Pixels CEO Interview💎The Importance of NFT Interoperability with Ronin

Summary

In this Tech Path interview, Luke Barowski, founder of Pixels, discusses the evolution of their web3 gaming platform. He highlights the importance of gameplay and integrating unique web3 elements, such as NFT avatars and play-to-earn mechanics. The conversation also touches on the challenges of user acquisition in web3 and the strategic shift from Polygon to Ronin, emphasizing the value of mentorship and distribution. Barowski shares insights on the future of gaming, the potential of guilds, and the upcoming Chapter 2 update for Pixels, which aims to enhance the player experience and ecosystem spending.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Paul Baron interviews Luke Barowski, the CEO of Pixels, a web3 gaming project focused on gameplay and leveraging unique web3 features to enhance the gaming experience.
• 🕹️ Pixels is a web3 native game that has evolved significantly since its initial release two years ago, drawing inspiration from casual games like Stardew Valley and Farmville.
• 🔗 The game emphasizes interoperability, integrating over 90 NFT collections for use as avatars within the game, showcasing the interconnectedness of web3 projects.
• 💰 Play-to-earn mechanics are a key aspect of Pixels' strategy, with the belief that this model will become prevalent in the gaming industry over the next 5-10 years.
• 🌐 The decision to move from Polygon to Ronin as the underlying blockchain was driven by the latter's experience in scaling web3 games and the potential for user acquisition and distribution.
• 🔄 Despite the move to Ronin, Pixels aims to maintain interoperability with other chains, such as Ethereum, for their NFTs like Farmland, to keep options open for users.
• 📈 The focus on user retention and in-game token holding is seen as a positive sign for the ecosystem's health, with less need for on-chain transactions.
• 🤝 Partnerships with other web3 projects, like Mocha, are crucial for growth and interoperability, providing mutual benefits and shared user bases.
• 📱 Mobile gaming is considered for Pixels, with the potential for companion apps or casual games that are mobile-friendly and iOS native.
• 🚀 The roadmap for the next 12-24 months includes enhancing the game's economy, introducing new progression systems, and increasing spend within the ecosystem.
• 💡 The guild system in Pixels is designed to incentivize user growth and retention, offering rewards for contributing to the game's expansion and fostering social dynamics.

Q & A

What is the core focus of the Pixels project?

The core focus of the Pixels project is web3 gaming, with an emphasis on gameplay and leveraging unique aspects of web3 to enhance the gaming experience.

How does Pixels differentiate itself from other game studios?

Pixels differentiates itself by taking a unique approach that focuses on integrating web3 mechanics in a way that makes gaming more interesting and engaging, rather than just adopting web3 technologies for the sake of it.

What is the gameplay loop of Pixels like?

The gameplay loop of Pixels is similar to Stardew Valley if it were a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, with inspiration from casual games like Farmville.

How has Pixels evolved since its first release?

Pixels has evolved significantly since its first release two years ago, with continuous improvements and community involvement that has led to a much better game experience.

What is the significance of NFT avatar integrations in Pixels?

NFT avatar integrations in Pixels allow for interoperability with over 90 NFT collections, enabling users to use these NFTs as avatars within the game and showcasing the interconnectedness of web3 experiences.

Why did Pixels decide to move from Polygon to Ronin?

Pixels moved to Ronin because of the mentorship and experience the Ronin team offered, having successfully scaled a web3 game before with Axie Infinity, as well as the potential for user acquisition and distribution that Ronin provided.

How does the play-to-earn model fit into Pixels' vision for the future of gaming?

Pixels views play-to-earn as the next evolution of gaming, where users can earn while playing, and they believe it will become a dominant model in the gaming industry over the next five to ten years.

What are the benefits of having some assets on L1 and others on L2 or L3 chains?

Having assets on different layers provides a balance between liquidity, cross-game functionality, and the need for decentralization. It allows for optimal use cases, such as keeping highly liquid assets on L1 and less liquid or game-specific assets on L2 or L3 chains.

How does Pixels plan to address the onboarding challenge in web3 gaming?

Pixels believes that if there's a compelling reason for users to join a web3 ecosystem, onboarding becomes less of an issue. They focus on creating incentive structures that encourage user growth and retention.

What can we expect from Pixels in terms of mobile gaming?

Pixels is working on mobile browser compatibility, with about 30% of their user base already playing via mobile browsers. They are also considering releasing casual games that are mobile-friendly and iOS native, potentially using the token in different ways.

What is the role of guilds in the Pixels ecosystem?

Guilds in Pixels serve as a social feature that integrates friend tech with web3 gaming, offering incentive structures for groups of users to grow their own subgroup within the ecosystem and enhancing the overall gaming experience through social dynamics.