Future of Gaming

In this episode of the “Future of Gaming Podcast” by FOGDAO, host Nico Vereecke is joined by Devin Becker, the gaming lead at NAMI, Tim Cotten, the co-founder and CEO at Scripted, and David Bennahum, co-founder and CEO at Ready Games. The discussion focuses on the intersection of AI, Web3 technologies, and their role in the future of the internet.Key Discussion Points:1. Dominance of "The Big Three" in AI: David raises concern over the concentration of AI power and data among Facebook, Google, and Microsoft/OpenAI, and explores the ethical implications of such centralization, particularly in terms of data ownership.2. Decentralizing AI with Web 3.0: The discussion investigates how Web 3.0 and blockchain technologies can potentially decentralize AI, disrupting the control of the "big three" and enabling a distributed ownership model.3. AI and Autonomous Agents: David explains the concept of autonomous agents in AI and how smart contracts and Web 3.0 could give these agents the legal autonomy to operate effectively. The importance of decentralization in AI models to prevent monopolies is emphasized.4. Potential Risks of Combining Autonomous Agents and Blockchain: Devin Becker identifies the irreversibility of blockchain transactions and the danger of bad actors exploiting this system as major concerns. He also highlights the risk of identity theft in decentralized systems.5. Reputation Management with Blockchain in AI: Tim Cotten speaks on the potential benefits of blockchain for reputation management and verification of participation and value in distributed AI training models. He warns that the full potential of blockchain and AI convergence can only be realized when the technology is more user-friendly.6. Decentralization of AI Models: The conversation delves into the technical feasibility of decentralizing AI models in a world where autonomous agents are part of our everyday lives. David suggests viewing AI as a common utility rather than proprietary technology of a handful of companies. 7. Subsidized AI and Fragmentation of Technology: The discussion touches upon the concept of subsidizing AI costs through in-kind donations, the importance of making technology accessible and fragmented, and the idea of an open-source entity that can be fragmented further to prevent centralization.8. Attribution and Accountability in AI Models: The group discusses the need for a system to attribute contributions to AI models, and a verifiable history of data evolution. The role of blockchain in these areas is explored, as well as the importance of AI accountability in a signed environment.9. Handling New AI Requirements: Concerns are raised about the involvement of third-party services and the need for a standard in signing AI models to manage reputational and security risks.10. Deep Fakes and Identity Protection: The conversation turns to the topic of deep fakes and the potential repercussions of their widespread use. The necessity of protecting identity to prevent deep fake creation and the potential for a centralized ID system are discussed.Enjoy!Join the FOGDAO DiscordWatch the episode on YouTubeFollow the Future of Gaming: Twitter | LinkedIn

Video discussed here.In this in-depth discussion on the Future of Gaming, your host Nico Vereecke hosts Magicave's co-founders and CEO, Harry Holmwood, and Creative Director, Ste Curran. They delve into the evolution of their gaming project, dNo, a digital hobby platform inspired by tabletop games like Warhammer and Dungeons & Dragons. The co-founders explain the transformation of their game, "Beneath the Six," from a simple two-dimensional prototype to a 3D roguelike experience ready for public testing. They also outline Magicave's innovative approach to NFTs, focusing on how blockchain technology lends physicality and a sense of reality to digital items. This ties into their unique business model, which deviates from traditional web3 games, offering a fresh perspective on in-game NFTs and monetization. The conversation explores the future of gaming, predicting the mainstream adoption of web3 games, akin to the shift from console to mobile gaming. They emphasize the importance of creating a quality game with a good core loop, which, like Minecraft, will attract and retain players. Moreover, the hosts describe Magicave as a digital toy company, where games serve as a layer around the toys, offering players agency. They tackle the ambitious challenges and vision of the gaming industry, focusing particularly on the use of AI voice technology to generate unique content for users. Their partnership with 11 Labs for AI voice tech and the ethical approach to its use, including fair treatment of voice actors, is also discussed. The hosts share Magicave's future plans for user engagement testing with an arena demo, gradual additions of features to the game, and their aim to create a decentralized hobby platform. Enjoy!Join the FOGDAO DiscordWatch the episode on YouTubeFollow the Future of Gaming: Twitter | LinkedIn

