Epic Games Introduces NFT-based Games on Epic Game Stores

[TL; DR]

Blankos Block Party is the first blockchain based game on Epic Games.

Players can win, buy, hold and sell NFTs at Blankos Block Party and Mythical Games.

Blankos Block Party is a free-to-play NFT based game.

It is simple to use Epic Games since you do not need coding skills for that.

Traditional financial organizations such as exchanges are increasingly incorporating digital assets to be in line with changing economic trends. In a similar manner, more and more traditional gaming platforms are developing blockchain games. For example, Epic Games, a traditional game developer, now allows blockchain based games on its platform.

Recently, Epic Games listed Blankos Block Party, an NFT-backed game on its Epic Game Stores. Tim Sweeney, the Epic Games CEO, has always shown support for blockchain based games over the years. He believes that NFTs have great utility in the gaming sector as they create value for the company and the users. However, he said that Epic Stores only lists well developed games which are in line with the related legal frameworks.

In addition, Epic Games ensures that it lists only quality games. To achieve that feat it uses a coordinated vetting process that involves many individuals and organizations. For instance, it engages different agencies like the Entertainment Software Ratings Board in the U.S to vet and rate the games. One reason to adopt this rigorous procedure is to protect children who use its platform.

What is Epic Game Stores?

The Epic Store is an online gaming platform that caters for people who play games on PC and Mac. Statistics show that over 194 million people use the platform. Already, many people know this platform due to its popular game called Fortnite. Epic Games is also the designer and producer of Unreal Engine software. In addition, it gives exclusive rights to game developers.

Source: Polygon

It is very easy to use Epic stores due to its simple interface. The user should create an account with a unique username. When other players want to interact with you, they use that username. Once you give your username to your colleagues and friends they can tag you and play the games with you. In order to play a game such as Blankos Block Party, you directly purchase it from Epic Game Stores or redeem game codes from third party developers.

How Blankos Block Party work?

Blankos Block Party is an NFT based game, which is free to play. Mythical Games and Third Kind Games are the developers of this fascinating game which has digital vinyl toys known as Blankos. These digital toys are in the form of NFTs and their holders can upgrade and sell them at any time. Also, the avatars and most of the accessories exist as NFTs enabling users to resell them on the game’s marketplace.

Source: Playtoearn

Players can use the Blankos in different games like Block Mode, Shooting games, Tag and Racing. Nevertheless, to do so they should level up and upgrade them.

The developer of the Blankos Block Party, Mythical Games, says that the value of the game to the community depends on the entertainment and fun it provides rather than its existence on the blockchain. This is the reason why it creates only quality games.

Blankos Block Party is an action packed game where the players compete with one another in mini-games. As a play-to-earn (P2E) game, the gamers earn valuable in-game assets that exist as NFTs. In return, the players can buy or sell their NFTs in the Mythical Marketplace and earn real-money in the process. Basically, the players can collect and customize the Blankos before selling them.

So far, the gaming platform is forging partnerships with well-known individuals and organizations to create more value for its users. For instance, it partnered with Atari, deadmau5 and Burberry to create special NFT editions.

Blankos Block Party is unique in that it is a metaverse, giving the players the room to create their own communities. Secondly, it is very simple to use because the players do not need specialized skills such as coding. Thus, individuals from different backgrounds can participate in the games and earn digital assets. For example, the players can draw their own maps and develop games for their communities.

Apart from the players, there are other parties that can earn based on their contributions. As an instance, brands, musicians, artists and other creators can become stakeholders in the gaming economy. As such, they can invest and earn digital assets which they convert into fiat money. In fact, the Blankos Block Party has over 100 unique NFTs which users can buy, hold and resell.

EOSIO blockchain

The Blankos Block Party and the Mythical marketplace exist on the EOSIO blockchain (now Antelope) which uses the Proof of Authority consensus model. Notably, this is an environmentally sustainable blockchain since it does not use much energy. This is because the transaction validation process does not depend on crypto mining.

It is worthy noting that Mythical Games has created a bridge to the Ethereum network to reach a larger cross-section of the community. Despite being a blockchain based gaming platform, Mythical Games and Blankos Block Party do not have their own cryptocurrency. As a result, the players use fiat cash to purchase the in-game assets they need.

One reason for avoiding using cryptocurrencies as a means of payment on the platform is to ensure that as many people as possible play the games. The users do not need to know about cryptocurrencies or having crypto wallets.

Source: Engadget

What are NFT Games?

Earlier on, we mentioned that Blankos Block Party is an NFT-based play-to-earn game. In simple terms, NFT games are video games where the players earn NFTs which they can sell or swap. The players can exchange the NFTs for cryptocurrencies or sell them for fiat money.

The benefits of playing NFT games

Players benefit in different ways when they play NFT games.

NFT games help to reduce stress. The people who play these games often feel relaxed as they release the tension that builds inside them from time to time. Thus, many people who experience stress choose to play games to reduce anxiety and depression.

Secondly, NFT games enhance mental growth and alertness. This is because players use critical thinking when they are playing them. Even more, any player directly or indirectly stimulates his/her brain through the process of discovering new things and overcoming the existing game challenges.

The games are a source of revenue to developers and players. For example, when users download the games on App Stores or Play Store, the developers get a fraction of the downloading fee. They also get a share of the transaction fees generated when players trade their digital assets (NFTs) on the marketplace.

Conclusion

Epic Games have listed Blankos Block Party, an NFT based game, on its game stores. As a result, the game reaches many people around the world, thereby generating funds for developers and players. Essentially, Blankos Block Party does not have its internal cryptocurrency but has in-game assets in the form of NFTs. People can buy, hold and sell the NFTs in the Mythical Marketplace.

Author: Mashell C., Gate.io Researcher

This article represents only the views of the researcher and does not constitute any investment suggestions.

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