#37 - Gaming, Blockchain and mobile games advertising

GeeZee, Head of Gaming from Mantle, a low-cost Ethereum rollup, shares insights on the latest gaming innovations. Alan is the Founder of MetaCene, a Web3 MMORPG.

Introduction

A recent discussion brought together perspectives on how blockchain technology is reshaping the gaming space. Two core themes took center stage: the importance of building genuinely enjoyable games and the role of decentralization in empowering players. The conversation offered insights into how certain Web3 implementations failed early on, why new titles are taking a different approach, and how developers are striving to make gamers’ lives easier by seamlessly integrating blockchain features.

From Magic: The Gathering to Slay the Spire

Early gaming experiences helped shape the guests’ understanding of what makes a game fun. Trading card games (TCGs), including Magic: The Gathering, and popular deck builders like Slay the Spire came up as favorites.

Observations on Game Hardware

The group touched briefly on competitive gaming hardware and how it provides advantages or leads to debates over fair play. A keyboard feature known as “Snap Tops” came up as an example: it shortens the time between pressing different directional inputs, granting a slight competitive edge. They also acknowledged that hardware or software “cheats” remain a major frustration in online play—developers ban them, but new workarounds emerge constantly.

Skepticism of blockchain-based gaming was another key topic. Early Play-to-Earn experiments often came off as little more than pyramid schemes, driving many to doubt the viability of Web3 games. The conversation stressed that real value only comes from creating a solid, engaging experience.

The group also pointed out that major publishers once tried squeezing NFTs into existing products without meaningful gameplay benefits, which increased suspicion among traditional gamers.

Several specifics emerged on how MetaCene’s team aims to blend compelling MMO gameplay with on-chain possibilities. Core gameplay remains traditional: questing, boss fights, PvE and PvP modes, and character progression.

A flexible wallet system ensures that newcomers can simply log in with an email and only deal with token transfers or fees when they decide to move valuable items on-chain. Rather than interrupting the flow of combat by popping up transaction requests, NFTs reside in the game’s internal system. Once an asset becomes truly special, a player can choose to mint it on Mantle’s network.

One participant highlighted a future “server fight” feature in MetaCene, where different organizations or groups can manage their own servers, attract new players, and earn a share of the revenue. This concept underscores the broader idea: blockchain is not meant to weigh down gameplay with fees and friction. Instead, it can expand game experiences by giving players partial ownership and aligning their incentives with the game’s success.

Marketing Challenges and Future Possibilities

Traditional mobile ads rely on massive networks like Google, Facebook, and ByteDance for user acquisition, often leading to clickbait ads that don’t accurately represent the product. In a blockchain-powered ecosystem, developers foresee better targeting. With user activities publicly recorded, studios can accurately tailor their ads instead of relying on big data monopolies. This opens the door to ads that genuinely match a gamer’s preferences rather than tricking them with misleading videos.

Visit Mantle

Play MetaCene

This Podcast is Fueled by crypto trading bot platform Aesir. Get 20% off using code AESIRPOT20.