‘Web3 Gaming Sucks’ says Avalanche, gamers dare to watch

“Web3 gaming sucks” is a common refrain from many gamers who thumb their noses at the growing space, but it's not what you'd expect the team behind the popular blockchain network to read at one of the industry's biggest events.

But that's exactly what Ava Labs did last week at the Game Developers Conference, where the phrase was emblazoned across the packaging. Avalanche Game booths and banners that can be seen from all over the exhibition hall and the attendees descend on the heights. Talk about a conversation starter.

While the tongue-in-cheek branding probably drew snickers from crypto haters who found it dead-on, the booth also appeared to draw a steady crowd of people who came to play the popular Avalanche games, hangout, and network. And it got amazing reviews Web3 Builders throughout All kinds Chains.

Interestingly, the concept was first formulated before this Last year GDC event in San Francisco, but Ava Labs didn't feel confident enough on campus.

“We didn't do it last year because, frankly, we didn't feel strong enough,” Ava Labs senior marketing manager Andrew “Cop” Cooper told Decrypt GG from the event floor. “We didn't feel we had enough support and good games, and so he had another year to grow.”

He added, “We feel good this year because we've come a long way in both game development and our community.”

Ava Labs used the booth to showcase up and coming games such as the first-person shooter. SlipWith an Overwatch-esque hero shooter Bloodloop And survival game Providence.

All three look like AAA-rated experiences, and we've already played them and were impressed. Shrapnel early access construction That's available on the Epic Games Store. Each game got its own day during the event, allowing players to check them out on gaming PCs in booths where members of each development team were present to discuss and promote the game.

Crypto gaming insights are mostly understood in 2015. In 2021 It's in the games that were in the game. NFT The market exploded, and the monster fighter game Axie Infinity He described the first. A find-game event. Early games were simple and often repetitive and more likeable. DeFi Apps dressed up as video games.

But quality games take a long time to develop. In the year The games announced and funded in 2021 and 2022 are starting to emerge as more integrated and compelling experiences. Shrapnel is one of them, on Avalanche, as card fighters Parallel on Ethereum and farm game Pixels At the Ethereum scale Ronin.

Cooper and team saw the GDC campaign as an opportunity to embrace the skepticism they face in traditional gaming and, in the process, try to showcase some ideas that are richer and more fleshed out than some expect.

“I think we're getting closer to games that other people want to play just because it's a great game,” Cooper said. “In terms of risk/reward, we definitely felt confident. [the campaign] It's because we put it on it for a year this year and it feels good.

He added: “There was a real risk of collapse.

While Ava Labs may not have convinced all skeptics at an event, the vibe of the Avalanche Gaming booth proved to be a hit with attendees. Amid tough times in the broader game industry, with significant layoffs at traditional studios, Cooper said many developers have appeared open to embracing new business and distribution models.

If anything, Ava Labs aims to have fun with the activation and keep the attendees entertained as well. According to Cooper, the groups of foundations and laboratories around blockchain networks are often focused on tech and engineering, but gamers want entertainment – ​​and they want quality games. Even at a dev-centric event, that hug seems to work.

“They're immersed in the technology, and I think we're missing something that we've done well here—which is, like, just have fun and have fun,” he said. “Marketing isn't all about your technology, right? It's about giving people something to enjoy.”

Edited by Ryan Ozawa.