RE: Introducing Possibly the Next Best Game Powered by the Hive Network Called Hivernum Odyssey

The idea of separating game logic from WEB3 is the way to go. I dislike the idea of validating every game mechanic on the blockchain, as it creates a tremendous amount of overhead that doesn't add much (if any) value. While blockchain can validate data, there's a significant amount of data that doesn't need validation.

The real asset of WEB3 in gaming lies in its tokens and the potential to convert assets into NFTs. It makes sense to focus on using that aspect exclusively.

You can use Hive as your primary currency, but you might also want to consider implementing in-game currencies. For instance, players could use Hive to purchase an in-game currency, which is then converted from one form to another. For example, one dollar worth of Hive could get you 500 gold. With 300 gold, you could buy a soul, and once you have three souls, you could use them to upgrade an item's rarity. If the upgrade fails, you receive a gem fragment. Collecting five gem fragments allows you to create a gem, which can be used at a shady merchant to gamble for a new item with potentially improved quality or stats.

I just made up this basic example, but you've likely encountered similar mechanics in games. These types of intermediate currencies are a sneaky tactic that many games use to create a psychological distance between players and their money. By introducing multiple conversions, it becomes harder for players to calculate the value of each step, which reduces the pain of spending.

In traditional games, I'm not a fan of this approach due to ethical concerns. However, in WEB3 games, I'm more in favor of it because of the "Play to Earn" vs. "Play for Fun" discussion. The reality is that WEB3 players often enter games with a "Play to Earn" mindset, which negatively impacts their fun expectations from the start. It's up to the game to make players forget about the "earn" aspect while playing, which is quite challenging.

You definitely don't want these in-game currencies to be on the blockchain, as that would make it easier for players to calculate each value, thereby reducing the fun aspect in favor of the earning aspect once again.

Interesting reads:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26644787_Game_design_as_marketing_How_game_mechanics_create_demand_for_virtual_goods https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263568020_Game_design_as_marketing_How_game_mechanics_create_demand_for_virtual_goods

The second article discusses these mechanics more directly I think (since it's behind a paywall I can't skim through the article. I might ask my wife later if she can access the article)

Edit: just my own theory to be clear. I haven't seen any research that confirms this

Good morning my friend, thank you for taking the time to leave this comment with your ideas.

I agree with you on the part of players who enter this type of game Web3 only focus on making some money, but what I was referring to is that although the game manages to do this, the focus will be more on “being played” than making money on top of that. It's like a possibility, although the mechanics and context of the game are on the other side, nothing prevents you from getting some HIVE tokens in another way by playing.

I had already thought a bit about this in-game currency, but only for cosmetic and consumable products within the game, without secondary tokens like Splintershards, Sims, Crops or from other games on the same Network. Any trading of digital assets will involve HIVE.