Insights from Nicolas Nottin, LCM of Tribo Games #2

Nicolas Nottin is a seasoned veteran in the gaming industry with over 12 years of experience in community management. He currently serves as the Lead Community Manager at Tribo Games and possesses a deep understanding of the emerging world of Web3 gaming. Prior to his role at Tribo Games, he has worked with major players such as Square Enix, CA Games, and Innogames, developing exceptional skills in community management and leadership. Nicolas is also well-known for his fashion expertise and regularly imparts his knowledge through speaking engagements. In this article, we will be highlighting Nicolas’s insights on Twitter, where he examines the possibility of a luxury Web3 game. This thread follows a recent Twitter space hosted by @JinkirinGaming in collaboration with @renftlabs, where @SinjinDavidJung raised some interesting questions. Let’s dive into Nicolas’s expertise and learn from his valuable insights.

Exploring the Role of Luxury in Web3 Gaming: Is Niche or Mass-Market the Key to Success?

In the world of blockchain gaming, there is a growing debate about whether games should aim for a mass-market appeal or cater exclusively to whales and VIPs. While there are certainly benefits to both approaches, finding the right balance between the two can be a challenging task. In this article, we will explore the topic further and discuss some key considerations for blockchain game developers.

The idea of product success

The first consideration is the idea of product success. A successful product can either be something small that impacts a huge amount of people or something huge that impacts a very small pool of people. What matters is not just the scale of either aspect, but the connection between the two. Brand affiliation is critical, and the relationship between the brand and the consumer is a significant factor in determining the success of any product.

Goals VS strategies VS timeline VS resources

There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for developing a successful blockchain game. Each product requires a unique approach that takes into account its intended audience, timeline, and available resources. The key is to choose your fight carefully and develop a strategy that works best for your product.

Luxury Web3 game

A luxury Web3 game is not defined solely by its level of fun or how it was developed. Instead, it is defined by the combination of fun and the exclusive journey to it that made the players feel unique. This could include factors such as opportunity, timing, and limitation. To achieve this, developers must focus on developing a marketing approach that caters to VIP-type services, with a focus on quality rather than quantity.

Marketing style

Marketing a luxury Web3 game requires a different approach than marketing other types of games. The outreach, acquisition, and retention strategies should be very different from what is typically seen in the industry. Surgical marketing with a focus on quality rather than quantity is necessary to succeed.

Accessibility

While luxury games can be challenging to own, they should be easy to connect with, showcase, and be seen. The whole concept and success of the product are fueled by social dynamics around it. Therefore, it is essential to strike a balance between exclusivity and accessibility.

Brand affiliation

Like luxury products, a luxury game and its content can be challenging to own. However, they should not be gated when it comes to brand affiliation and word-of-mouth marketing. A successful luxury brand allows everyone to affiliate themselves with the brand and creates a community around the product.

Optional but very attractive

The secret to most successful luxury brands is to offer optional but desirable products. While a luxury game’s entire concept should not be gated by highly-priced luxury assets, it is important to provide basic entry-level assets alongside luxury assets to appeal to a broader audience.

Competition

Like luxury fashion brands, luxury Web3 games face stiff competition. Many successful luxury brands have been around for many years and started when there was little competition. Luxury Web3 games that want to succeed must understand that it will be much harder to achieve in 5–10 years than it is now.

Community VS Club

Building an open community around a luxury Web3 game may not make much sense, as strong communities are fueled by diversity and welcoming values. Instead, running and curating an official gated club makes more sense.

Mindset

Developing a luxury Web3 game requires a special mindset. It may make some people uncomfortable, but that’s okay. Making a luxury product is not for everyone, and creating one requires a unique approach that balances accessibility and exclusivity.

Realistic take

While luxury Web3 games may be the future of gaming, it is important to recognize that high-street gaming will remain the most common. Therefore, developers must strike a balance between accessibility and exclusivity to appeal.

Thanks for reading! If you liked this post check out this one,

Understanding the Friction Between Personas in Game Communities

This post is sponsored by Blockstars.

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Insights from Nicolas Nottin, LCM of Tribo Games #2 was originally published in gam3on on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.