making nodes easier to operate at a reduced cost. Next, we will witness The Shanghai update. It will tackle 3 critical functionalities; EVM object format, Beacon Chain withdrawals, and L2 Fee reduction.
We are fully aware that news can be trending on the internet and still be wrong. To tackle that for the upcoming Ethereum Merge, we have busted some of the myths that went viral below.
Myths about The Merge
Myth No. 1: “Gas fee will be reduced following the merge”
False. The merge won’t lower gas prices because it only modifies the consensus mechanism, not increases network capacity.
Myth No. 2: “After the merge, transactions will be quicker.”
False. On layer 1, transaction speed will mostly not change despite minor adjustments.
Myth No. 3: “Once the merge takes place, you can withdraw staked ETH.”
False. The merge does not yet support stake withdrawals. However, withdrawals from bets will be possible after the next Shanghai update.
Myth No. 4: “The chain will increase the downtime after the Merge.”
False. Merge will provide zero downtime, as the chain will switch to proof-of-stake.
Myth No. 5: “In the dissipation of merge, new tokens will be generated.”
False. Ether will continue to be the native asset of the Ethereum network when The Merge is finished. Therefore, there will not be new tokens created.
What is “Eth 2”?
There won’t be two separate Ethereum networks anymore; there will only be Ethereum after ‘Eth1’ and ‘Eth2’ have been combined into a single chain.
The eth developer community has changed these terminologies to avoid ambiguity:
The “execution layer,” currently called “Eth1,” is in charge of transactions and execution.
The “consensus layer,” which manages proof-of-stake consensus, is now called “Eth2.”
These terminological changes solely affect naming standards; they have no impact on Ethereum’s objectives or development timeline.
A decentralized network scaling strategy and a switch to proof-of-stake have long been on Ethereum’s roadmap. Researchers initially worked on these projects independently, but in 2018 they were brought together under a single roadmap for “Ethereum 2.0.” a term coined.
Conclusion:
The existing ethereum mainnet and the Beacon Chain proof-of-stake(PoS) network will soon converge. This will complete Ethereum’s shift to proof-of-stake and signal the end of proof-of-work. This curates the way for later scaling improvements like sharding. Ethereum’s energy use will be reduced by 99.95% due to the merge. It will also make the chain highly secure, a welcoming tide for all.
The original Ethereum developers planned for sharding in the first phase, but since gamification holds 51% of the blockchain’s transaction operations, it was viable to make the chain scalable first. For the development and popularity of layer 2 technologies to scale transaction execution, the focus of the sharding plan was shifted to enable the rapid increase in network capacity. The developers realized that this would not have been possible without switching to proof-of-stake.
Upcoming developments after the merge would be focused on sharding, modifying the EVM functionality, and reducing the beacon withdrawal delay. This means there will be a threefold surge of players onboarding on the chains. This is nothing more than a piece of good news considering the almost negligible prices of GPU and reduced gas fees for microtransactions.
Finding The Best Web3 UX Process (Hint: There Isn’t One)
Technologies around the world are causing a transition from Web 2.0 to a trustless and permissionless Web3, causing the global technological environment to change quickly. This has compelled the conventional recognized software businesses to form Web3-specific teams and convert their typical web systems to web3.
But now Web3 is having trouble gaining widespread adoption due to a lack of knowledge and technological complexities. The sole reason for this is the lack of user diversification experience. As the technology itself is complicated, it should at least have a user-friendly interface that gives the user the impression that it has ease of use and a high user diversification experience.
User diversification is a path to a productive and forward-thinking Web3 environment in the future. Mass adoption equals a fulfilling user experience. The more people who utilize these digital environments and tools, the more they resemble the real world. As with the current face of the internet and the web, it might happen as soon as some anticipate.
At expedite, being the advocates of web3 design, we have concluded that design is the first and foremost interacting element that enhances the user experience. In this article, we will be discussing the categories of product launches and the processes of UX design that are the best fit for a product launch in the Web3 space.
