Why Onchain Games are About to Takeoff

Author: FaultProofBen


Before we get into today’s piece, I wanted to let you all know that WASD just launched its official onchain gaming clan: WASD Guild!

Looks like even Saylor may be a fan of WASD Guild.
Looks like even Saylor may be a fan of WASD Guild.

NMA (Not Minting Advice) but you all should definitely join, as WASD Guild members get access to a variety of perks, including:

  • Entry into WASD in-game alliances

  • The ability to form teams and compete on behalf of WASD

  • Priority entry into WASD tournaments

  • Access to the WASD Collectooor TG chat

If you’re interested in joining WASD Guild (or just want to show your support), you can do so by minting our free membership badge designed by Bushi below:

👇👇

 

After you mint, hop in the collectooor chat by verifying through Guild here.

Minting will be live for another ~12 days, although batches of badges will be released over time.

But these are the OGs.

I’m extremely excited to get WASD Guild going, and I hope you all join and become a part of it :)

Now, without further ado…today’s piece!


Gm!

November is shaping up to be one of the biggest months in the history of onchain gaming.

2023’s penultimate chapter is packed full of catalysts that are set to infuse the space with newfound interest, energy, and excitement.

Today, I’ll let you know why I’m so hyped for next month by leaking alpha on:

  • The games with new releases set for November

  • Some of the month’s major community events

This is gaming, so it’s certainly possible these launches get pushed. However, as of writing, they appear slated for a November release.

Now…let’s get to it!

Game Releases

Primodium v0.8

A Primodium Base in v0.7.1.
A Primodium Base in v0.7.1.

It’s been less than a month since Primodium launched its latest update (v0.7.1) – Yet it appears a new one is right around the corner.

Per the team in Discord and the latest MUD community demo call, a new version of the game (v0.8) is set to drop at the “end of the month.”

Primodium v0.7.1 introduced several key features, including PVP raids, objectives, new units, and new building types.

This impending upgrade is set to expand gameplay even further. Along with patching new bugs, v.0.8. will add in-game alliances, another slate of objectives, and new building types.

Tax Cuts leaking alpha on alliances.
Tax Cuts leaking alpha on alliances.

(Side Note: The update will also wipe existing player progress.)

Primodium is my favorite onchain game, so I’m extremely excited for this release.

I think introducing a co-op mode will make the game more fun, and add new elements of strategy. I know I’m very happy to hear that I’ll be able to team up with other players to defend my base from the relentless attacks I experienced during this latest round.

Words3 and Network States

A up-close look at Words3.
A up-close look at Words3.

November seems poised to be a big month for Small Brain Games, as the Wojack-themed project has at least two releases on the docket.

The first of these is a new game of Words3.

Per a xeet from the Small Brain X account, the word-builder is set to return with a new round at some point in November.

Words3 had previously launched its first-ever mainnet game on Base back in August, which lasted 4 days and saw players spend more than $22K.

I’m hyped to play (or in my case, hemorrhage money) whenever this new round drops.

However…Words3 it’s not the only Small Brain Game slated for a November release.

According to Small Brain Dev on the aforementioned MUD Community demo call, Network States, a PVP strategy game that will utilize GPT-4 to create in-game lore, is set to launch at Devconnect in Istanbul.

A glimpse of gameplay from Network States.
A glimpse of gameplay from Network States.

Although Small Brain’s language did not delineate whether the launch of Network States will be on mainnet or testnet, it appears this will be its first persistent (i.e., A game that lasts beyond the length of a playtest) launch.

Network States is my favorite ( 🤏, 🧠) game, so I can’t wait to try it out. I think both the launch of it and Words3 should help bring more players and devs into the Small Brain ecosystem.

PixelLAW

A glimpse of the world of PixelLAW.
A glimpse of the world of PixelLAW.

PixelLAW is a primitive, where users can manipulate pixels on a shared grid to create games that are interoperable with one another.

The project was conceived at the ETHGlobal Hackathon in July, and has since been under development, being built in Dojo on Starknet.

Per a recent xeet, PixelLAW will be deployed on testnet during Devconnect. It appears that conference attendees will be able to try out the game IRL, while others will be able to play via an access code.

