Dialogue Mines of Dalarnia: Web3 Game Innovation, Community-Driven and Co-Built with Public Chains
Mines of Dalarnia (MoD) has engaged in discussions with Footprint Analytics to explore how MoD integrates blockchain technology into the gaming experience and its commitment to community-driven development.Author: stella@footprint.network
Guest: Manfred Pack, Game Development Director of Mines of Dalarnia
Interviewer: Alex Cooper, Head of North America Community and BD at Footprint Analytics
In the field of blockchain gaming, decentralization and player economies are disrupting traditional gaming experiences, and Mines of Dalarnia (MoD) stands out with its unique innovative model. Against this backdrop, Footprint Analytics is honored to invite MoD Game Development Director Manfred Pack to discuss how MoD integrates blockchain technology into the gaming experience and its commitment to community-driven development.
As an interstellar mining game, MoD allows players to mine rare resources in a vast universe, create unique items and equipment, and bravely explore new areas filled with unknowns and dangers. In this process, players can not only enhance their own strength and accumulate wealth but also challenge themselves and conquer the unknown.
Mines of Dalarnia
Q: Manfred, please share your experience entering the blockchain gaming field and introduce the game Mines of Dalarnia.
A. My gaming career spans over a decade, transitioning from project manager, product manager to game director, gradually shifting from traditional Web2 games to Web3 games. I officially joined the project about seven months before MoD's launch in April 2021.
MoD is a project under the Dar Open Network. Our goal is to refine a relatively underdeveloped game type in the blockchain world—side-scrolling action-adventure games. Despite the prolonged market downturn and fierce competition, we have consistently focused on enhancing and expanding MoD.
The vision of Dar Open Network is to build an open, decentralized space that not only provides a platform for our own games but also welcomes external developers. By providing the necessary tools and infrastructure for cross-game management of digital assets, we aim to democratize game development, enhance player autonomy, and incentivize creative contributions.
Dar Open Network
Q: Based on your extensive experience, how do you view the similarities and differences between Web2 and Web3 games?
A. In the Web2 gaming field, the core focus is on creating engaging gaming experiences, deeply understanding various players, and continuously refining design, development, and marketing using industry best practices. However, Web3 games enter a new realm where diverse roles such as players, earners, and investors converge, introducing token economics and complex economic systems that reshape the game's profit model and interaction methods.
Web3 games often launch in "early access" to quickly respond to user feedback, but they also face unique development challenges and design constraints. However, the talent pool in the Web3 gaming field is relatively small, leading to significant challenges in finding experienced developers, designers, and marketers who are both proficient in gaming and knowledgeable about blockchain technology.
Despite these differences, their core goal is the same: to create an engaging and beloved game for players.
Q: What strategies are you implementing to enhance user engagement and retention within MoD?
A: First, we focus on developing games that transcend the mere profit incentives of Web3, ensuring that the core gaming experience itself is compelling enough to spark long-term interest from players. To lay a solid foundation for early game retention, we have ensured that the team remains aligned in participation expectations from the very beginning.
A key element in maintaining user engagement is the introduction of Dalarnia Nexus and our DAR ID system. This innovative feature allows players to create personalized bases within the Nexus and decorate them with assets obtained in the game universe. This private space further enhances players' sense of belonging, while participating in Dalarnia Multiverse missions and community voting deepens their engagement.
Additionally, we leverage popular Web3 incentive mechanisms, such as token and NFT airdrops, to maintain player interest and encourage retention.
Data Source: DAR Token Price Over the Last 180 Days - Footprint Analytics
However, the core of our retention strategy remains the playability and intrinsic quality of the game, which is the key we continuously strive to enhance.
Q. Can you talk about the latest developments in Mines of Dalarnia or other games on the Dar Open Network?
A. Certainly. We are carefully planning a series of new features and expansion plans:
MoD Updates: We plan to implement significant updates in the second quarter and summer of this year. These updates will introduce new game content and unique gameplay, expanding the MoD game world in innovative ways and providing players with fresh gaming experiences. In addition to ongoing improvements and optimizations to the game itself, MoD has also redesigned its economic system.
Dalarnia Legends: This brand new card game is in the works and is expected to undergo its first testing at the end of April. We will closely collaborate with the community to develop this game and regularly release updates.
Mid to Long-term Plans:
DAR ID and Citizenship: We plan to introduce DAR ID as an account management tool for seamless integration across platforms. Additionally, we will launch the DAR Citizenship staking program to redefine membership management mechanisms in the Web3 environment. Unlike traditional membership systems, our players can cancel their stakes at any time and immediately retrieve their funds, enjoying a more flexible and free membership experience.
Dalarnia Nexus: We are committed to making the Nexus the core hub of the community. We will soon announce the first public product demonstration.
Prototyping: We focus on generating new game prototypes and determining which concepts will enter full production through community voting.
Q. Do you have plans to introduce new blockchains in the future?
A. Indeed, our team is actively exploring the possibility of introducing new blockchains in the future. For Mines of Dalarnia, we have confirmed full support for the Chromia blockchain and plan to deploy the game on that chain after the Chromia mainnet officially launches. As for other games on the Dar Open Network, we will evaluate the feasibility of supporting new chains based on the characteristics and needs of each game.
Additionally, we are committed to integrating multi-chain support into the infrastructure of the Dar Open Network. By embracing established blockchains within the gaming industry, we hope to enhance the accessibility and diversity of the DAR ecosystem, providing players with a richer gaming experience and choices.
Q. At this stage, is MoD focusing more on optimizing the token economics of the game or enhancing the gaming experience?
A. Currently, our main focus is on expanding our player base and community engagement, as this directly impacts MoD and the broader Dar Open Network.
In response to your question, at this current stage of MoD's development, we are more focused on enhancing the gaming experience. We believe that an engaging and enjoyable game is the cornerstone for attracting and retaining players, thereby supporting the healthy development of the game economy. Of course, this does not mean we overlook the importance of the token economic model. The token economic model is a core element in building a sustainable game economy, and we are continuously monitoring and fine-tuning it to ensure it aligns with our vision for MoD. In summary, we strive to find a balance between enhancing the gaming experience and optimizing the token economic model.
As the interview draws to a close, Manfred's passion and dedication to the Web3 gaming industry and its games and platforms are evident, leaving a deep impression of his enthusiasm and focus.
The discussion about what attracts players to participate in Web3 games continues, with some believing it is the fun of the game itself, while others see it as the lure of profit. However, Mines of Dalarnia seems to provide a strong answer: Players come here not just to mine cryptocurrency but to unearth something rarer in the crypto world—true "fun."
This article is for industry research and communication purposes only and does not constitute any investment advice. The market has risks, and investment should be cautious.
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