Tokyo-based game studio Platinum Egg Inc. has recently launched “Climbers,” a groundbreaking multiplayer battle royale racing game that has taken the gaming community by storm. The game, which emerged victorious at the 2023 Alibaba Cloud Web3 game hackathon, has been praised for its innovative game design, seamless playability, and integration of cutting-edge blockchain technology.
Platinum Egg Inc. has strategically partnered with Enjin, a prominent player in the blockchain and gaming space, to enhance Climbers’ features. Platinum Egg Inc. is looking to integrate Enjin’s NFT rewards program and in-game token minting technology into the Climbers ecosystem. This partnership aligns with Climbers’ mission to provide players with true ownership of digital assets and a seamless gaming experience.
Bridging the Gap Between Web2 and Web3
Climbers aims to set a new standard for blockchain gaming by addressing the challenges that have deterred non-Web3 players in the past. Platinum Egg Inc., with over 20 years of Web2 game development experience, understands the obstacles associated with purchasing cryptocurrency and using wallets, which can be daunting for many players.
Climbers seeks to attract a broad audience by prioritizing gameplay over blockchain complexities. The Climbers’ Whitepaper states, “We have developed and operated numerous blockchain games and are well aware that purchasing cryptocurrency and using a wallet can be extremely challenging for general game users.”
Climbers offers a refreshing approach, where players can engage in thrilling races without the need for cryptocurrency, wallets, or in-depth blockchain knowledge. The game starts with a tutorial mode, guiding players through the basics. Upon completion, players are rewarded with $0.73 worth of Bitcoin (as of writing).
For the competitive crowd, Climbers hosts regular tournaments where participants can win $60 worth of Bitcoin and other in-game items. Winnings accumulate in players’ wallets, and to withdraw, players simply need to link their blockchain wallet and a valid mobile number. The blockchain operates seamlessly in the background, acting as an enabler rather than a barrier to entry.
Climbers distinguishes itself by empowering users to create and share their own stages. These user-generated stages are represented as NFTs, tradeable assets that add a layer of creativity and community engagement to the game. The community votes on the best stages, and creators earn a share of the winnings each time their stage is used.
Through user-generated content, Climbers achieves high repeatability, provides an additional creative dimension for players, and establishes a player-driven economy where stages can be created, traded, and voted upon. “It is impossible for us, the management, to create these lands by ourselves. We hope that users with good taste will create various lands, publish them, and then vote on them,” explains the Climbers’ Whitepaper.
Paving the Way for Blockchain Adoption
Having previously developed the successful blockchain game CrossLink, which garnered over 250,000 downloads, Platinum Egg understands the importance of supporting a large player base. Climbers leverages blockchain’s potential to acquire players through digital assets, using Enjin’s QR code-based distribution system, Beam, to distribute Reward NFTs and stimulate community growth.
Distributed through Beam, more than 650,000 NFTs have found their way to users, proving the QR code tool’s effectiveness as a robust marketing and distribution channel. Users can use the QR code with their smartphone, and they will be prompted to download the Enjin Wallet. These Reward NFTs carry valuable in-game utility, sparking interest among holders eager to explore their functionalities.
According to the Platinum Egg team, “Enjin should be one of the most well-known chains in the world, especially in North America. We are looking forward to working with Enjin and other chains and developing various ecosystems. We regard Enjin as a chain suitable for gaming, with a reliable history and strong marketing team.”
The use of Enjin’s technology for in-game token minting further enhances player retention. These NFTs can be obtained and mass-minted through Enjin’s Play to Mint technology. These innovative acquisition and retention features equip Climbers with significant value, sparking conversations among players and encouraging them to invite their friends to join the game.
By making it easy for Web2 game developers to integrate blockchain features, Climbers ensures a smooth transition into the world of blockchain gaming. The game development tools are currently at their peak, providing developers with unprecedented capabilities. With adequate resources and support, there are no obstacles preventing game developers from pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved.
As Climbers gains momentum with over 1,000 downloads on browsers and mobile devices, the game is set to introduce Reward NFTs through Beam in 2024. With a focus on community-driven growth and innovative gameplay, Climbers stands at the forefront of the gaming industry, paving the way for the widespread adoption of blockchain and NFTs in the gaming world.
