NFT is a growing market that has pulled lots of interest. You have probably heard about NFTs, even if you have never created an NFT collection. Many individuals are creating a community with their NFT. Therefore, it is a great idea to develop an NFT game for members of the NFT community. Now, I will explain how to develop an NFT game for 2023.
The use of NFTs is not limited to the cryptocurrency industry. Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter, sold his first tweet as an NFT token for 2.9 million dollars. Mike Winkelmann, an artist, sold his NFT painting for $69 million.
NFT is gaining increasing popularity because lots of artists are embracing it. Artists can sell their NFTs as a way to get financial support. Market research by Global Market Estimates indicates that the global non-fungible tokens market should rise by 185% from 2021 to 2026 – gamers make up a big part of this growth!
This article will describe NFTs, and NFT games, how to develop them, and answer relevant questions on the subject.
What are NFTs?
NFT is a short form of “non-fungible token.” It is similar to cryptocurrency because they originate from blockchains. However, each NFT has its value, which is not interchangeable without a loss or increase in value. On the other hand, a cryptocurrency unit is interchangeable with another unit without a loss of value. For example, one BTC has the same value as another BTC.
Technology has made it possible to convert various things, such as art, picture, or real estate, into tokens. NFTs are digital tokens that represent a specific item. The value of NFT lies in the concept of sole ownership of items. In other words, NFT is a form of digital ownership for a physical asset that only one person can own. Blockchains like Ethereum ensure the security of NFTs. As a result, NFTs cannot be modified or duplicated without first being sold. Therefore, you may modify an NFT after purchasing it and claiming ownership.
Non-fungible is a term used to describe unique assets such as paintings, lyrics, or quotes. One unique characteristic of non-fungible items is that they are not interchangeable because each is unique in its own way. For example, a painting can be sold as an NFT; a quote can also be sold as an NFT. However, comparing their values or simply interchanging them may not be easy.
Previously, there were certain challenges regarding NFTs. They include difficulty in ensuring uniqueness and proof of ownership of virtual assets. However, with the introduction of how to develop an NFT game, NFTs have become a new stream of assets. An NFT is unique and cannot be divided. As a result, only one person can own a specific NFT. Information regarding ownership and any transaction is stored in the blockchain.
What are NFT games?
NFT games are blockchain-based games that contain non-fungible tokens (digital assets). NFT can be used in video games to attract investors. Gamers can create, sell, or buy tokens available in the game to support the developer. For example, gaming requires buying weapons, choosing teams, or getting boosters. A traditional game may require payment with coins generated within the game. Likewise, NFT games require transactions using tokens within the game. In addition, players can sell in-game NFTs to earn money and cryptocurrency.
Ethereum is the main blockchain for NFT games. However, before you can start playing NFT games, you need to contribute to the system. For example, you may need to buy an in-game product or character, which you can sell for a higher price. Some games work on a pay-to-win system, so they do not require any contribution. The players have two options- buy items to facilitate victory in the game. Alternatively, the player has to be patient to earn the items by depending on luck to win games. In this case, the player does not spend money but gradually builds their character such that the value increases. Another way they can earn is with bonuses or participating in competitions.
The aim of the competition and bonuses is to monetize gaming and contribute to the development of the gaming system. Winning depends on gamers’ ability to develop and upgrade their characters. Most upgrades are quite expensive; the most expensive character sold in an NFT game was over a million dollars.
How to Develop NFT Games
The development of NFT games is exciting. In addition, players can enjoy and benefit from NFT mobile games. Regardless of the fascinating nature of this venture, very few businesses are hijacking the opportunity. NFT games are the future of video games and are here to stay.
Here are four phases in developing an excellent NFT game:
Phase 1: Pre-production
The first step in any project is planning. This phase is critical to the success of the development of NFT games. Therefore, it is best not to skip the pre-production phase. In addition, the pre-production phase helps you save money and time. Here are the steps that will aid you in planning for the project:
1. Recruit Professionals
One of the first things to do is recruit game development specialists. The team could be outsourced or in-house for game development. However, the team members must consist of 2D/3D artists, managers, QA engineers, middle and senior developers.
2. Research
The importance of collecting data before commencing NFT game development cannot be overemphasized. Research involves gathering data about the market structure and competition. As a result, you can make production decisions that will give your NFT game an edge in the market.