In this episode of the FOGcast, Nico Vereecke hosts an engaging dialogue with David Bennahum, cofounder and CEO of Ready Games, Devin Becker and Sebastian Park.David introduces listeners to Ready Games, a pioneer in Web3 gaming tools and protocols. Originally launched in 2017 with the objective of democratizing access to game creation, Ready Games has since evolved to build solutions that help primarily Web2 publishers transition into Web3. David illustrates these advancements with a demonstration of how their solution facilitates real-time movement and legal transfer of NFTs within a gaming context.Further into the episode, David elaborates on Ready Games' hybrid Web2/Web3 infrastructure and how it impacts player identity and game economy. He highlights the cost-effective nature of their marketing model and gives an overview of the developer-friendly tools provided by Ready Games, which have already attracted about 16 major publishers representing 1,400 games and 80 million monthly Web2 players. David then delves into Ready Games' distinct features: complete game infrastructure, alignment with business logic, and non-competitive customer relationships. He shares key KPIs reflecting their successful Web2 to Web3 transition and projects their market strategy in the coming months.Sebastian Park, who is the co-founder of Infinite Canvas, steers the conversation towards the projection of the game development market. He and David explore the potential of Web3, multiplayer gaming elements, the importance of player identity, and strategies to tackle the 'chicken-and-egg' problem of player bases in synchronous multiplayer games. David also shares insights on how game publishers can leverage Web3 to improve customer acquisition.Nico wraps up the discussion with a question about the onboarding friction for Web3 games. David presents a video of a player creating a crypto wallet within a game, illustrating the low friction involved in the process. David then invites developers to experiment with the Web3 platform through the Unity SDK available at ready.gg.This episode provides a comprehensive insight into the future of gaming, the potential of Web3, and the role Ready Games is playing in this evolving landscape. Enjoy!Join the FOGDAO DiscordWatch the episode on YouTubeFollow the Future of Gaming: Twitter | LinkedIn

In this episode of the FOGcast, hosts Nico Vereecke and Devin Becker are joined by special guest John Burris, president of MetaJuice. Coming back from a vacation in Japan, Nico discusses with Devin and John the future trends of gaming.- John Burris, a seasoned entrepreneur with a vast experience spanning Netscape, a US telco with a significant games business, and sports media technology, introduces his latest endeavor, MetaJuice. He shares how MetaJuice is driving the transition of IMVU, one of the largest social metaverses, from a Web2 to a Web3 space using crypto assets, NFTs, and tokens.  - John discusses the unique user demographic of IMVU, which is predominantly anonymous and female, and how the platform thrives on commerce revolving around virtual goods. He also shares the future vision of expanding the service economy within InView.- John explains how the advent of Web3 and NFTs provide virtual goods and services with the opportunity to transcend platforms, thus driving MetaJuice's strategy for IMVU. Their partnerships with entities like Ready Player Me further emphasize this vision.- The episode delves into the longevity of InView, its creator/community-led economy, and the introduction of NFTs as key components of their platform.- Burris shares the stepwise evolution of their crypto economy, starting with the introduction of a stablecoin called Vcoin, followed by NFTs, and further expansions planned in the future.- A crucial element discussed is the role of Vcore, allowing users to have a voice in the metaverse's future. - The episode also delves into the technology and partnerships behind MetaJuice, focusing on their ability to facilitate high transaction per second (TPS) capabilities.- The hosts discuss the legal and regulatory implications of integrating Web3 into businesses, with John explaining their approach to staying compliant and sharing their journey to get a "no action letter" from the SEC.- The conversation closes on the challenges and opportunities of introducing web three assets, the need for commitment in the transition, and the future possibilities this shift holds for businesses.- Finally, John reveals his username on their platform and encourages listeners to learn more about MetaJuice's strategies.This episode of the FOGcast is a deep dive into the world of metaverses, the shift from Web2 to Web3, and the exciting changes this brings for the future of gaming. The podcast concludes with a call to action, inviting listeners to join their Discord for similar engaging conversations. Enjoy!Join the FOGDAO DiscordWatch the episode on YouTubeFollow the Future of Gaming: Twitter | LinkedIn

