Cointelegraph was on hand at the second edition of Madeira Blockchain 2023, which took place from November 30 to December 1. The event explored regional Web3 developments, as well as how the Portuguese islands are seeking out startups and tech talent to grow their economies. In the digital age.
In a roundtable discussion at the conference, game studios researching blockchain capabilities discussed the challenges associated with integrating the technology into games, including gaining buy-in from developers, players and publishers.
Redcatpig is a Web3 game development studio, but the company has encountered obstacles integrating the technology into its pipeline. “One of the most difficult challenges I faced was communicating with our internal teams to help them understand that this (blockchain) technology could provide huge benefits to gamers and improve their games,” said Marco, CEO of the company. Bettencourt said.
Redcatpig’s developers have been collaborating on blockchain gaming solutions. The company’s first blockchain-based game, HoverShock, is scheduled for release in 2024 and will feature non-fungible token-based skins and drones that can be traded in an in-game marketplace and purchased with fiat or cryptocurrency.
Despite the studio’s extensive work on blockchain integration, it avoids buzzwords related to the technology. “We all know there are new technologies out there. We all know about NFTs and proprietary technology. And we don’t use buzzwords to sell our games. (…) Players don’t need to know whether it’s Web3 or blockchain. The only thing they need to know is that if they buy a skin, they own it and can sell it tomorrow if they want,” Bettencourt added.
Another company that has seen a backlash against incorporating blockchain into its development is VEU. The Los Angeles-based company specializes in AI-based solutions for navigating virtual worlds, but its community has not been supportive of the adoption of blockchain technology.
”The players don’t even have to know what we are doing. They just need to recognize the product. (…) You can use it without having to know any technology. (…) I believe this is the turning point the industry must face. As before, other types of technologies were not accepted until people stopped talking about them,” said Nuno Rivotti, Chief Product Officer at VEU.
Despite the backlash, game developers have not slowed down on blockchain integration. In Portugal, this technology has become one of the most important innovations integrated into the gaming product pipeline and government investment strategy through the eGames Lab. The eGames Lab is a consortium of 22 public and private organizations aimed at supporting the internationalization of the video games industry in Portugal.
“As part of our recovery and resilience plan, we have a specific agenda for blockchain that integrates an education component in addition to research and development, software production and marketing,” said Pedro Dominguinhos, Chairman of the National Recovery and Resilience Monitoring Committee. Portugal’s resilience plan told Cointelegraph.
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