Types of Product Launches and their design strategies:
1. For Products that just want to jump into the market OR want to onboard investors by showcasing ideas.
These sorts of products are known as Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and can be introduced to commerce after quick steps. The term “minimum viable product,” or “MVP,” refers to a product with just enough features to draw in early adopters and validate a product concept. In the web and software domains, the MVP can assist the product team in gathering customer input as soon as possible so that they can iterate and enhance the product.
The MVP is essential to agile development since the agile process is centered on validating and refining products based on user feedback.
The UX design processes for the first product category are as follows:
Understanding
The biggest chunk of the initiating design phase is in understanding the project and its requirements. What are the pain points of an end-user? What can be modified in the current product to enhance UX? and how to make the experience of an end user smooth and consistent?
Before creating an MVP or prototype, a UX designer seeks to understand what drives a user and what validation they are looking for. The intersection of UX development and design occurs when the proper products are provided to create a user’s capacity and motivation to accomplish a task.
For understanding, we start by elicitation and requirements gathering.
Requirements Gathering
Understanding the user’s perspective is essential to mastering the UX design process; however, working with actual users to conduct in-depth user research, which results from the many methods of requirements gathering, is the only way to discover what that perspective is.
By doing this first, we will need to make fewer revisions in the future, saving us a lot of work, time, money, and resources. If we conducted research first and then design, we would need to make significant design adjustments to accommodate the needs of the customers we have spoken with.
This has the advantage of allowing consumers to interact with an existing system directly. Some of the techniques that can be used to collect requirements:
Stakeholders Meeting
Interviews
Focus Groups
Client Surveys
Req Gathering Form
Branding
Product branding is a strategic fusion of design, marketing, and experience that distinguishes one product from others in the same category. It includes every aspect of the product, including the name, graphic design, materials used, delivery method, and physical appearance of the packing.
Product brands have become increasingly sophisticated and specialized for each product. A product’s niche differentiation is the objective.
However, at the core of branding, UX is about knowing the users, establishing the brand’s tone, and then designing helpful products that promote great user experiences. Branding Includes the following elements of a company:
Logo Design
Color Palette Finalization
Mission statement
Tagline
Company’s signature font styles
Design
Formally, there are three main design elements that makeup product design: quality, functionality, ease of use, and appearance.
To build a successful, competitive product, you will need to carefully consider each of these three criteria: an appealing, contemporary design; a useful functionality that helps users deal with their problems, and ease of use can be stated as a user on a website accessing the homepage within 3 seconds of opening the link, and maximum availability, the design must enable high performance and security as well.
To have an improved design process we must consider 3 things.
Get to know your project purpose well enough. Carefully examine individuals for whom the product is meant to pinpoint the best possible course for future product design.
Be not afraid of issues. Make it a task for your team to identify and resolve them, instead. You’ll probably need to redo the outcome if you consistently put off solving problems or entirely miss them in favor of focusing just on the tasks you excel at.
Strategizing your budget in compliance with the design needs is also essential, as it can get both the client and designer in an indecisive spiral where the finances and requirements don’t go side by side.
The elements in the design to produce or modify are:
User Flow charts
The user flow guides users through a series of processes from their entry point to a successful conclusion and end action, such as end-users purchasing a product.
Lo-Fi Wireframing
Low-Fidelity or Lo-Fi wireframing is a basic wireframe that describes the layout of web pages or app displays. They assist you in conveying the “main idea” of your product rather than the specifics.
Prototypes
A prototype is an early version of a product that has been produced to test functionality. System analysts and users typically utilize a prototype to assess a new design that aims to increase precision. In certain models of the design workflow, the stage between formalizing and evaluating an idea is the creation of a prototype.
Quick Evaluation
Quick Evaluation is important because it enables teams to determine whether their design is effective for their users. Since testing with high-fidelity designs yields more insightful feedback from end users, the evaluation phase typically begins after the high-fidelity design is complete. The team validates the product with end users and stakeholders through a series of user testing sessions. Evaluation is a crucial phase in the design process where designers would test the prototype.