In this episode, lonely solo host Devin Becker welcomes guest Chandler Thomlison from Worldspark Studios to discuss the studio’s approach to designing a web3 game that combines MOBA and Soccer gameplay.The conversation begins with an introduction to Sparkadia as an IP and its first game, Sparkball. We go through various design decisions through the lens of other games out there that share similarities or differences, both as inspiration and caution. Chandler talks about some of the challenges the game has faced in its 6 years of development. He also touches on the many reasons he thinks the game is extremely fun after many iterations and the positive reactions the team has gotten. The discussion also drifted into designing games for esports and the success the team has had in attracting support for esports organizations. We touch on why the game chose to incorporate some web3 elements for monetary reasons and implications that could have on other Sparkadia universe games. Chandler also provides some information on what the state of the game is and how listeners could get a chance to play soon. Join the FOGDAO DiscordWatch the episode on YouTubeFollow the Future of Gaming: Twitter | LinkedIn

Join hosts Nico Vereecke and Philip Collins in this episode of FOGcast as they delve into the evolving landscape of gaming with special guest Susan Cummings, CEO of Petaverse and Tiny Rebel Games. Fresh from the Future of Gaming Berlin event, Vereecke hints at more to come.Cummings, a veteran of the gaming industry with 25 years of experience, shares her journey from setting up 2K Games and 2K Sports at Take Two, to developing a popular Doctor Who mobile game and launching Petaverse. The platform aims to redefine digital pet experience, offering untethered, social, and immersive interactions across various platforms.The Petaverse uses a hybrid Web2/Web3 approach to introduce users to the benefits of Web3 subtly and effectively. Discussing the universal appeal of pets, Cummings views digital pets as potential catalysts for the adoption of various technologies. The platform provides diverse experiences, allowing users to engage with their unique pets in various environments, from the Meme-o-Tron app to a VR setting and even on live video streams.The creators champion a new approach to interoperability, ensuring game developers maintain control over their art style while facilitating asset movement across different games. The key to this interoperability includes using common game development engines, off-chain metadata storage, and the ability to reinterpret art styles.In a bid to create a more inclusive gaming experience, Petaverse provides open access to their tech stack, encourages collaboration with Web 2 game teams and indie creators, and incentivizes developers to integrate Petaverse assets into their games. The platform's ultimate aim is to foster an emotional bond between users and their digital pets, promoting the creation of digital heirlooms.The podcast concludes with a vision for the future, where Petaverse hopes to be seen as the fourth generation of digital pets and a pioneer in the interoperability of digital assets across different platforms, including major ones like Roblox and Fortnite. Join the discourse and explore the exciting potential of gaming in the Petaverse. Enjoy!Join the FOGDAO DiscordWatch the episode on YouTubeFollow the Future of Gaming: Twitter | LinkedIn

