My journey in understanding the #GameFi sector took me to finding out what makes games successful. I looked at a web 2 game that succeeded and is still running for more than 15 yrs. A🧵⬇️
10 takeaways from a game 🎮 that has >110 million lifetime players
10 takeaways from a game 🎮 that has >110 million lifetime players
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There is hardly a game that comes close to the success of this one. Having >110mil lifetime players, which is 1/3 the population of USA or the entire population of Philippines. The game is non other than World of Warcraft (WoW).
There is hardly a game that comes close to the success of this one. Having >110mil lifetime players, which is 1/3 the population of USA or the entire population of Philippines. The game is non other than World of Warcraft (WoW).
2/
Personally played WoW for >10 years, even played the game for 48 hrs without sleep just to hit max level after a game expansion, and at one point was playing >10 hours everyday.
This was for me, my first taste of the Metaverse, where i spent half of my day in virtual world
Personally played WoW for >10 years, even played the game for 48 hrs without sleep just to hit max level after a game expansion, and at one point was playing >10 hours everyday.
This was for me, my first taste of the Metaverse, where i spent half of my day in virtual world
3/
In this thread, i explore 10 takeaways from the success of World of Warcraft and i hope this will be an interesting read for everyone. Here goes ⬇️
In this thread, i explore 10 takeaways from the success of World of Warcraft and i hope this will be an interesting read for everyone. Here goes ⬇️
4/
1) WoW was designed like a real world (but w/ magical creatures)
You could travel from one continent to another by taking a boat / airship (zep)
You could use land or air mounts to travel faster.
You could meet other players, chat and collab with them in the virtual world.
1) WoW was designed like a real world (but w/ magical creatures)
You could travel from one continent to another by taking a boat / airship (zep)
You could use land or air mounts to travel faster.
You could meet other players, chat and collab with them in the virtual world.
5/
2) It offers players endless personalisation
You could choose different races, classes, professionals and customise your own character’s looks as well as wear different gear (some of which are a “flex”)
2) It offers players endless personalisation
You could choose different races, classes, professionals and customise your own character’s looks as well as wear different gear (some of which are a “flex”)
6/
3) The developers relied on data to improve the design of the game
Devs knew how many hardcore players & casuals there were. They could tweak new game content to suit the demand of players, which meant devs could build what players want - which helps improve player retention.
3) The developers relied on data to improve the design of the game
Devs knew how many hardcore players & casuals there were. They could tweak new game content to suit the demand of players, which meant devs could build what players want - which helps improve player retention.
7/
4) WoW retains players through game expansions
Everyone gets bored when you reached the highest levels and basically finished the game, the devs had expansions every 2-3 years, to release new worlds, new content and even game play for players to go through.
4) WoW retains players through game expansions
Everyone gets bored when you reached the highest levels and basically finished the game, the devs had expansions every 2-3 years, to release new worlds, new content and even game play for players to go through.
8/
5) The game works on a low performance PC
This was important at that time (~15 yrs ago) since most players did not have high performance gaming PCs, wow could work on most PCs/Laptops, which lowered the entry level to play the game.
5) The game works on a low performance PC
This was important at that time (~15 yrs ago) since most players did not have high performance gaming PCs, wow could work on most PCs/Laptops, which lowered the entry level to play the game.
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6) Being a subscription based game, it was designed to be addictive
There was constant carrots being dangled to players, whether it was new abilities, new gear, mounts, new content
6) Being a subscription based game, it was designed to be addictive
There was constant carrots being dangled to players, whether it was new abilities, new gear, mounts, new content
10/
7) There are strong player communities on majority of the game servers
WoW was designed to allow players who didnt know each other to collab and play the game. LFG was very popular as people find group mates to finish quests, dungeons and raids.
7) There are strong player communities on majority of the game servers
WoW was designed to allow players who didnt know each other to collab and play the game. LFG was very popular as people find group mates to finish quests, dungeons and raids.
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8) There are many ways to play the game
- pvp
- pve
- role playing
- play for storeyline / lore (just doing quests)
This caters to the masses, which helped onboard the millions of players
8) There are many ways to play the game
- pvp
- pve
- role playing
- play for storeyline / lore (just doing quests)
This caters to the masses, which helped onboard the millions of players
12/
9) People who may not be successful in the real world, could feel successful in world of warcraft
Players from various countries across continent working together to kill a boss (raids/dungeon/world event)
9) People who may not be successful in the real world, could feel successful in world of warcraft
Players from various countries across continent working together to kill a boss (raids/dungeon/world event)
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10) the game was accessible
- The devs pivoted and made the game more casual friendly after a few expansions
- Eventually also moved to f2p up to certain levels, and if players wanted to continue they had to subscribe. Basically like a freemium model
10) the game was accessible
- The devs pivoted and made the game more casual friendly after a few expansions
- Eventually also moved to f2p up to certain levels, and if players wanted to continue they had to subscribe. Basically like a freemium model
14/
Concluding thoughts
There are lessons we can takeaway from successful web 2 games to help build better web 3 games.
Below are the 3 key lessons that i believe may be most important⬇️
Concluding thoughts
There are lessons we can takeaway from successful web 2 games to help build better web 3 games.
Below are the 3 key lessons that i believe may be most important⬇️
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Game accessibility:
The game was accessible to casual players and f2p element helped to increase player base and expand the game’s reach to the masses
Game accessibility:
The game was accessible to casual players and f2p element helped to increase player base and expand the game’s reach to the masses
16/
Designing the game like a real world:
Some WoW players played as much as 8 hours everyday for the past 15 years. Thats exactly the definition of living in a metaverse.
Even I personally played the game for 10 hours a day for a period of 6 months.
youtu.be
Designing the game like a real world:
Some WoW players played as much as 8 hours everyday for the past 15 years. Thats exactly the definition of living in a metaverse.
Even I personally played the game for 10 hours a day for a period of 6 months.
youtu.be
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Personalisation and expansions:
These continued to make a game fun, encourages player retention and mimics real life progression.
Personalisation and expansions:
These continued to make a game fun, encourages player retention and mimics real life progression.
End/
If you made it to the end, thank you for taking the time to read this thread, i hope you enjoyed it and found it useful.
If you have views on building successful web3 games, i would love to hear them and chat. Dms are open as always.
If you made it to the end, thank you for taking the time to read this thread, i hope you enjoyed it and found it useful.
If you have views on building successful web3 games, i would love to hear them and chat. Dms are open as always.
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