New Trends in Blockchain Gaming: Balancing Playability and Gamification

In the Web3 field, blockchain games have always been a highly关注 yet controversial track. Although it has developed for many years, there has yet to be a truly explosive product. However, capital continues to flow in, nurturing a batch of AAA-level blockchain game projects. This raises the question: does the current blockchain game track need more "gameplay" or "gamification"? What is the difference between them? From the players' perspective, what are they more concerned about?

To explore these issues, we conducted an in-depth survey of 62 players, drawing seven conclusions about blockchain games. Before analyzing these research results, let us first discuss the current hot topic in the blockchain gaming community regarding "gameplay" and its distinction from "gamification."

The Difference Between Playability and Gamification

In November 2019, the concept of GameFi emerged, opening up a new track. Three years later, the success of Axie and StepN made the X to Earn model popular worldwide, triggering a fundraising frenzy in Web3 gaming. Nearly tens of billions of dollars in financing poured in, driving the development of a batch of AAA games. This track has also shifted its focus from the initial emphasis on "Fi" to the current competition over "gameplay."

So, what exactly does "gameplay" refer to? How is it different from "gamification"?

We can use a cake as an analogy:

Gameplay is the main body of the cake, determining its basic flavor and shape. It includes the core mechanics, rules, challenges, and interactions of the game, which are key for players to enjoy.

Gamification is like the icing on the cake, making the cake look more enticing. It involves applying game elements to non-game contexts to enhance user engagement and motivation.

In short, "gamification" determines whether players want to play, while "gameplay" determines whether players enjoy playing.

In Web3 blockchain games, gameplay serves as the foundation of the game and directly affects the player's gaming experience. Gamification, on the other hand, encourages players to participate in community building, market transactions, and other Web3-specific activities through game mechanics.

Current Status of Blockchain Games: A Coexistence of Gameplay and Gamification

Currently, there are some good projects in the "gameplay" aspect of Web3 games that have been recognized by players. However, truly fun and engaging Web3 games are still few and far between, as creating high-quality games requires time and effort.

Therefore, some blockchain game projects have focused on "gamification" and pushed the Web3 incentive mechanisms to the extreme. They offer points rewards through various methods such as check-ins, staking, and collaborations to attract players to participate.

Although these projects seem to be "playing games", they are actually more like gamifying the process for users to understand Web3 projects. They primarily rely on various incentives to attract users, rather than the enjoyment of the games themselves.

So, is the current Web3 environment more suitable for creating a game that makes people "want to play" or a game that makes people feel "fun"? To answer this question, we need to listen to the voices of real players.

Player Survey Results: 7 Key Findings

We conducted a small-scale survey among some Web3 players and reached the following 7 conclusions:

1. The number of blockchain games most surveyed players have played does not exceed 5.

2. Twitter is the main channel for players to obtain information about blockchain games.

3. 90% of players spend no more than 2 hours a day playing blockchain games, with 57.5% spending less than 1 hour.

4. The popularity of a game is the main factor that players consider when deciding whether to try a blockchain game.

5. 30.6% of players play blockchain games due to the "gamification" ( profit factor ), while 29% play due to the "gameplay" ( being rich and varied ), with both proportions being comparable.

6. 38.7% of players have given up on blockchain games due to "gamification disappearing"( losing its appeal for making money), and similarly, 38.7% have given up because "gameplay disappearing"( makes it no longer fun).

7. The Top 5 blockchain games players are looking forward to: Xterio ecosystem games, MATR1X, Space Nation, Pixels, BAC Games.

These results are unexpected. As an old player in Web3, I originally thought that most people play blockchain games primarily for profit, and very few truly care about the gameplay. However, the survey shows that half of the players are willing to try out a game simply because it is interesting.

This indicates that the Web3 gaming sector seems to be reaching a turning point and is beginning to return to healthy development. Current Web3 players place great importance on "gameplay" and "gamification," seeking a balance between the two.

Conclusion

No matter whether it's innovation in "gameplay" or "gamification", as long as there is innovation, it's good. But innovation cannot be detached from player needs. Ultimately, games fulfill people's demand for spiritual freedom and emotional release; Web3 games are just a different form of satisfaction.

Although there are currently very few Web3 games that truly possess playability and can meet the spiritual needs of players, as long as there is a demand for games, Web3 games will definitely have a future. The market is waiting for an outbreak point to appear.

Whether it's creating engaging "gamified" games or producing immersive "gameplay" games, the ultimate goal is to grow this "cake". Only in this way can game developers and players benefit together.