Web3 games align the interests of players and companies, says Delabs Games CEO

Blockchain gaming is seen as a hot narrative in crypto for 2024 by different industry players such as Binance and CoinGecko. According to the latter, the total market capitalization of blockchain gaming tokens exceeds $18.6 billion.

Delabs Games is one of the players building this sector and focuses on an ecosystem based on the concept of assets that can be used in different games, called Asset Inventory System.

Joonmo Kwon, founder and CEO of Delabs Games, shared with crypto Briefing his thoughts on how blockchain technology could revolutionize the gaming industry, how gamers perceive this union of two sectors, and why current traditional titles are not taking advantage of Web3.

crypto Briefing: When it comes to the traditional gaming sector, what are some stark differences you can point out compared to blockchain?

Joonmo Kwon: A significant difference between Delabs Games and traditional games lies in its approach to accessibility and user experience. Delabs Games prioritizes creating fun games for everyone, including Web2 users who may not be familiar with nfts, wallets, or cryptocurrencies. Its simple onboarding process allows players to enjoy the benefits of Web3 games without requiring extensive knowledge of blockchain technology.

In contrast, traditional games often lack the concept of ownership and tangible value for players. While players may invest a lot of time and money in traditional games, they typically do not retain any tangible assets once the game is no longer supported. Web3 games, on the other hand, allow players to own digital assets that are valuable and marketable, providing a sense of ownership and lasting value.

Furthermore, the psychological impact of ownership plays a crucial role in Web3 games. By owning in-game assets, players are more invested in the game, leading to greater engagement, loyalty, and participation in the community. This is in contrast to traditional games, where players may feel less connected to the games they play due to a lack of ownership.

Overall, Delabs Games and Web3 Gaming represent a shift towards a more sustainable and aligned relationship between gaming companies and gamers. By offering more value to players through ownership and participation, Web3 games revolutionize the traditional gaming industry and create a model where the interests of both the company and the player are better aligned.

crypto Briefing: For a player who is not familiar with the concept of digital assets, can you explain how the Asset Inventory System (AIS) positively impacts their gaming experience?

A key focus of AIS is its ability to transition players from solitary game participants to platform users by immersing them in diverse gaming experiences. This is possible by allowing assets acquired in one game to improve performance in others. Called 'Player Liquidity', the goal is to facilitate seamless transitions between games, cultivating a vibrant platform environment.

The Asset Inventory System (AIS) sits at the core of Delabs Games' playable layer and offers a gamified platform designed to facilitate player liquidity flow across multiple games on the platform.

AIS motivates users to explore different games through a combination of external rewards and internal satisfaction. Users are forced to gather “assets,” which can be equipped into inventory slots to enrich both their gaming experience and their earnings on the platform. This inventive feature increases the cape's appeal, encouraging seamless transitions between games and platform.

The Asset Inventory System (AIS) positively impacts the gaming experience in several ways. The first is improved interoperability and partnership opportunities, as AIS facilitates interoperability between the Delabs Games ecosystem and third-party projects. By suggesting new improvements and setting bonuses for assets from third-party projects, Delabs Games' playable layer seamlessly presents new content to platform users. This not only enriches the gaming experience, but also opens up opportunities for users to fully explore third-party offerings, ultimately increasing conversion and retention rates.

The second is to equip assets for boosting effects, as players can equip assets in their inventory for boosting effects both in-game and on the platform. For example, assets like speed boosts in Rumble Racing Star or APY increases in betting can significantly improve gameplay or earnings. Each asset can possess rarity, boost, and build bonuses, further diversifying the strategies players can employ to optimize their gaming experience.

A third positive impact is asset collection, as players have multiple avenues to acquire assets, whether through gameplay, contributions to the platform, or ownership of digital assets within the ecosystem. These earned assets can be equipped in the inventory slots of the Delabs Games playable layer, giving players a variety of boost effects that improve their in-game performance or earnings.

This encourages player engagement and participation, enriching the overall gaming experience while fostering a sense of ownership and progression within the ecosystem.

crypto Briefing: The gaming industry already has traditional titles that rely heavily on user interactions and could be helped by the AIS concept, such as Path of Exile, Diablo and Tibia. Why do you think none of the companies behind these titles started experimenting with that?

The core element of AIS lies in providing a gamified platform experience. While games like Path of Exile, Diablo and Tibia focus primarily on in-game experiences, Delabs Games Playable Layer extends the gaming experience beyond the game, integrating a gamified experience native to the platform. This system allows users to collect and combine various assets for profit both within individual games and across the entire platform.

The Delabs game playable layer promotes platform composability, enabling systematic integration between games on the platform. Furthermore, by starting with a curated selection of high-quality games and gradually expanding with mini-games, Delabs Games strikes a balance between game quality and accessibility, catering to various intrinsic motivations of players.

Conversely, traditional titles may not have experimented with similar concepts because they focus primarily on gaming experiences and may not prioritize the broader platform experience that Delabs Games aims to offer. Delabs Games emphasizes community participation, encouraging engagement and growth through reward mechanisms and a collaborative mindset rooted in the essence of Web3.

crypto Briefing: Blockchain games are often overlooked by traditional players as they involve monetary aspects and nfts, which are not as popular in this group. From a builder's perspective, do you see increased penetration of blockchain games among traditional players?

Yes, there is a noticeable change in the perception and adoption of blockchain games among traditional gamers. The quality of Web3 games is constantly improving, accompanied by a diversification of genres beyond the casual and puzzle games that previously dominated the space. With expansions into genres like FPS, MMOs, and RPGs, blockchain games are becoming more attractive to traditional gamers looking for diverse and immersive gaming experiences.

Additionally, major players in the gaming industry, including Nexon and Ubisoft, have announced their entry into Web3 game development, indicating growing acceptance and interest in blockchain gaming among established gaming companies. Additionally, industry heavyweights like CCP Games, Ubisoft, Square Enix, Sony, and Konami are cautiously exploring the Web3 gaming landscape, further validating the potential of blockchain technology in gaming.

This trend is not limited to established companies; New entrants like Delabs Games are also venturing into the market, bringing new talent and innovation to the forefront. With this influx of talent and investment, blockchain games are poised to continue their penetration of the traditional gaming market, offering new games and narratives that appeal to a broader audience.