Gods Unchained app crypto drops, Kings of Fighters Arena review

The Gods Unchained app sees 12,000 downloads in its first week.

Adhering to Apple and Google's App Store policies and not accepting crypto was a total nightmare, says Gods Unchained Editor-in-Chief Daniel Pease.

But the app was successfully downloaded on March 2 and was downloaded 12,000 times in its first week, with an average rating of 4.5/5 in iOS and Android reviews.

Pease told Web3 Gamer that the team didn't cut any corners when launching the highly anticipated mobile version, carefully adhering to all Apple and Google rules for their app stores.

This includes making the mobile game slightly different from the full PC version.

A major setback was the inability of mobile gamers to pay for in-game purchases using crypto like Bitcoin, Ether or the buzzy memecoin BOME.

This is especially concerning for the competitive, packed mode, he said. This is a format intended to reward highly skilled players, even if they don't have a large or expensive deck of cards.

Have we been working with Apple and Google to determine how we can guarantee security if we make in-app purchases for locked mods instead of tokens? “How do we make sure we're online and complying with their policies,” he explains.

Fiat payments also expose you to the possibility of chargebacks on in-game purchases and credit card fraud, which is not a risk with the crypto version on PC.

It's a pain, but it's worth it, as the Apple App Store alone attracts more than 650 million visitors worldwide every week.

The resulting unintended mobile version of Chain of Gods is essentially a side-by-side app. It has all the features of a game – you can build a deck, play ranked or casual matches and challenge your mates. Then, when you're back behind the PC, you can “engage more with Web3 elements.

Big money is pouring into the web 3 gaming industry this year.

If you are a game dev or considering a career in the web3 game industry, now is the time to do so. More than half a billion dollars in new money is available to fund new projects.

The Arbitrum Foundation will spend about $400 million on the blockchain game over the next two years. Its “Game Catalyst Program” allocated 200 million ARB tokens to entice game developers to build games in the ecosystem.

Some hot hits are already playable on the network, such as RPG games Pirate Nation and Tales of Elleria, as well as AI Arena, which combines gameplay, crypto and AI (the magic three), allowing players to train an AI warrior.

The Starknet Foundation, the company behind Ethereum's layer-2 staking solution Starknet, has released 50 million STRK tokens worth $120 million to game developers to build games on the network.

Blockchain investment firms Follies Ventures and SevenX Ventures are backing gaming platform MetaCene as part of a $10 million funding round, bringing together MMORPG players, content creators and Web3 enthusiasts.

The highly anticipated MMO MetalCore has caught the eye of investors as it prepares to launch an open beta release later this year.

Game developer Studio369 has raised $5 million for MetalCore from various investors including Delphi Digital, BitCraft Ventures and Sanctor Capital to further develop the game's features.

Gaming powerhouse Animoka Brands is partnering with UAE-based gaming infrastructure company Param Labs to provide some strategic investment. They are looking to strengthen the Param Lab ecosystem, which includes big names like GameStop and Pudgy Penguins.

Web3 Game Stack Blocks also saw some of the funding pie. Maple VC and Alto Ventures were among the main investors in Blox's latest funding round, throwing $4 million in pre-seed funding into the company. The cash injection will fuel product development and help grow the team (hint: more job openings).

Hot Take: Kings of the Warriors Arena

If you are into popular fighting games like Street Fighter or Battle Arena, it might be worth downloading The Kings of Fighters ARENA for your mobile this week.

It's a blast from the past that takes you back to the era of gaming on simple game consoles, only with better graphics.

Developed by Netmarble, it's a play-to-find game that taps into the feel of the old-school King of Fighters series from the early nineties.

The game is very old and was originally launched on the coin-operated Neo Geo MVS arcade system.

While it's a real throwback to 90s kids, even if you're an early 2000s kid like me, it still gives you a great nod to the old days of gaming on the PlayStation 2.

In The Kings of Fighters Arena, the graphics are incredibly sharp and detailed, putting those early PlayStation-era Tekken graphics to shame.

One of the best things about playing this game is how the screen shakes with every punch and attack and really immerses you in the action. (It's called haptic feedback and was first introduced to arcade games by Sega's Motocross in 1976!)

Gameplay is more engaging with these vibrations – I don't know how to go back to a fighting game that doesn't squeal my fingers while I'm playing.

And the moves are amazing, with fiery explosions happening in real-time and falling on your opponent with every damage you take.

Does the finish move? They are very smart, especially the Ultimate Skill. It takes all 5 PG (power parameters) but the effect is huge and almost always closes the win.

You have to be smart about saving those PG for the right time.

So you can either use your PG to get them or save them for a killer finish. Also, the controls are very smooth.

Matchmaking online is very easy, and it's one of those games that pairs you with players of a similar skill level. You have the choice to participate in a 1v1 showdown or dive into 3v3 team battles.

Even better, the playing field is level, there is no chance for crypto bros to throw more money into the game to gain an unfair advantage over other players.

Everyone has equal access to the same fighters and can earn Fighters Club Tokens (FCT) as they progress through the game. In addition, there is an opportunity to participate in the game and receive additional rewards.

Other news

– Wemade in collaboration with MADNGINE has announced the global release of the highly anticipated MMORPG Night Crows. Now available on mobile and PC in 170 countries in nine different languages.

— Animoka Brands partners with KYC provider Blockpass to strengthen the way the game provider verifies its users.

– Sky Mavis, the team behind Axie Infinity, has stated that it will not work with ACT Games and Bowled.io, as the company will fully emerge in the Ronin network.

— Aptos Labs partnered with Google Cloud to introduce Aptos GameStack, an all-in-one solution platform for developers to integrate Web3 features into games.

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Ciaran Lyon

Ciaran Lyons is an Australian crypto journalist. He is also a freelance comedian and has been a radio and TV presenter on Triple J, SBS and The Project.