I’m very keen to try out PixelLAW. I imagine their Istanbul launch and meatspace playtest will be a significant catalyst to “Pixel Pill” (I just made that up ™) devs by attracting them to build games and experiences that utilize the primitive.

This Cursed Machine

A screenshot of TCM gameplay footage from the MUD demos call.
A screenshot of TCM gameplay footage from the MUD demos call.

This Cursed Machine (TCM) is a horror-themed supply-chain management game that’s being built by Moving Castles in MUD.

TCM is set in a dystopian world, where humans are enslaved in what are known as “pods” and forced to toil away processing orders in fulfillment centers.

Gameplay will take the form of problem-solving, with players required to determine the optimal way to produce materials “and build a machine using different components.”

TCM is currently holding private playtests. However, per the previously mentioned MUD community call (Which I realize is getting a lot of play in this article), the game is set to launch publicly at Devconnect.

Given its unique premise, how graphic its promotional materials are, and the lack of horror-themed onchain games, I’m very intrigued to see TCM out in the wild.

Community Events:

Devconnect

I’ve mentioned this conference a lot so far – But for good reason.

For those of you who may not be aware, Devconnect is a conference that is being held in Istanbul, Turkey, from November 13-20.

Devconnect encompasses many events, including what I believe are the first two standalone onchain gaming conferences.

These are:

  • AW Day, hosted by AW Research and Arpa on November 14. WASD is also a community partner for this event!!

  • The AW Assembly, hosted by the Autonomous Worlds Network and 0xParc from November 15-16.

Both AW Day and the AW Assembly are set to bring together developers, researchers, and enthusiasts from across the entire onchain gaming ecosystem.

The speakers at AW Day.
The speakers at AW Day.

As a result, there should be a TON of alpha and valuable insights to come out of them.

Most of the releases I mentioned above are dropping during the conference, and I imagine the event will be filled with a litany of other launches and announcements.

If you are attending Devconnect, I’d highly recommend popping by both AW Day and the AW Assembly.

Some of the speakers at the AW Assembly.
Some of the speakers at the AW Assembly.

If you won’t be there, I suggest listening to the recordings of the talks when they get published (I’ll also be writing up my thoughts and key takeaways from the event).

Dojo Ninja School and Loot Survivor Tournaments

As of now, there are two major onchain gaming tournaments slated for November (or close to it).

The first of these is technically underway, and while it does not technically take place in November, I decided to cheat and put include it anyways. 😝

The awesome looking poster for the Loot Survivor tournament.
The awesome looking poster for the Loot Survivor tournament.

Realms is currently hosting a 72-hour tournament in Loot Survivor, where players can compete to get the highest score in the roguelike survival game and take home $1000 in prizes.

The tournament began yesterday and will conclude on October 28 at 12:00 PM UTC.

(I’ll be participating over the weekend and rocking the [WASD] tag. I’d encourage all WASD Guild members and supporters to do the same!)

The second competition will actually be held in November during Dojo’s Instanbul Ninja School  event at Devconnect on November 17.

The Istanbul Ninja School is a bootcamp that’s intended to support devs looking to build with the framework during Devconnect’s ETHGlobal Hackathon.

As a part of the event, participants will be able to compete in an onchain gaming tournament and win $1500 in prizes.

We don’t yet know in which the game(s) will take place, but I can imagine they will be ones built in Dojo ;)

What Else To Watch For

I think there are numerous other launches that could take place during November.

Here’s a few I’m keeping my eye out for:

  • Season 3 of Roll Your Own

  • Playtests for Gaul

  • Kamigotchi’s public launch

  • Playtests for Battle for Blockchain

  • Tarochi’s public alpha

It’s Going to be a Big Month

As you can see, November is poised to be a massive month for onchain games.

Gonna be a big month.
Gonna be a big month.

We have (mostly) confirmed launches from Primodium, Small Brain Games, PixelLAW, and This Cursed Machine, with many others that may follow.

There are also several significant community events, such as the AW Assembly and Day at Devconnect, along with tournaments from Dojo and Loot Survivor.

I’m incredibly excited.

Between the releases and Devconnect, I think we’ll look back on November 2023 as a seminal month in the history of the space.

Buckle up.

Onchain games are about to takeoff.


Thanks for reading!

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See you all tomorrow!

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