What's Your Gam3? #28

Welcome

Welcome to What’s Your Gam3? My aim with everything I do is to introduce you to new games! As I continue to improve the newsletter, all feedback is gratefully received. Now, let’s see what has happened this week.

What’s That Gam3? [review]

You can join me live on Twitch as I play new games! Alternatively, you can find edited versions of my playthroughs on my YouTube channel. [Don’t forget to follow and subscribe].

Duet Monsters

TLDR: 

• Clean and cute graphics

• Easy mechanics to learn

• Truly engaging soundtrack

• Unique in the web3 space

• Target demographics outside the web3 bubble

How to play

• The game is free to play, with a paid version of Axie holders.

• The game is on mobile; I played the Android version.

Game Loop

• You take control of two Axies

• They have a column of your screen that is split into 3 rails (the rails aren’t visible)

• In time with the music, fruit falls from the sky along the 3 rails

• Using your thumbs, you slide the Axies along the ground to catch the fruit

  

• The whole time, a cute soundtrack is playing, and every fruit caught results in adorable “singing” from the Axies

• At the end of the song, you receive a score, some stars out of 5, as well as some hearts

• Outside the core loop is a “room decoration” element, spending stars to select furniture for a room.

  

• There is also a PVP mode. The game loop is the same: two players compete for the best score.

• To compete, you wager some of your hearts, with the winner receiving 1.9x their wager. There is also a real value version allowing you to wager to include the token SLP

Game feel

• I was instantly engaged with the game. I played it with my kids, watching over my shoulder.

• It is the only mobile game I play with my headphones on; normally, I mute all game sounds. However, they have nailed it on this one.

• I haven’t been playing long stretches, but I'm dipping in for 1 or 2 songs at a time.

• Using your Axies from the main game is a cute way to give more to those already in the ecosystem.

  

• The game demographic doesn’t align with the current Web3 population. This is bad because they are trapped in the Web3 bubble, but it is good because they can aim to reach beyond the bubble.

• Being able to decorate rooms for the Axie fits with the target audience

• The range of songs gives plenty to keep playing, and the PVP adds to the extra replayability.

Rating

• Ridiculously cute

• The only mobile game that I play with sound on

• Different demographic from web3 population (good and bad)

• Easy controls

• Fun for all age groups

• Short spurts of fun

Web3 integration

• Users Axies on Ronin

For more information, follow their Twitter page to stay up to date.

Go to Whats Your Gam3? for more reviews.

WYG? Gam3 Changers - Matthew Buxton with Call Of The Voyd.

Background and Career

Professional Journey:

• Matthew Buxton has 19 years of experience in Web2 games.

• Worked on various projects, including some of the worst games at BBC and notable titles like RuneScape.

• Worked at King, Mag Interactive, and Rovio before co-founding Mystic Games in 2022.

• Experienced in Unity and has pushed the transition from Facebook games to mobile.

Transition to Web3 Gaming

Motivation:

• Inspired by the success and potential of Axie Infinity.

• Aimed to improve the Web3 gaming experience, driven by a long-standing interest in crypto.

Challenges:

• Entered the Web3 space in 2022 during a market downturn.

• Faced challenges in raising funds as market valuations dropped.

Game Development Philosophy

Game Design:

• Focus on creating engaging, fun games rather than relying solely on Web3 elements.

• Inspired by games like Vampire Survivors, with a mobile-friendly, addictive gameplay style.

• Breaking down larger MMO concepts into manageable, smaller chunks for better execution.

Web3 Integration:

• Limited Web3 elements to ensure a balanced, enjoyable game experience.

• NFTs hold accounts and items but are not central to gameplay mechanics.

• Emphasis on rewarding players through gameplay rather than financial incentives.

Business Strategy and Market Approach

Mobile Focus:

• Chose mobile gaming due to extensive experience and market familiarity.

• Believes mobile games will bring Web3 mainstream due to their accessibility and wide reach.

Monetization and Retention:

• Monetization through traditional Web2 methods (ads, in-game purchases).

• Web3 elements aimed more at player retention than user acquisition.

• Uses deflationary token mechanisms to maintain value and encourage in-game spending.

Future Vision and Industry Insights

Web3 Gaming Future:

• Excited about launching their token and scaling up their game.

• Anticipates growth and maturation in the Web3 space, with better projects and clearer industry standards.

Challenges in the Industry:

• Criticizes the current state of Web3 gaming, where many projects focus on financial aspects rather than player experience.

• Calls for more genuine value creation and better user engagement strategies.

Personal Insights

Favorite Game:

• "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" for its intricate, exploratory gameplay and lasting impact on his perception of games.

Future Excitement:

• Launching on Jumbo and expanding their player base.

• Looking forward to industry growth and the emergence of more player-centric Web3 games.

What’s new with What’s Your Gam3?

The website has had a facelift - make sure to go check it out » https://www.whatsyourgam3.com/

The WYG? Discord is also back. Join for game quest pools, giveaways, bounties, paid surveys, and tournaments. Join » https://discord.gg/qWUBd9bV

Thanks for making it to the end. That is all the new games for this week. Do you know any games you’d like to hear more about? Let me know.

Remember to tell your friends about What’s Your Gam3? Otherwise, they’ll hate you for letting them miss out on all the new games.

Remember to play games you enjoy!