In a lively Xtalk AMA on 26 June 2024, hosted by Kody, Chief Experience Officer at Layer One X, a powerhouse panel of gaming innovators tackled the future of blockchain gaming. Co-hosted by Inna and supported by community manager Sam, this session—sponsored by the Layer One X protocol—explored cutting-edge trends, ethical dilemmas, and the promise of true ownership. With a mix of familiar faces and fresh voices, here’s the scoop from this Web3 gaming deep dive.
Setting the Stage: Gaming’s Evolution
Kody kicked things off with a warm welcome, promising a fun, educational ride through gaming’s transformation in the next bull run. From cross-chain interoperability to slick UI/UX designs and play-to-earn ethics, the panel—featuring Wagy Games, Medieval Empires, Pixel Realm, Zush Apps, W3zel, Bastion Studios, Codify, and Dark Times—aimed to unpack it all. Listeners were urged to share the link and follow the panelists, who graciously gave up their Monday morning for the cause.
Ethics of Addictive Design
The first question dove into persuasive tech—those addictive UI/UX hooks from Web2 now creeping into Web3. Scott from Wagy Games framed it as a balancing act: their game, Wagy Defense, offers NFT evolution (think Clash Royale with ownership), but skill trumps spending. “You can grind for free or trade on Token Trove—it’s your call,” he said, arguing self-regulation works if fun drives play, not greed. Brudo from Codify echoed this, testing loops with community gamers to keep it fair, while Sam from Pixel Realm got personal: “Addiction’s on the player, not the game—refund policies protect users, not regulators.” W3zel pushed for decentralized governance to curb exploitation, and Marto from Zush Apps floated zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) to prove ethical data use without oversight.
Ownership: Burden or Benefit?
Next up: Does true ownership of in-game assets complicate things for casual gamers? Mark D from Dark Times suggested rental protocols like IQ to ease management, while Brudo saw natural trading ecosystems forming—grinders meet investors. Sam emphasized simplicity: “Tell players they own the house—no tech jargon needed.” Bastion’s Tia highlighted interoperability, urging Web2-Web3 bridges for seamless fun, not jobs. Kody showcased Layer One x’s Xtalk, a bridgeless translator moving assets, data, and logic across chains—think 100,000 TPS, no custody handover. Mark D painted a vivid picture: assets follow you from Parallel to Wagy, unlike Web2’s siloed grind.
Community Sparks: Is Ownership New?
OG Layer One X member Sley questioned ownership’s novelty, citing WoW’s coin-trading markets. Medieval Empires’ Luke warned that NFT ownership doesn’t guarantee value—games can still flop. “It’s official now, not dark-alley swaps, but check the fine print,” he cautioned. Brudo noted blockchain adds resilience: communities can revive dead projects. Marto asked which chain will lead gaming interoperability—BNB’s 1,000+ games or newcomers like Zeta? Kody cheekily flexed Layer One X’s Xtalk edge, while Luke urged focusing on quality and roadmaps over sheer numbers.
Wrap-Up and Alpha Drops
Running 15 minutes over, the panelists dropped parting gems: Medieval Empires’ beta launches tomorrow, Bastion’s 4K demo hits this month, Codify’s token lists soon, and Dark Times blends Diablo with Fortnite vibes for Q4. Marto teased Zush’s influencer-packed TG, and Mark D plugged a gambling-in-Web3 space tomorrow. Kody closed with gratitude, teasing Part 2 (June 3rd, 12 PM UTC) and tomorrow’s ZKP-focused Xtalk at 9 AM EST. “Share this—it’s a game-changer,” he urged.
This Xtalks AMA was a masterclass in balancing innovation, ethics, and ownership. Layer One X’s vision—uniting chains, games, and players—shone through, proving Web3 gaming’s future hinges on fun, trust, and seamless tech.
