Blockchain Games is a term that has been tossed around in the past few years, but it is only recently that the concept of this type of gaming has really taken off.
In recent years, blockchain technology has been making waves in various industries, from healthcare to finance. The gaming industry was not exempt from this innovation trend either- blockchain games have become an emerging topic for discussion among gamers and developers alike. In this article, we’ll explore what blockchain games are all about, how they work, and some of the top games to look out for.
What is a Blockchain?
To understand the Blockchain Games, you need to first understand a little about what a blockchain actually is. In short, a “Blockchain” is an immutable ledger of records with time stamps. They are also decentralized – meaning they don’t have a single point of failure and no company owns it.
Transactions on the blockchain are verified by network nodes that solve algorithmic problems in exchange for transaction fees and new coins created with that process, which is called mining.
Anatomy Of A Block
A block is simply data stored as part of a transaction on the blockchain. Each block contains information such as timestamp, data from the previous block (if exists), hash of the current block, a hash of the previous block (if exists), difficulty, nonce, and the miner’s rewards/fees. Blocks are grouped together to form chunks of data called chains.
Why Are Block Chains Important?
Blockchains are important because they tell us how digital information is transmitted over the internet. Because there are multiple copies on various nodes across the net, no one can go back and change the data without breaking the chain which would require redoing all the work for that block. This is what makes it so secure.
As you probably already know, although Bitcoin is not yet mainstream, blockchain technology has become very popular amongst banks & governments due to its security features. Plus, with so many crowdfunded campaigns taking place every day – people have started realizing the benefits of decentralized systems rather than
How To Use Blockchains Within Games
There are many ways in which blockchains can be used within games, but the most common and popular use of blockchain is in asset tokenization.
An example of games from a traditional economy:
Let’s say you have a sword. This sword can be transferred from player to player or sold for an amount of money. In a centralized database system such as EVE Online, this sword would be tied to your account.
If someone managed to steal your password, they could log into your account and take it away from you – Just like robbing a bank really! And because that sword has been created by CCP (the company that runs EVE online), there’s nothing you can do about it other than start again with a new character if you want the sword back.
This is also a problem for games like World of Warcraft who sell virtual items such as mounts that may or may not be “rare”. If one day Blizzard decided to change its mind and say – “Oh, we’re keeping this mount and you can’t have it anymore” there’s nothing anyone could do about it because they don’t run on blockchains. They rely on centralized databases which makes them extremely vulnerable to attacks and manipulation by the owner of those servers/websites.
However, if any game company tried something like that with blockchain-based assets, people would simply withdraw their funds from their accounts and buy cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Litecoin using services such as Coinbase, then use that to purchase the game currency which they could use to recover their in-game items.
Because blockchain assets are based on you having a private key, which is something no company can take away from you – it’s impossible for any company or individual to “steal” your cryptocurrency because there is no middleman. You are the middleman. And not only that, but when someone does steal your private key – It usually means they own all of your cryptocurrencies too!
How To Create A Blockchain?
There are many ways in which you can create a blockchain, but the most common method is through software called Ethereum. Similar to BitTorrent or Bitcoin, Ethereum allows users who need extra computational power to pay someone with existing ETH cryptocurrency. This process is known as mining, and it’s super important to the Ethereum network because blockchain technology requires people to run servers to track how much cryptocurrency everyone has.
What Is an Asset Token?
An asset token is a form of digital property – Usually represented by an image (commonly referred to as an avatar), sound effect, or even text! These tokens can be bought, sold, or traded for other things on blockchains such as Bitcoin, Litecoin & Ethereum.
You can even make your own asset token using apps like Cryptogs. Fake internet points are also considered asset tokens in their own way – but that’s for another guide!
Games That Currently Use Blockchain Technology
Here are ten examples of games that currently use blockchain technology within their systems or are planned for the future:
- 0xUniverse – A space exploration game with an entire economy built on Ethereum.
- SpacePirate Games – The developers behind 0xUniverse recently announced plans to release a board game based on their universe, but they’re also releasing an online MMO in which players can earn tokens & trade them for cryptocurrencies.
- CryptoKitties – An amazing game in which users breed, collect and sell digital cats using blockchains!
- Cryptogs – Build your own unique token and battle other users for fun and profit!
- Spells of Genesis – Currently in Beta testing
- SOF is a blockchain-driven trading card game in which all cards have been created by the players. They can be bought, traded or sold for cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.
- Chrono Games – An upcoming trading card game that will use Ethereum to allow players to sell their cards on the open market.
- BitGuild – A games company that aims to merge cryptocurrency with gameplay mechanics allowing you to pay for things like new skins, upgrades and more with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ether & Litecoin.
- CryptoFights – A fantasy-fighting MMO built on top of Bitguild’s platform that allows users to customize their fighters and then put them up for sale or trade them on the blockchain.
- Decentraland – A virtual reality platform in which you can purchase land and build anything from casinos to malls.
Problems with Blockchain Games
it’s important for us to provide you with a balanced view so things that you need to be aware of include:
Blockchains are slow
It can take a long time for transactions to process meaning that your purchases will feel slow and laggy.
Blockchain Assets Can Be Stolen
If someone gets access to your private key, they own all of the cryptocurrencies you have stored in it. This is much harder with asset tokens, but not impossible!
Blockchains Don’t Allow You To Buy In-app Extras
The biggest problem with using blockchains as payment methods is that they’re not designed to give users those little extras that many games offer such as extra lives or features.
While it’s possible for developers to use something like Ethereum Smart Contracts to create their own “currency” which could be used for this purpose – this method would limit the amount of people who could play their game.
Blockchains Are Not Always Convenient
While blockchains are becoming easier to use every year, much of the public still doesn’t have easy access to them. If you’re only targeting the English-speaking world, eWallets may be a better option for your games!
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