The internal testing event has become popular in North America, having previously raised $50 million: Can Parallel break out of its niche?

The rapid development of blockchain technology is driving the birth of a new gaming era, particularly in the integration of Web3 games and blockchain gaming ecosystems, attracting widespread attention both inside and outside the industry. In this context, a game that combines a sci-fi theme with NFT cards—Parallel—stands out. Its new game mode, colony, set to launch on the Solana chain, marks a significant advancement in the Web3 gaming ecosystem by introducing innovative gameplay that allows for autonomous trading and asset management on-chain through the use of artificial intelligence agents (AI agents).
Although colony's social media accounts have not yet been independently established, Parallel's official Twitter has already released a white paper regarding colony. According to the white paper, Colony will become a key layout for the Echelon Prime Foundation in the Web3 gaming ecosystem, aiming to promote the development of distributed Web3 games by building a community-driven shared resource network centered around the $PRIME token. Recently, the PRIME token has experienced a significant increase, and although it has seen some pullback recently, its market value still shows strong dynamics.

This article will delve into the game mechanics, market performance, and impact of Parallel on the Web3 gaming ecosystem, providing enthusiasts with a comprehensive perspective.

Introduction to the Parallel Project Team: An NFT Card Game Project that Received $50 Million Investment from Paradigm in 2021

Parallel, a sci-fi NFT trading card game (TCG) based on the ETH chain, brings together creativity and talent from top gaming industries. The team members include senior developers from AAA games such as Assassin's Creed and Valorant, as well as the involvement of YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley, injecting unprecedented innovation and vision into the game. This nine-member team not only has extensive game development experience but also attracted a $50 million investment from Paradigm in 2021, with a valuation of up to $500 million, showcasing Parallel's strong market appeal and development potential. However, there was a long period without significant actions until the public beta was launched in February this year. The accumulation and refinement during this silent period, along with the newly launched colony mode, herald a new chapter for Parallel in the blockchain gaming field.

Parallel's Game Mechanics Feature Multiple Innovations, Providing Players with an Immersive Gaming Experience

Parallel's game mechanics blend the worldview of science fiction novels with the depth of strategic card games. Players need to collect cards of different rarities to build a deck capable of winning battles. The game is set in a cosmic background where human elite genes evolve into five unique races during space migration, each with its own unique cards and abilities, adding diversity and strategic depth to the game. Through these settings, Parallel offers players a challenging and enjoyable gaming environment.

Battles in Parallel are based on 1V1 duels between players, with the goal of strategically using cards to reduce the opponent's health from 30 to 0. Players start with a deck of 40 cards and an initial hand of 5 cards, with the maximum hand size reaching 8 cards through the drawing mechanism during gameplay. Before the match begins, players have one opportunity to perform a "mulligan," allowing them to shuffle any number of cards back into their deck and draw the same number of cards to optimize their starting hand.
Parallel offers various game modes to meet the needs of different players:

1. Beginner Mode: Designed for new players, allowing them to start by completing a tutorial. Players choose one of three Paragons as their starting point, each representing a faction in Parallel with unique passive deck effects;
2. AI Mode and Casual Mode: These modes provide players with a risk-free environment to test different card combinations without affecting their rankings or win-loss records;
3. Ranked Mode: Aimed at players seeking competitive challenges. Players determine their starting rank through placement matches and can improve their rank by winning matches. Victories also earn in-game core currency $PRIME, with the amount varying based on player rank, win streaks, and the number of NFT cards used in matches.
   Each player's turn consists of two phases: the draw phase and the action phase. In the draw phase, players draw a card from their deck; the action phase is the key moment for players to execute strategies, including playing cards, attacking with units, and casting skills. Players must make choices under limited energy resources, carefully planning each action.

The cards in the game are divided into four basic types:

1. Unit Cards: Represent creatures or characters that can fight for the player, possessing attack and health attributes.
2. Effect Cards: Generate immediate effects but do not remain on the field after use.
3. Relic Cards: Provide ongoing effects or abilities on the battlefield, having a profound impact on the game's progress.
4. Upgrade Cards: Used to enhance unit cards, increasing their abilities or attributes.
   Through a meticulously designed card system and diverse game modes, Parallel offers players a rich and challenging gaming environment. Players must employ strategy, predict opponents' actions, and optimize their card combinations to achieve victory on this futuristic battlefield.

The Advantages of NFT Cards Establish Parallel's Web3 Attributes While Achieving On-Chain Financial Innovation

Parallel's NFT cards are not only essential elements within the game but also the core of its economic model. Each NFT card is designed based on character traits and possesses different rarities and practical functions. From governance rights of the Prime Key to copyright revenues from Masterpiece cards, Parallel innovatively merges gaming enjoyment with economic incentives through these NFTs. Additionally, its unique token economic design, such as the separation of governance rights and equity, as well as the tokenization of NFTs, demonstrates Parallel's profound insights into the future blockchain gaming ecosystem.
Since early 2021, Parallel's market performance has proven its unique value and broad appeal. From successful NFT presales to active trading on OpenSea, Parallel's NFT assets have achieved significant sales results in the secondary market. The circulation and rarity settings of its NFTs ensure the fun and value of card collecting while providing players with rich strategic choices.

Through its unique game design, rich NFT ecosystem, and innovative economic model, Parallel not only offers players a distinctive blockchain card game experience but also opens up new possibilities for the future development of blockchain games. As the game continues to develop and the community expands, Parallel is expected to become an important milestone in the blockchain gaming field.

Parallel's Internal Testing Activities Have Begun, with High Interest in the U.S. and Canadian Markets

Parallel opened applications for early access at the end of 2022, followed by phased closed Alpha testing. The official promise that participating players will have the chance to receive airdrops of PRIME tokens has increased community engagement. NFTs in the game are distributed through auctions or direct sales, and significant funding support has already been obtained through NFT sales.
The game features 1V1 and multiplayer team modes, requiring players to gather 40 cards to form an effective deck. The key to victory lies in strategically reducing the opponent's health to zero. However, since all game assets are stored on the Ethereum main chain, high GAS fees have become a significant challenge for players.
Parallel gradually opens testing opportunities to players through community activities, attracting widespread community attention. Although the game has not fully opened, the significant increase in website traffic reflects the market's high expectations for Parallel. The U.S. and Canada have become the main regions of access, demonstrating Parallel's strong appeal in the North American market.

Multiple Advantages Constitute Parallel's Moat, Making Its Future Worth Watching and Anticipating?

In the blockchain gaming field, Parallel, as a sci-fi-themed TCG card game, is attracting attention within the industry. However, the specific gameplay details of the game remain to be revealed, making it difficult to fully assess its playability at this time. Nevertheless, considering the relatively high participation threshold and narrow audience range of TCG card games, Parallel has the potential to enhance player engagement and extend the game's lifecycle. Additionally, its unique sci-fi background and racial characteristics provide possibilities for forming a strong IP.
Parallel not only excels in visual arts, but the exquisite production of its NFT cards combined with AR technology adds value to card collecting. The complexity of the game design suggests that Parallel may become a medium to large-scale game, with the challenge lying in balancing the different card gameplay within the game. Although team members maintain a low profile, the involvement of YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley is enough to prove the strength and potential behind the project.
As a promising blockchain TCG card game, Parallel has sparked widespread attention and discussion within the industry and player community through its unique sci-fi theme, complex game design, and innovative economic model. Although the detailed gameplay and complete economic model of the current game have not been fully disclosed, Parallel has already shown the potential to become a rising star in the blockchain gaming field. With further progress in game development and ongoing community activities, the future performance of Parallel is worth the market and players' expectations.