2. For products that require quick UI with detailed research on UX:
When the clients ask for enhancement of the user experiences based on real user data having thorough research of user experience to launch any product, in this type of product launch the focus is on the detailed research of UX for the product with a short launch window having a simple quick UI. This sort of product is studied and data is gathered using user feedback, reviews, surveys, and the normal initial procedures discussed above. Understanding, Branding, Design, Quick Evaluation, and designer’s testing prototype.
The client can now onboard investors using this prototype OR enter the market. Meanwhile, the UX designers would begin gathering data in preparation for the launch of the next edition, which would have a better UX and be more user-centered. The continued procedures would include:
In-Depth Evaluation
In the deep evaluation method, the team runs usability testing, qualitative testing with moderated usability testing, and quantitative via data gathering through product usability interviews, social survey forms, product communities, testing groups from actual users etc. For testing a running piece of design there are multiple ways to achieve that. One is the Qualitative + Quantitative usability testing through Maze
Research
If you are wondering about the research after launch then yes! We strongly abide by the rule of iteration. Iteration is the key to a brilliant UX enhancement.
The product launch research process can be broken down into seven general steps: understanding the market and the competition, focusing on the customer, developing a distinctive value proposition, choosing a marketing strategy, testing the product and general strategy, launching the campaign, and monitoring the overall lifecycle. These steps include Competitive Analysis, User Interviews/Personas, focused groups, Affinity Mapping, Journey Mapping, Information Architecture (Optional), and User Flows.
Design Refinements & Final Evaluation
Design refinement can be defined as the process of changing a concept to make it more useful/easy to use or aesthetically beautiful. Renovating a certain design element, such as a web page’s layout, to make it easier to view.
In design refinements, the design system, UI, and prototype are modified if requested by the client. In this final testing, the product’s usability is examined. Both comply with Qualitative and Quantitative separately and at once.
This final evaluation helps to provide proof to the client about any change history, also maintains a log, and that the product is tested and verified, etc.
3. For Products that have enough time to follow UX Processes and want to get into the market with a User-Centric Product.
The final product category in which the time is fully invested to follow the thorough UX processes on to the product, making it a user-centric product. These products are called user-centric because they follow User Centric Design (UCD) in which the user is the heart and soul of the product. The needs, goals, and feedback of the consumer when creating digital products are the top priority.
This type of process follows the same initial procedure in understanding the business, gathering the requirements via surveys and forms then branding the product having a signature theme and consistent design. The design and Evaluation follow the same procedures as above. However, In the research phase, a few new options are involved.
Understanding
Requirements Gathering
Stakeholders Meeting
Req Gathering Form
Branding
Logo Design
Brand Guide
Research
Competitive Analysis
User Interviews/Personas
Focused Groups (Optional)
Affinity Mapping (Optional)
Journey Mapping (Optional)
Information Architecture (Optional)
User Flow
Design
Lo-Fi Wireframing
Design System
UI Design
Prototype
Evaluation
A heuristic evaluation can be used to determine how user-friendly a website is. In other words, it evaluates how usable the website is. In a heuristic evaluation, unlike user testing, where users assess the website (or prototype), the site is evaluated by usability specialists.
To conduct a heuristic evaluation, the experts perform Usability testing inclusive of
Usability testing
Qualitative
Moderated Usability testing
Quantitative
Data Gathering through Survey Forms
Qualitative + Quantitative
Usability testing through Maze
Design Refinements
Summary:
User diversification experience is the common lacking point of most Web3 products. It is not an impossible approach to reach every category of the user, but the design can be made smooth, consistent, and attractive enough to get a massive percentage to adopt this young technology. The UX is said to be the heart and soul of any product-based business.
It has a 400% conversion rate of potential to convert one-time clients to your daily users. Brands need to focus on the User Experience as much as or rationally speaking more than other areas. The above processes are curated to help Web3 design companies follow a guide and produce compelling products with a high conversion rate and user concentration respective to their type of category of product.
Expedite Live Design Supported Products
We take pride in successfully completing and deploying satisfied clients’ products. The experiences that we gained in the design processes are all part of our learning to make the processes more user-friendly in the future. You can check Unipilot and Metadot to see live results. Check out our work for more inspiration.
