Many people have heard about cryptocurrency and approximately understand what it is and how to use it, even if they don't have bitcoins, which are constantly rising and falling in price. NFT comes from the same universe. Only the lazy have not heard about NFT, but not everyone understands what it is, how to create and sell it. In the article we will try to guide you through the topic.
What are NFT games?
To begin with, let's figure out what NFT is. IT specialists use the abbreviation for a non-fungible token, which is the result of the blockchain’s formation. However, unlike cryptocurrencies, NFT is a unique unit with a certain value. For example, all bitcoins are considered equal and interchangeable units. NFT units are non-interchangeable, it means that one NFT cannot be replaced by another or exchanged since each one is unique.
An NFT is a digital certificate that indicates ownership by a specific owner of a certain object. When someone buys or sells a digital NFT object, the information immediately enters the blockchain data. Here, the mechanism is similar to that of cryptocurrency.
The blockchain database does not have a single center. When a transaction is made, the information is encrypted and divided into links. Each link is part of an encrypted chain that is stored in different places. Blockchain technology allows you to eliminate the loss of information and reliably protect databases from third-party interference or information substitution.
An NFT game can also become a blockchain product. Such a game universe belongs to the entertainment category abd contains digital NFT objects or unique tokens without the possibility of their replacement or exchange.
In computer games, blockchain technology is used to attract investors. At the same time, even an ordinary player can become an investor. For example, the user has the right to create, buy, and sell tokens of any object located in the game space. A simple interaction scheme allows the user environment to support developers.
You can tokenize any game object: artifacts, weapons, characters.
In addition to developer support, the user has the right to sell their NFT artifacts to other players or collectors. On the one hand, a player creates a cryptocurrency, and on the other hand, they earn money or invest in a game developer.
You can find NFT games on the Ethereum platform. To join the game, the user registers and contributes. To do this, you need to buy an NFT object from the game. When a character or token item is purchased, the player takes action: starts playing, increases the uniqueness of the token, interacts with other users. As a result, the previously purchased token object can be sold, but at a higher price, since its uniqueness has increased.
However, you don't have to buy anything to play. The developers offer entry into the game without a fee or with partial payment. However, in order to advance higher in level, you will have to buy a unique attribute / artifact.
The main advantages of NFT games:
- Monetization of your gaming experience through the purchase/sale of artifacts or characters.
- Development of the blockchain ecosystem.
Among the risks: investments are required and sales depend on assets inside the game.
What can be turned into an NFT token?
Any object can become a token if it is digitized. Even a picture painted with a simple pencil or oil can easily turn into a digital currency if it is digitized.
Photos, works of art (paintings, graphics), texts in the form of individual messages or entire books, site names, everything can be turned into tokens. Apart from that, memes (and often very old ones), videos, computer games, characters, and autographs of stars become NFT objects.
Music, songs, and sounds are transformed into tokens. The list is endless.
How do NFT games start?
Any game starts with preparation, which is divided into several stages:
- Game Model
Here, the P2E (play to earn) or F2P (free to play) models are normally chosen. In the case of P2E, you need to buy an NFT object to join. In the case of F2P, you don't need to buy anything to start, but you will need NFT objects to advance.
- Game design
It can be a game of any genre, from role-playing games to simulators, adventures or poker.
When a genre is selected, an analysis is carried out on successful blockchain games. Don't copy them, just use interesting game elements.
After that, you should determine the key points, characters, the number of levels, victory conditions, and ways of monetization. Then proceed to art. You can choose a metaverse of 3D models of any complexity and concept. But for beginners, it's better to start with simple projects in order to understand how NFT works, which concepts are better to invest in.
- Web or mobile application
Users can play the game through a web browser or a mobile app.
The web application is considered universal since it can be opened in any browser. The user can access the game via a computer or a smartphone.
In the case of a mobile application, access is limited to a smartphone. Developers make an app for a specific operating system that is open source and can use phone features like the camera and audio.
If a cross-platform is used in development, then access to the functions of the smartphone is restricted. Such applications can be created faster and easier.
- Platform for an NFT game development
The choice of technologies is quite large:
- The GitHub ecosystem allows you to understand the specifics of NFT games.
- Truffle is suitable for reliable smart contracts and testing.
- Moralis has a scalable server structure and the ability to make interfaces for external, basic, and user interfaces.
After selecting the main tools, you can proceed to the second stage of creating an NFT game.
- Initial stage
It starts with the development of the external interface and the choice of the framework. You can place the interface on the Netlify platform, which is great for individual developers and small teams. You can use the resource for free.
Then the developers choose a reliable crypto wallet and a smart contract.
- The final stage
The last stage involves working with the backend and setting up the correct URL for NFT.
- Testing
Special blockchains are used to test the game. At the test stage, the security level, the operation of the user interface, integration, functionality, and API are checked.
Today, many free resources can be used to create game universes in blockchain ecosystems. In addition, users have access to 3D NFT models for download, which simplifies the process of developing characters and token objects.
