Loopify on Treeverse: "You will not need to have a crypto wallet, own any NFTs, or even know what Web3 is"
CLOSE-UP :: 001
INTRO
Treeverse, a MMORG in development, is one of the most highly anticipated games that will have been born out of Web3.
The game is being built specifically for mobile, and the team intend for it to be accessible for anyone downloading it on the App and Google Play stores. Accessible meaning there won’t be any barriers of entry for non-technical players like we’ve witnessed with other Web3-native games or metaverse platforms (thread about that here).
So yes, the game will be utilising a blockchain layer, however it will be up to the player whether they wish to interact with it or not. If successful, Treeverse has the potential to shift the collective sentiment amongst traditional gamers that any integrated blockchain technology could only serve to ruin the player experience. Amongst other concerns, a prevailing belief is that tokens will only facilitate aggressive monetisation and lead gaming down a dark path.
Their Combat Trailer has received over 200k+ views and reached thousands of non-crypto users eyes. We’re not the only ones who are excited.
A couple of days ago, I spoke to Loopify aka Loop, Treeverse co-founder and CEO, about what to expect from a player perspective.
Without further ado, let’s dive in.
INTERVIEW
Disclaimer: we are not affiliated with Treeverse in any way and are not paid to publish this content.
I’ve experienced first-hand how advanced and multilayered mobile games can get, just look at Genshin Impact for instance. I noticed you have a super talented team over at Treeverse, with developers coming from some of the biggest mobile game titles including PUBG Mobile.
What made you decide to build Treeverse specifically for mobile?
L: “We believe the mobile market for good video games is lacking, and we know that it’s not impossible, as proven by games like Genshin Impact and Wild Rift. Treeverse plans to make noise in this ever-growing market so we designed it for mobile; the systems are designed to support all different types of players, whether casual or hardcore.”
Will Treeverse be made accessible for non-cryptonative players? For instance, will it be required to sign in with a crypto wallet?
L: “I've been publicly speaking about this for a while but the onboarding of traditional gamers will be seamless.
You will not need a crypto wallet, you will not need to own any NFTs, or even know what Web3 is. The way we’re approaching it is by giving players the option – for example, to turn your in-game items into NFTs.”
Do you have any other examples of instances in which the experience would be simplified?
L: “We will try to publish Treeverse on both the App and Google Play Stores.
If someone decides to play it, it will work exactly like a normal game. Even when earning items inside of the game and participating in the economy side that is unrelated to the ROOT cryptocurrency [read on to find out more].
In the scenario where a player may want to trade an item on the blockchain, we will allow them to turn it into an NFT and do it. Exact details on this will have to wait closer to Official Release.”
Back in February, you wrote an article on the future of blockchain games, concluding your piece describing Treeverse as a “fun game with a sustainable tokenomics model”.
Although Treeverse is still in its early days of development, could you reveal a bit about how the team is approaching economy design?
L: “Ever since that article talking about Play-And-Earn, Treeverse as a company and I have stopped using those buzzwords. They tend to attract speculators rather than gamers. Some could classify our game as one where there are "earn" mechanics but that isn't the core concept.
However, since we are going to integrate a crypto token, this is what I can reveal for now regarding economy design:
There will be 2 in-game currencies: Gold Saps and Prime Emeralds. As well as a cryptocurrency called ROOT.
The primary use case for ROOT is to purchase non-play-to-win features that advance existing features or give access to new ones. This means, again to optimise for the average user experience, you do not need ROOT to play Treeverse.
I can't speak more on the exact systems for distribution and sustainability of ROOT, but expect it to be released in the upcoming months for community feedback.”
Do you think blockchain gaming conjures up a new kind of player?
L: “I don't think blockchain gaming will conjure a new kind of player, it will be a mix of people who already game getting used to the inevitable future, which is ownership of items.”
How much of the game is on-chain?
L: “A very small portion, and we have been open about that. Treeverse is a centralised game that utilises aspects of the blockchain, such as NFTs.
Other than the technicalities behind why you can't put a full video game on-chain, you also face issues with bad UX/UI at this point in time. This is why centralisation is better in some cases, such as buffing or nerfing items to improve the average gamers' experience.”
To wrap things up, make sure to check out the Treeverse website, Twitter and their Monthly Updates as they document all of their progress and process. Oh the beauty of building out in the open!
Also here are the latest details regarding their playtests:
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