Exploring the Latest Trends and Challenges in the Evolving Gaming Industry with Chris Adcock.
The gaming industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, thanks in no small part to advancements in technology. From the use of blockchain and NFTs to AI-generated assets and innovative quests, there is much to be excited about in the world of gaming. However, the industry still faces several challenges, including issues with predatory monetization, and the dominance of large studios. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the latest trends, initiatives, and best practices in the gaming industry, as well as provide tips for those interested in breaking into the field learned through the Games for Gamers Stream with Chris Adcock, founder of Max Level Studios now building Uldor Game.
Whether you’re a gamer, a developer, or just curious about the industry, we’ve got you covered.
Using Blockchain and NFTs for Gaming: A Unique Opportunity to Introduce New IP and Deliver Transparency and Control over Digital Assets
Web3 has brought tremendous opportunities to the gaming industry. With the advent of blockchain and NFTs, players can now have better control over the digital assets they own. From digital art to game assets, players can now buy, sell, and own these assets with greater transparency and control. NFTs have also opened up a unique opportunity for game developers to introduce new IP and create diverse communities.
Predatory Monetization and Free-to-Play
The gaming industry has always been plagued with the divergence of opinion between large game studios and gamers. While studios focus on making profits, gamers feel like they’re being preyed upon, leading to negative sentiments. The introduction of free-to-play games was a huge disruption for gaming, which led to microtransactions and predatory monetization that turned off many gamers. However, the low friction of being able to try a game without paying for it has been a great thing. But with Web 3 emerging, studios are tinkering with it, leading to skepticism about how it will coincide with their monetization strategies.
Disruption with Lowered Bar for Game Development
Engines such as Unreal Engine and Unity have lowered the bar for game development, allowing smaller studios to build high-quality games. While graphics and in-game assets help make a game look better, the game has to be fun and creative to connect with people. Simple games like Flappy Bird, for instance, have blown up in popularity and become parodied and copied numerous times. Now, it’s become easier for creative people to challenge big studio properties with new intellectual property. Hence, we’re seeing a lot of amazing games that don’t necessarily require a large budget or a team of 100 developers to bring to life.
The Future of Game Development
With the advancements in technology, game development has become more accessible and affordable for individuals and smaller studios. This democratization of game development means that any talented and creative individual can now bring their ideas to life without a huge upfront investment.
Smaller studios that focus on creativity rather than financial resources will have a better chance of success compared to larger studios that are invested in huge development and asset creation teams. Not only that but with the new advancements in AI, high-quality custom assets can now be created at a much lower cost, which will further break down barriers to entry for smaller game developers.- Chris Adcock
The gaming industry is evolving, and success is no longer just measured by the number of players, but by the sustainability of the game and its community. With Web 3, micro-communities will thrive where players become invested in the success of the game and its community. Smart studios will lean into this and focus on creating sustainable models for smaller games with a smaller population, but with new monetization strategies, game developers can still generate significant revenue. It’s an exciting time to be a gamer, and the future of game development is looking brighter than ever.
Designing for a Diverse Group of Players
When designing a modern game, it’s important to take into account the diverse group of gamers all around the world. Every game developer should try to make their games appeal to every demographic that they can. It’s also essential to be a welcoming place for everybody, to have a process of getting feedback, and to listen to that feedback. Building your community in a way that they feel like they can talk to you, the studio is crucial.
One way to make your game appeal to a diverse group of players is to have a diverse team. It’s important to target content creators that are very diverse and highlight and champion content creators that are female or of color. Having a team that is diverse with different nationalities can bring different perspectives and ideas that can make a game successful. It’s also important to make sure that the game is accessible to everyone, including those who may not have had access to it because of its price tag. By doing so, players are going to feel like they’re not being exploited, but rather they’re contributing to the value of the game.
Tips for Breaking into the Gaming Industry
If you’re considering a career in gaming, it’s important to be aware of several things before diving in headfirst. First and foremost, it’s crucial to find something you’re passionate about. Game development takes time, patience, and hard work, and it’s much easier to put in the extra hours when you enjoy what you’re doing. It can also be incredibly fulfilling to see a project you’re passionate about come to life. Likewise, building a team comprised of individuals who share your passion can help you create an exceptional final product.
Another important consideration is the current state of the industry. With the pandemic-induced explosion of online gaming, there are numerous opportunities available, but that also means it’s a highly competitive arena. If you’re in it for the money, be aware that the industry is tough, and you’ll need to work hard to make a profit. However, if you’re willing to put in the effort, the rewards can be great, and it’s easier for someone to make an impact in a burgeoning market than in an oversaturated one. Whether it’s designing new levels, creating compelling characters, or writing engaging dialogues, the options are endless, and the industry needs passionate people to continue driving its growth.
The Future of the Game Development Industry with AI Technology
The Impact of AI on Game Development
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a game-changer for the game development industry. It’s not just making development easier and faster, but it’s also leading to better, unique content. Imagine walking up to an NPC in a game and having a real conversation with them, one where the NPC has a unique backstory, interacts with the game world, and creates contextual real characters. AI has the potential to make this a reality. Furthermore, AI can help introduce lore, create unique content, and allow gamers to have more control over their gaming experience.
