A couple of days ago, I played my first ever round of Splinterlands and have since played about 90 rounds, losing half. That is okay, I am learning and still have no idea what I am actually doing, but I have a little support to help me, as I am in contact with a handful of Splinterland obsessives and long-term players and investors who are helping me out, although they are giving me a lot of information and using jargon I am yet to understand.
This kind of gaming is completely different to anything I have done before and I figure that dabbling a little might be good for my brain. Literally. I haven't actually gamed really at all for over a decade, but when I did, I was exclusively an FPS'er and at the time had the speed and hand-eye coordination to run and gun with the best of them. Those days are over.
I bought some UNTAMED packs a few weeks ago and they are up an incredible 200% since then and I bought some DICE packs too, which are also up about 20% since when I bought a few days ago. However, I keep getting reminded that I could have been up far more, as I have had the opportunity to play for 4 years, but never took it.
From an investment perspective, this might be seen as a bad move by not playing, as I would have likely been one of the early in to buy and would have benefited from the growth it is seeing, which has effectively been "immune to the bear market" - another thing that I am often reminded of.
However...
I was thinking about this last night and while I do feel like I have missed out on the Splinterlands run, I also know that everything has an opportunity cost. Last night, I played SL for about three hours while watching TV, which sounds like a pretty decent way to multitask - except there is a far greater cost involved.
I am a content producer and most of my crypto holding have been enabled through content production. My ability to buy a few hundred UNTAMED and DIE packs is because I have been creating content that has earned me the chance to do so. Nothing is free and I have always been very aware of the Op-Cost of what I do, foregoing a lot of the entertainment opportunities in order to explore the potential of writing and earning digital income through my experience. I have written about this often.
What this means is that while in the last four years I could have been playing Splinterlands and earning, possibly getting some decent card pulls and maybe buying in also, doing so would have limited my ability to create and produce content on Hive to the level and on the topics that have seen me earn. This raises the investment question as to whether I would have earned more from playing or from creating? Yes, I could have also created Splinterlands content, but would that have earned me similarly?
It is an interesting thing to consider and from a business perspective, it brings in the idea of core competencies and specialization. While I don't doubt that I can learn to play Splinterlands to an okay level with time, I don't see myself getting to the point where I am competing with the best of the players, making me a run-of-the-mill user. I wouldn't have the skill diversification to make me stand out from the pack, so to speak.
On top of this, there is of course the personal value of playing versus writing, as I highly value my opportunity to write, making the cost of not doing it very, very high. Would what I have earned from playing and investing into Splinterlands have been worth more than the cost of not writing? I will never know, as this is a counterfactual question with no answer, but my relatively well-informed intuition in this area tells me that it wouldn't. Plus, it would have likely fundamentally changed my experience on Hive and with the Hive community as a whole.
This isn't about better or worse, but all of these things have to be considered in order to evaluate the value of investments, as there is more at stake than the money itself. But looking from the money alone perspective, I am quite confident that I have earned more as a content producer than I would have as a Splinterlands investor - but this isn't going to be the same experience for everyone as again, skill diversification comes into play.
Play is important for me and I see all of Hive as a very complex game and have often factored Splinterlands into the profile for consideration. It is a brilliant space where all kinds of skills are able to have the space to try and thrive and there are many ways for people to combine their personal strengths with an opportunity to earn. But, there are only so many hours available in a day to play the game, so each of us make decisions on how we are going to approach it. Resource scarcity is definitely a thing and none of us have an endless supply of time or energy.
What would have been a wise decision for me would have been to buy some Splinterlands cards and benefit from the growth of the game, rather than some of the other shitcoins I have done over the years, but some of those shitcoins have also gone 100x too, so again, op-cost comes into play. One of the reasons I didn't buy SL cards originally though was because I didn't play it, so never understood why some people are so attracted to it. Having played a little now, I can see the appeal, but I can also see that I could easily get drawn into it too heavily and end up not producing content.
Often in our chase for the latest gain, we drop the things that are actually working for us already, forgetting that taking the new opportunity can cost us the old. While change is definitely a good thing to bring into play, giving up core competencies is not something to be done lightly, especially if it is lucrative.
