Monetization in games has experienced various metamorphoses. Gamers have endured many iterations of the excruciating loot box system, free-to-play games that “encourage” you to later pay for gameplay boost incentives, and enjoyed successful monthly subscription services providing tons of games.
In these terms, blockchain offers many possibilities to earn for both developers and players. Moreover, in “true” decentralized games, the entire community decides how best to spend the funds from the game’s treasury on its future development and direction.
Outside of monetary benefits and incentives, there is always the issue of quality gameplay, or not, as the case often is. In order to satisfy the needs of their players, developers in traditional gaming draw players in with interesting gameplay, appealing visuals, a thrilling plot, etc. Meanwhile, crypto games were born from a field in which everybody is seeking out profit.
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As a result of this, many blockchain and NFT games have put the onus on building their economy first, and only then fleshing out the gameplay features. However, this approach is not sustainable.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Sid Meier, the creator of the well-known and much beloved Civilization game series, expressed his opinion on NFTs as the future of gaming. Sid Meier is a respected figure in the gaming community, and was even included in the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame.
When asked the different forms of monetization, including the utilization of NFTs, Meier answered in straightforward terms:
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"The real challenge and the real opportunity is keeping our focus on gameplay. That is what is unique, special and appealing about games as a form of entertainment. When we forget that, and decide it's monetisation or other things that are not gameplay-focused, when we start to forget about making great games and start thinking about games as a vehicle or an opportunity for something else, that's when we stray a little bit further from the path. People can assume that a game is going to be fun and what it needs for success are more cinematics or monetisation or whatever - but if the core just is not there with good gameplay, then it won't work."
Read what Gabe Newell of Steam, and Naoki Yoshida, the producer of Final Fantasy, think about NFTs in games:
CEO of Steam, Billionaire Gabe Newell, Comments on NFTs, Play-to-Earn Gaming, and Crypto
Producer of Final Fantasy XIV Finds NFTs “Interesting” but Doesn’t Plan to Include Them in the Game
