What happens when the money starts to dry up in a play-to-earn title, such as is the case with Axie Infinity which is seeing its players suffer swiftly diminishing returns?
The short answer is people stop playing. Scholarships aren’t as effective because the earnings aren’t nearly as good as they used to be, while there is a shortage of new investors to pump money back into the ecosystem.
Here lies the important distinction between play-to-earn and play-and-earn: the latter should see a player base stick around through the various fluxes and flows of a game economy because the gameplay is engaging enough for people to log on and play regardless of the crypto rewards.
It’s no secret the play-to-earn space is plagued by titles which wouldn’t look out of place on an early smartphone. They’re cheaply made games using the gimmick of play-to-earn to attract users and sure, this may work in the short-term, but the reputation of the space is suffering.
One can expect games to evolve to meet the demands of players who now know play-to-earn games tend to be profitable for a limited period of time. Mercenary scholars may flit from game to game, but the larger capital outlays required to buy the NFTs to game with will perhaps make investors hesitant unless the gameplay is genuinely enjoyable.
In a nascent market these growing pains are no surprise. A subtle shift in language, though heavy in meaning, is required for developers to move past the sub-par play-to-earn concept and focus on creating play-and-earn games which puts the gaming experience before crypto rewards.
An ideal crypto gaming economy does not involve scholars and NFT owners cashing out as soon as they earn their token rewards. There must be real fun to be had by reinvesting in the game itself, to create an experience which pays off in more than monetary value.
Guilds can be instrumental in changing the landscape: their voices may be loud enough to change how prospective developers approach their projects. To see sustained success in the space, the mass market must be catered to.
Mini-games on Crypto Fight Club follow the play-and-earn model with the creation of pint-sized, quick ways to waste 20 minutes a day playing a game which is fun in short bursts. Chicken Run has been a hit, while Fight the Bear is coming soon and will incorporate fighting mechanics.
All of this is in anticipation of a flagship PvP mode. Because the user experience is paramount to the success of a crypto game, this will be far more extensive and satisfying than the mini-games that are designed to be quick hits for a gaming fix.
Stay with us on this journey, because our team are passionate gamers who are working flat out to deliver a play-and-earn experience worth fighting for.