Splinterlands investments have been very lucrative for many people which is absolutely fantastic and it is a funny thing that no one seems to mind when people are successful there, even if they have used their Hive earnings to be so. Yet, if someone invests into and plays the Hive content game well, it comes with some kind of stigma from many people, as if it isn't deserved. Again, there is a skill difference and just like the draw from a Splinterlands pack, luck involved too.
But, it is because of all of these things as even though I do feel like I have missed out at times, I also have enough awareness that I haven't, I just took a different path through Hive and one that not many others have successfully navigated as far or for as long. This means that while my friends have significant Splinterlands holdings (also significant HIVE holdings), I do not need to be bitter or feel left out of the Hive game.
A lot of people seem to get bitter when the path that they took doesn't lead them to where they wanted to be and then are upset at those who successfully took other paths. But, while people consider the result of for example, what is in the HIVE wallet, they don't often deeply consider whether they could have done the same, whether they have the skill, personality or experience.
In the case of Splinterlands, I am quite confident that I would never have been a top player and would have likely lost interest relatively fast, meaning that I would have very likely lessened my interaction for a period on Hive, fundamentally changing my approach and outcomes. I find it incredible that people are so enthusiastic about Splinterlands, wish them the best of luck and hope they crush it, as it all adds value to the different splinters of Hive.
Hive is much like Splinterlands, with different people, with different attributes, all plying in the same game. Some are more effective than others, some are more useful than others, some hardly make an impact on the game at all and are barely interacted with. The difference is that a person is not a card, they have agency to learn about the game and change themselves as they see fit.
No one is stuck being what they were printed to be.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
And thank you to my Splinterfriends who themselves are all different and have take very different approaches to Hive, but have still taken the time to help me out in many ways :)
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
Truth is, while you could have bought some Splinterlands monsters and played, you wouldn't have known these random shitcoins wouldn't really amount to much value, a shitcoin can make one a millionaire and that's the truth despite how bizzare it feels. I consider making these choices as a game we couldn't have known the outcome.
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
It is all part of the game. These guys are into shitcoins, defi and content too, but the content is in a different style than my own. If I hadn't have been as prolific early on, I don't think I would have the stake I do today. It may have been made up for in Splinterlands value, maybe not.
A whole lot of variable of "maybe" or "maybe not" but then this standings you're currently are one is still great. I still regret not getting into splinterlands when I could have.
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
There is no cerrainty in the future, it is all speculative as to what is going to happen. You know, asteroid might wipe us all out too :D
This post was definitely not expected but a pleasant surprise. Do you think that in the future you will try writing splinterlands battle posts? I think that it could be interesting to see how many thousands of words you would use to describe a battle...
and maybe after reading your posts I would find some ways to improve my battle posts😜Anyway. Good luck
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
Ha... My battle posts would be about accepting my fate of constant losses :D
you reminded me of this:
I was never really into computer games, I would rather play cards or a game of cornhole with my kids then sit in front of a machine. To each his own.
As far as shitcoins go, we have had a few winners over the years so I never count them out. Our plan has always been diversity, having a small stake in a lot of coins helps balance out winners and losers. So far the risk reward ratio has been in our favor, go figure.
Always enjoy your posts, have a wonderful day.
Diversity is good, which is probably why I should have listened to my friends and bought some packs, as even if not playing, they are NFTs and will benefit from those who do play.
It isn't my type of game, but I don't mind learning a bit at the moment, especially since I need to improve my brain processes.
hahaha, if you improve your brain any more, I may not be able to understand you, I know you're a smarty.
I have tried splinterlands once. The game was too addictive for me. And with so many games available on hive, I felt @dcitygame was a better opportunity from investment returns and with less amount of time needed daily.
Anyway, I planned that once I build my city in dcity game, I would buy cards on splinterlands again, and start playing. It's quite fun buying all those monsters and summoners. At least for the people who haven't played it a lot.
But I am consumed enough in dcity that I never had time. Maybe one day, I will. And be a late joinee...better late than never.
I think it depends what interests you the most. I see a lot of people who play games like splinterlands, dcity, risingstars etc. But they never create any content on hive. And are still successful to an amount.
