Blockchain Gaming Track: A Survey Reveals Players' Views on Gameplay and Incentive Mechanisms

Recently, we conducted in-depth research on the blockchain gaming track and discussed several key issues: does the current blockchain gaming need more "gameplay" or "gamification"? What is the difference between the two? What do Web3 players really need?

To this end, we spent 5 days interviewing 62 players and reached 7 important conclusions. Before analyzing the research results, I would like to first discuss the currently heated topic in the blockchain gaming community regarding "gameplay" and its distinction from "gamification."

Gameplay and Gamification: A One-Character Difference, a World of Difference

In November 2019, the concept of GameFi emerged. Three years later, Axie and StepN became popular worldwide, pioneering the X to Earn gameplay and triggering a financing boom in Web3 gaming. Nearly tens of billions of dollars have flowed in, with numerous AAA-level games投入开发, and the competition has shifted from the initial focus on "Fi" to the current emphasis on "gameplay."

So, what exactly is "gameplay"? How is it different from "gamification"?

We can use a cake as a metaphor:

The gameplay is like the main body of a cake, determining the basic flavor and shape of the cake. It includes the core mechanics, rules, challenges, and interactive experiences of the game, which are key for players to enjoy.

Gamification is like the decoration on a cake, making the cake look more appealing. It refers to the application of game elements in non-game contexts to enhance engagement.

In short, "gamification" determines "appetite", making you "want to eat", while "gameplay" determines "taste", judging whether it is "delicious" or not.

In Web3 blockchain games, gameplay is the foundation of the game, allowing players to directly experience the story and interactions. Gamification encourages players to participate in community building, market trading, and other Web3-specific activities through game mechanics.

Bigtime is a typical Web3 game that focuses on "gameplay." It features diverse scene designs, random equipment drops, and NFTs that create excitement, while player skill improvement adds depth to the game.

In contrast, projects like Spacebar focus more on "gamification." It attracts users to participate through incentive mechanisms such as sign-in points and staking rewards, but the core gameplay is relatively simple.

Currently, there are not many Web3 games that truly achieve "fun." Some projects, finding it difficult to enhance gameplay, have turned to focus on incentive mechanisms, pushing the incentives of Web3 to the extreme.

What do Web3 players truly value?

To answer this question, we conducted a small-scale survey among some fans and players, resulting in 7 main conclusions:

1. Most players have experienced no more than 5 blockchain games.
2. Twitter is the main channel for obtaining information about blockchain games.
3. 90% of players play blockchain games for no more than 2 hours a day, and 57.5% for less than 1 hour.
4. The popularity of the game is the main factor in deciding whether to try it.
5. 30.6% of players play due to the "gamification" ( profit factor ), and 29% play because of the "gameplay" ( richness of the game ).
6. 38.7% gave up due to "gamification disappearing" ( no longer having the attraction to make money ), 38.7% gave up because "gameplay disappeared" ( it wasn't fun ).
7. The Top 5 Most Anticipated Blockchain Games: Xterio Ecosystem Games, MATR1X, Space Nation, Pixels, BAC Games

These results are surprising. As a veteran in Web3, I initially thought that everyone played blockchain games purely for profit and didn't care much about playability. However, the survey shows that half of the players experience the game because it is indeed "fun."

This indicates that Web3 Gaming has reached a turning point and is starting to truly return to "health." The "chicken ribs" phase seems to be coming to an end.

Current Web3 players place great importance on "gameplay" and "gamification", and have expectations in both directions. After all, no one wants to see a beautifully decorated yet bland "cake".

Conclusion

Whether it's innovation in "gameplay" or "gamification", any innovation is good as long as it exists. However, innovation cannot be separated from "demand". Human basic needs have actually remained unchanged; what has changed is the form of satisfying those needs.

Web3 Gaming is essentially about meeting people's needs for spiritual freedom and emotional release through new forms. Although there are currently very few Web3 games that truly have gaming qualities, as long as there is a spiritual need for games, Web3 Gaming has a future.

As for when this future will arrive, the market is still waiting for a breakthrough. Whether it's creating gamified products that people "want to consume" or producing high-quality games that people find "delicious", the ultimate goal is the same: to make the "cake" bigger. This way, both developers and players can benefit.