Join Nico Vereecke & Phil Collins in an insightful podcast featuring Philip La, Director of Products at Roboto Games. With an impressive background spanning roles at Pokemon Go, Facebook, and Axie Infinity, La provides expert analysis on the intersection of blockchain and gaming. In his recent article, he presents a unique grading system that evaluates the incremental value that Web3 brings to games. The podcast covers essential topics such as marketplaces, trading, user acquisition, community building, and provable scarcity, offering valuable insights for game developers and enthusiasts alike.La shares his belief that the importance of marketplaces and trading in the gaming landscape is overstated, and Web3's impact in this area is relatively weak. However, he acknowledges the potential value of other financial primitives, such as lending and fractionalization, for developers. The podcast delves into the advantages and disadvantages of Web3 tools for financializing assets and user acquisition, the culture of speculation in the Web3 gaming community, and the potential negative impact on game value.As the conversation progresses, the hosts discuss the challenges of user acquisition in the Web3 space, the potential benefits and drawbacks of crowdfunding, and the use of NFTs in gaming. They also touch on the idea of interoperability and the challenges of using assets from one game in another. Despite uncertainties and risks, the hosts express optimism for the potential of Web3 gaming.The concept of interoperability takes center stage, with discussions on how it can benefit players by allowing them to use their assets across different games. The podcast also addresses the challenges of implementing interoperability, such as incentive misalignment and ownership permanence of digital assets. The speakers believe that while the technology for interoperability exists, its full adoption may be delayed due to these challenges.Exploring the concept of permanence in assets, the podcast discusses the potential for real money gameplay, where assets in a game can have real money value and be traded on exchanges or marketplaces. However, they also acknowledge the risks and issues associated with this, such as players focusing more on the monetary aspect and less on game progression. The consequences of giving players the ability to exit the game by selling their assets and the impact on game developers are also examined.The potential for Web3 technology to enhance user-generated content (UGC) in games is another focal point of the podcast. The hosts explore the challenges of integrating Web3 technology into traditional games and the need for creativity in new games that fully utilize Web3 technology. They highlight UGC as a key area for potential impact, as blockchain can streamline reward systems for creators and curators. Furthermore, they discuss the potential for blockchain to function as a decentralized computer, allowing for more complex logic and programming in games.Don't miss this enlightening podcast featuring Philip La with your usual hosts. They discuss the current impact of blockchain technology on gaming and predict its future potential, offering invaluable insights for game developers and enthusiasts. Join the conversation and stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the world of Web3 gaming. Enjoy!Join the FOGDAO DiscordWatch the episode on YouTubeFollow the Future of Gaming: Twitter | LinkedIn

AutoRPG Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf15rATuYbY&t=54s&ab_channel=ScryptedIn this episode of the FOGcast, your hosts Nico, Philip and Devin are joined by special guests Maria Gillies, the new Product Director at Pixion Games, and Tim Cotten, CEO and co-founder of Scrypted, to engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the future of AI in gaming.Maria shares her experience of joining Pixion Games and provides updates on the development of Fableborn, an inventive async competitive game that fuses action RPG with base building elements. Tim Cotten delves into the recent advancements in AI and its applications in the gaming industry, focusing on the development of a groundbreaking tool called AutoRPG.AutoRPG showcases the potential of AI-assisted game development by employing a combination of autonomous task agents, GPT systems, and game development tools to create game levels. The tool also integrates a harness to manage the complexities of game design and can generate distinctive game scenarios depending on the assigned AI personality.The conversation also covers the significance of striking the right balance between determinism and randomness in AI-generated solutions and addresses concerns surrounding job loss and the adaptation to new technology. The role of AI in eliminating junior positions across various fields is discussed, with the participants emphasizing the importance of maintaining a mix of senior and junior talent and the potential for AI to apprentice individuals by teaching them tasks it cannot perform.Additionally, the panel explores the attention economy and the potential for AI to personalize game experiences for different player types and purchasing behaviors. They discuss the prospect of using AI to adapt game worlds and level design according to player preferences, thereby making games more personalized and engaging. The potential integration of AI in AR and VR gaming and its capacity to revolutionize these domains by creating personalized experiences is also examined. Enjoy!Join the FOGDAO DiscordWatch the episode on YouTubeFollow the Future of Gaming: Twitter | LinkedIn

