The Dilemma and Opportunities of Blockchain Gaming: Balancing Gameplay and Gamification

The blockchain gaming sector has developed for many years, yet there still hasn't been a truly competitive project. While some games exhibit a certain level of gameplay, their token prices have not performed well. On the other hand, capital continues to invest heavily, giving rise to several AAA-level blockchain games. This contradictory situation has sparked some reflections:

1. In the current blockchain gaming sector, should we focus more on "gameplay" or "gamification"?
2. What is the difference between these two concepts?
3. What do Web3 players really need?

To delve deeper into these issues, we conducted in-depth research with 62 players and arrived at 7 key conclusions. Before analyzing these results, let’s first explore the currently hot topic in the blockchain gaming community regarding "gameplay" and its distinction from "gamification."

The Difference Between Game Mechanics and Gamification

These two concepts can be metaphorically compared to a cake:

Gameplay is the core mechanics and experience of a game, including rules, challenges, interactions, etc., and determines how players derive enjoyment. It is like the main body of a cake, determining the basic flavor and shape of the cake.

Gamification is the application of game elements in non-game scenarios to enhance user engagement. It's like the decoration on a cake, making the cake more appealing, but not the cake itself.

In short, gamification determines "whether to eat or not", while playability determines "how good it tastes".

In Web3 blockchain games, gameplay serves as the foundation of the game, allowing players to directly experience the game content. Gamification, on the other hand, incentivizes players to participate in community building, market trading, and other Web3-specific activities through game mechanics.

BigTime is a representative Web3 game that focuses on gameplay. It features a rich variety of scene designs, with random equipment drops that provide excitement, and players gain a sense of growth by improving their skills. These designs enhance the playability of the game.

In comparison, some projects focus more on gamified design. For example, Spacebar gamifies the process of users understanding Web3 projects by providing points incentives through check-ins, staking, and other methods. Although the interface is designed with a space theme, it is essentially a beautifully packaged points mining tool.

Real Needs of Web3 Players

In order to understand the true thoughts of players, we conducted a small-scale survey of some fans and players, resulting in 7 key conclusions:

1. Most players have experienced no more than 5 blockchain games.
2. Twitter is the main channel for obtaining 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 in deciding whether to enter.
5. Due to the gamification factor of ( having profit potential ) and the rich gameplay (, the entry ratios are quite similar, at 30.6% and 29% respectively.
6. The proportion of those who exit due to the disappearance of gamification and the lack of earning attractiveness is the same, both being 38.7%, as well as those who exit due to the disappearance of gaming quality and it being uninteresting, which is also 38.7%.
7. The Top 5 Most Anticipated Blockchain Games: Xterio Ecosystem, MATR1X, Space Nation, Pixels, BAC Games

The data shows that current Web3 players have a consistent level of importance placed on gameplay and gamification. The blockchain gaming sector seems to be at a turning point, beginning to return to healthy development.

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Conclusion

Whether it is innovation in gameplay or gamification, as long as it meets the needs of players, it is good. Web3 games essentially satisfy people's needs for spiritual freedom and emotional release in a new form.

Although there are currently very few Web3 games that are truly playable, as long as there is a demand for the spirit of gaming, Web3 games have a future. The market is waiting for an explosive point.

Whether it is creating gamified designs that make people "want to play" or designing gameplay that feels "fun", the ultimate goal is to expand market size. This not only benefits developers, but players can also gain a better experience from it.