The way I see it is that when you play a game, you can connect to only 5-10 new people. And only a few of them will be in your contact for long term.
But when you create content, it gives you the opportunity to connect with almost everyone on this platform. The reach is bigger if you are a consistent and a good content creator.
But on games, you will be left in a circle of maybe a dozen or so people in a discord channel.
Also, creating content improves you in so many ways, you are putting your thoughts in the form of content daily, connecting with new people, earning money.
But in games, you have a chance to earn money, and maybe get good at one of a kind game.
When I think about this, content creation seems better choice, whereas playing games is a worthy investment + fun opportunity. A way to diversifying your hive holdings😅
I could see it being a decent way to sit and play while watching something else random, but since I don't watch shows/movies much, I think it would be too much of a time suck for me.
Yes, which is my point. For me, I don't think I would have come close with SL. And ten as you have rightly realized, the community aspect of it is different too and far narrower when grouped around a game.
It is a good way to support the growth of the ecosystem too :)
To me, Splinterlands saved the value I had in Steem and increased it. My Splinterlands account is now more valuable than my Steem account in January 2017. I haven't played in a long time (I have a much better player than myself for my cards and we make 50/50) but just started again with a second account because it will be sooooooooo valuable to do so once SPS comes out. What we earn now will be a joke compared to what is about to come.
While my investment in at the moment is modest, I really hope that people start investing into Hive experiences more.
I have been playing Splinterlands since the beginning. I have invested some of my outside money into it as well. I am nowhere near top level, but I do pretty okay for myself. I have been able to grow my HIVE account due to some of my profits from the game. I get what you are saying about focusing on content creation though. That is still where I spend the majority of my time.
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
I don't think I would have lasted that long playing, as it is no my normal kind of game - plus I don't think my wife would have supported my gaming like she has my writing ;D
That is a very good point about the spousal support! Mine has been pretty great, but I make sure it doesn't impact our family time.
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
Our choices should never be evaluated solely on the basis of financial return. Life is more complicated than money, right?
Loving what we do is the most important standard we should consider if we want to carry on for the long haul
In my humble opinion, you've made the perfect decision focusing on writing such high-quality publications rather than getting distracted in multiple areas that may not all be right for you.
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
It depends on the approach each wants to take. I like the idea that people are free to do as they please to a great extent, but they also have to take responsibility for where they end up in life. I like writing :)
WELL SAID :))
Better late than never, but it sounds like you’re going to give it away! Keep going, all the new updates are just about to be released, you know about the shards tokens don’t you?
I know nothing about any of it, but I have some "tutors" filling me in as I need :)
"Food for Thought"
From a social, financial & tokenomics perspective...
¿Could we say that all the diehard gamers in the Hive blockchain whether it be Splinterlands, Dcity, etc. are chaps more selfish only focused on their own well-being while content creators are more selfless, solidary and generous?
Up to now, I have not played any of the games on the platform. Not even once. This would mean then that I am more unselfish? LoL
If someone kills 20 people and another kills 5, is the second less a murderer? :D
Hahaha, I suppose it will all depend on how good are the cards that you got with your purchased card's pack.
I have always wondered the game Splinterlands, but I don't even know where and how to play.
This is precisely my struggle too. Unfortunately I am quite addicted now, so I want to finish that daily quest for the rewards lottery.
The problem is that it is very easy to use every little moment throughout the day to play, rather then think of content.
As my life is very very full at the moment I hardly produce any content, but play splinterlands daily.
I like to think that I’m a good writer and likely would have earned more by creating content.
There’s another point too. When creating content I regularly get comments and interact with people, whereas with splinterlands I’m just quietly doing my own thing. My guild is not that active in the chat, so it feels mostly like a solo operation.
On the other hand I really enjoy the tactical selection of cards for the battle and outwitting my opponent. As I regularly defeat players with much better cards, I think I’ma good splinterlands player too.
Still, I’m wondering whether I should optimize the time I spend by shifting my focus at least in part back to producing content…
But first I’ll play just one more battle…
CK was always a joke to me - I don't understand why people got so excited over it - especially considering the fees as even then they were high. I wonder how much people have spent and what the value of what they hold is now.