In this episode, hosts Nico Vereecke and Philip Collins welcome guest Joakim Achrén from Elite Game Developers to discuss the recent Apple vs. Epic case update, the Microsoft-Activision acquisition block, and insights into early-stage game studio investing.The conversation begins with an analysis of the Apple-Epic case update, in which the US appeals court rules in favor of Apple on 9 out of 10 counts. The panel discusses how the anti-steering ruling will allow developers to link to external payment methods within apps, potentially increasing their revenue share. Joakim also shares his belief that pressure for more open app stores and mobile ecosystems will continue, particularly from Europe.The discussion then shifts to the Microsoft-Activision deal update, as Britain's regulatory body blocks the acquisition, focusing on Microsoft's dominance in cloud gaming. The rationale behind the block is questioned, with the panel arguing that Microsoft is a suitable candidate to drive cloud gaming adoption.Joakim dives into his background in the gaming industry, his experience as an angel investor, and his work with Elite Game Developers. He shares how he learned from mistakes in game development, emphasizing the importance of understanding the audience and their motivations before starting game development. Joakim's investments are mostly mobile-focused but also founder-focused.The panel talks about venture capital and when a company is ready for such funding. They explore market size, potential for scalability, and the founder's willingness to grow the company. Joakim aims to help founders understand VC funding and scaling, and as an angel investor, he prefers to see companies attempt 100x growth rather than just 10x.Joakim's investment approach mainly focuses on founder-driven mobile and PC gaming startups. He believes in pushing founders to think big and find co-founders with complementary skills, concentrating on founder-market fit and market potential with outsized return potential. He also shares advice for first-time founders to start early and learn through experience.The conversation covers Joakim's interest in startups that think outside the box in terms of marketing and distribution, as well as his views on AI's potential in enhancing efficiency. The panel also observes decreased burn rates and smaller seed round raises in the current market.Joakim shares his preference for a 24-month runway for pre-seed investments and his focus on B2C companies, including game studios and platforms. The episode wraps up with spicy predictions for the gaming industry from Nico, Philip, and Joakim, touching on topics such as Web 3 games and Microsoft's mobile gaming market share.Join the FOGDAO DiscordWatch the episode on YouTubeFollow the Future of Gaming: Twitter | LinkedIn

In this in-depth podcast episode, host Nico Vereecke is joined by gaming industry expert Eric Kress from Gossamer Consulting Group and Web3 analytics professional Devin Becker. Together, they explore a wide range of topics that are shaping the future of the gaming industry.The discussion begins with an analysis of the current state of Esports and the integration of blockchain technology, where both guests express concerns about the viability of existing business models and performance. They touch upon the success of Rainbow Six Siege, a game with significant marketing spend on eSports, and the financial struggles faced by major eSports organizations like FaZe.The conversation then shifts to the bullish outlook on console and PC gaming, with the expectation of continued growth as hardware availability increases. The guests also touch on the potential release of the Nintendo Switch 2 and their skepticism regarding the concept of a universal metaverse.Next, they delve into the challenges faced by mobile gaming due to Apple's privacy policies and the increasing dominance of tech giants like Apple and Google. They predict that mobile gaming will struggle in the coming years, with companies like Platyka, Scopely, and Fun Plus needing to adapt and build capabilities for other platforms.The guests also explore the potential for bringing free-to-play mechanics and monetization strategies from mobile to console games while maintaining a balanced gameplay experience. They discuss the idea of creating separate modes and matchmaking systems for players who wish to pay-to-win and those who do not.Nico, a prominent evangelist for Web3 in gaming, shares his belief that by 2030, 90% of games will incorporate Web3 technologies, primarily for payment purposes. The guests examine the role of NFTs and fungible tokens in reducing churn and enabling new game mechanics, acknowledging the challenges of user onboarding and friction.The episode concludes with a discussion about various upcoming games, as well as the importance of transaction velocity in mobile gaming and the potential misalignment of incentives when platform owners like Microsoft acquire premier games such as Call of Duty.Join the FOGDAO DiscordWatch the episode on YouTubeFollow the Future of Gaming: Twitter | LinkedIn