The Importance of Testing and Scaling in Crypto Gaming
Many crypto games are still searching for that one breakout hit, but without a systematic approach to testing, discarding, and repeating at scale, the industry may continue to mistake hype for progress.
Quinn Campbell, a former executive at Sky Mavis and Voodoo who now works with YGG Play, Yield Guild Games’ publishing arm, emphasizes the need for a numbers-driven strategy in the gaming industry. Campbell believes that success in the gaming business is not about finding a secret formula for a hit game, but rather about putting in the work and testing a large number of concepts.
YGG Play, with Campbell on board as a third-party publishing advisor, is focused on testing different types of crypto games to determine what can truly succeed on a large scale. Campbell highlights the importance of volume in testing various monetization models across different genres and gameplay mechanics.
Unlike early crypto publishers who believed every game they picked would be a hit, YGG Play is taking a more data-driven approach, aiming to observe success rather than predict it. Campbell stresses the need for repetition and rapid prototyping, something that has not yet been widely adopted in blockchain gaming.
‘Casual Degens’: A New Audience for Crypto Games
YGG Play’s strategy is influenced by Campbell’s approach, focusing on building a system to test, learn, and scale instead of banking on individual games. The team is targeting a specific audience they call “Casual Degens,” crypto-native players who enjoy short, rewarding game experiences that align with their lifestyle.
Gabby Dizon, co-founder of Yield Guild Games, notes that while not everyone in the crypto community identifies as a gamer, there is a significant audience open to casual gaming if the experience is fun and rewarding. YGG Play aims to cater to this audience with engaging game loops that fit their preferences.
According to Campbell, the monetization model employed by YGG offers a more sustainable path to economic success compared to traditional approaches. The focus now is on testing different game mechanics, themes, and formats that align with this model and can be scaled effectively.