The Future of Gaming: More Control for Gamers
AI will give gamers more control and transparency over their assets. Gamers will experience an overwhelming number of competitors fighting for their attention. They will be able to provide feedback and see feedback taken directly from studios. There will be more creative control and more feedback with smaller teams that involve the gamer community. To match that demand, developers will have to cater to what the gamers want; thus, quality in gaming will increase. Within two years, five years, and ten years, the game development industry will likely see an increase in quality gaming, more unique content, more control for gamers, and a shift towards smaller teams.
Using AI for Innovative Quests in Gaming
One of the most exciting things about AI in gaming is the potential for innovative quests. Imagine encountering a dragon plaguing a town, and instead of the predetermined choices for completing the quest, you find a new way to solve the problem. The AI recognizes your creativity and rewards you for it. This kind of gaming experience will make it much more immersive and interesting for players, especially those who crave new challenges.
Indie studios and modern gaming will have a huge advantage in using AI to innovate as they are more willing to take risks with new technology than traditional big gaming studios. This gives smaller entrants an opportunity to try out things, take risks, and innovate in ways that large, entrenched companies just won’t do. Although it may take some time before AI implementations like speech or level design are widely used, we are already experimenting with concepts that change how gamers interact with NPCs. With AI, gaming has the potential to revolutionize the industry as we know it, with a greater focus on creative and immersive quests that reward player ingenuity.
AI-Generated Assets
Two-dimensional art can be easily used to create textures that wrap around 3D objects. It is also possible to train artificial intelligence to create skins of guns or swords. If you provide 20 sword designs, AI can come up with endless sword skins. However, it is still difficult to create a model of a unique item that meets quality standards. In a year or so, I think it’ll be possible to load up Unreal Engine and generate a city environment complete with cars and buildings as a starting point. Gamers are also going to be able to craft their own games, creating new and exciting possibilities both for the gaming community and for gaming as an industry.
Collaboration is Key
Competing for early adopters is unhelpful. There is enough room for everyone in the gaming industry, and gamers do not limit themselves to playing a single game. Collaboration across traditional and modern gaming lines will help build bridges between different communities, with indie studios benefiting greatly from forming partnerships. All in all, the future of gaming is looking bright, and we are excited to see where this disruptive industry will be in two, five, and ten years from now., Challenges in Investing in the Gaming Industry
The gaming industry is not exempt from the unique challenges that come with investing. The bull market that took place two years ago saw a lot of people with no game or business experience receive easy money, resulting in underwhelming investment results from communities and VCs. There seems to be an overcorrection happening now, with both communities and VCs only investing in big studios. This move disallows disruption and kills off the idea of other studios pushing the industry forward. It’s not realistic to expect modern gaming to come from traditional studios, as they would merely be adapting to survive instead of pushing the industry forward.
What is Uldor?
Uldor: A Disruptor in the Gaming Industry
Max Level Studios’ Uldor is a new game that is playable on Elixir, Hyperplay, and Seddona. The game is pushing the gaming industry forward, with its unique features and gameplay. The gaming industry needs passionate and talented people to move forward, and Uldor is a prime example of this. If you’re interested in Web3 gaming and would like to be part of the gaming industry’s future, then Uldor.com is the website you should visit. Putting in your email will earn you alpha codes, granting you access to the game. The collaboration that happens within the gaming industry is essential in driving it forward, and events such as Twitter spaces facilitate this. The space’s facilitators bring people together, promoting collaboration and innovation within the industry.
Uldor is a Souls-like MMORPG game that rewards players for overcoming real challenges in gaming. It is set in a vast open world and is developed using UE5. The game is designed with multiplayer social mechanics, similar to a traditional MMO. Uldor challenges players to overcome intense challenges, with the practice being the only way to succeed. There are no other games in this category, making Uldor a unique addition to the gaming industry.
What Are Best Practices in Response to Criticism?
Uldor’s developers are committed to listening to player feedback and responding to criticism. They employ a process that includes testing by content creators, who provide constructive feedback. When the game launched on Sedona, the game’s auto-target feature was subject to criticism. After evaluating the feedback, the developers quickly addressed the issue by balancing how the feature worked. The changes will be reflected in the next version released very soon. This is an example of how player feedback has led to improvements in the game, and it is a testament to the commitment of the developers to make Uldor the best it can be.
The Importance of Feedback from Content Creators in Game Development
Watching Content Creators
One thing that’s been extremely helpful in game development is watching content creators play on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Uldor’s developers jump on and watch them play to see how they use their product. Watching content creators play our game has been valuable. It’s a chance to see how intuitive things are, and spot bugs and problems they run into. Uldor’s developers get to do this for free while content creators play their game. These insights have helped them make improvements that we would have missed otherwise.
Managing Expectations
It’s important to manage the expectations of gamers, especially in web3. When players jump into a game expecting an amazing experience and it’s disappointing, they are quick to leave, making it difficult to get them back. So, it’s crucial to deliver what you promised. It’s helpful to have content creators give feedback about the game’s marketing and profitability. Knowing this information can help game developers make informed decisions about where to put their time and resources.
Conclusion
By watching content creators play the game, game developers gain valuable insights into bugs and intuitive features that need improvement. Also, balancing the business and profit side with the gamers’ expectations is vital. Managing their expectations builds trust and loyalty that can last beyond the current game. Feedback from content creators plays a significant role in ensuring that the game is successful, marketable, and enjoyable for players.
Learn more about Uldor. Interested in being on Games for Gamers sponsored by Blockstars. Contact ana.maria@blockstars.gg
Exploring the Latest Trends and Challenges in the Evolving Gaming Industry with Chris Adcock. was originally published in gam3on on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.