3. Identify the Game Concept
Another significance of the data collected is to help game developers define the game concept. The concept can be sports, strategy, simulation, shooter, or puzzle game. At this stage, you establish the game concept art, style of the game, and look of players/assets.
4. Identify Game Platforms
There are several platforms for NFT game development. You can develop a game for desktop, mobile, consoles, web, and AV/VR-based gadgets. However, this decision may be influenced by budget and the best platform for the game.
5. Decide the Appropriate Tech Stack
Define the best infrastructure for NFT game development. Make a plan to get appropriate tools and software for back-end, front-end, smart contract (runs on Ethereum blockchain), and testing.
6. Develop a Game Design Document
A game design document includes technical requirements and development techniques to guide the entire design process.
7. Testing the Prototype
A prototype is a demo version of the game. It shows the base functionality and the structure of the game. This blueprint allows you to test the game and make modifications before making the final product.
Phase 2: Development
Once you are done with the planning phase, you are ready to start developing the NFT game. This is the time for developers and designers to get to work. The following steps will aid you in the development of a top-notch NFT game.
1. Art Design
The game format-2D or 3D will determine the stages of content creation. Suppose your NFT game is in 2D format. Begin by outlining the game environment, character, and assets. Afterward, paint them, edit the sketches, and animate any part that will be moving. Alternatively, artists must model the game with a polygonal modeling technique for a 3D NFT game. This process involves creating a basic shape and making adjustments to attain the appropriate topography. In addition, artists can use rigging, texturing, and skinning techniques. Remember to animate models that will have to move.
2. Game Level Design
Game-level design is the blueprint (structure) of the NFT game. In this stage, you can specify the levels and how participants will move through the various levels. For example, the game can have various levels with increasing difficulty as the gamer progresses. Alternatively, the game may be an open world where gamers are free to move around and adjust some things.
3. Set Up the Wallet
Gaming NFTs may be exchanged or sold for cryptocurrency. Therefore, it is important to set up a wallet. Gamers may use the wallet for registration, so it has to be included in the development phase. Various crypto wallets are available for how to develop an NFT game – Metamask, Math Wallet, Alpha Wallet, Coinbase Wallet, etc.
4. Smart Contract
A smart contract is a blockchain-based software that handles security, NFT movement, and transaction customization. In addition, the smart contract cannot be modified after developing the game. As a result, developing the smart contract is an integral part of the NFT game.
5. Coding
Coding is where back-end developers get to work. The back-end developers integrate the game’s content, data, and infrastructure into one system. This integration is important to build a decentralized game structure. In addition, it allows the app to get information regarding orders, functions, and necessary data from the blockchain and the gaming code
Phase 3: Testing
NFT games are a new and unfamiliar concept for game developers. Therefore, the testing phase is critical to identify bugs that may cause issues before launching the game. Three stages of testing are required:
1. Unit Testing
Developers are saddled with the responsibility of conducting during game development. Games have various parts, also called units; developers test each unit after designing them. Testing is done to ensure they are working as intended and fix any errors before the completion of the game. Unit testing is critical to the success of NFT games. One of the benefits is that developers can continue building other parts of the game without fear that a previous unit has a bug. As a result, the final product will have fewer easily identifiable bugs.
2. Alpha Testing
Expert QA engineers are responsible for Alpha testing. After developers complete unit building and testing, QA engineers take over for quality checks. Alpha testing is essential before any NFT game is launched and consists of several tests.
Functional game testing includes:
- Smoke testing
- User acceptance testing
- Localization testing
- Regression testing
- Security access control testing
- Interoperability testing
Non-functional game testing includes;
- Stability testing
- Configuration testing
- Performance testing
- Usability testing
- Load and stress testing
- Compliance testing
3. Beta Testing
Beta testing is the final stage of testing NFT games. It does not require any software but requires humans to play the game and give feedback. There are two types of beta testing-open Beta and closed Beta testing.
Open Beta testing involves a non-professional, such as a gamer, in the development process. On the other hand, closed Beta testing involves individuals working in the development sector. The aim of these tests is to play the game, identify bugs and give a detailed user experience report.
Phase 4: Deploy and Promote
Popular brands often get more attention when they release a new game. Therefore, you need to pay special attention to marketing and promoting your game. For example, joining an NFT community may be wise before your game launch. This gives you access to a large population for advertising your game.
New brands often tease with ads that make games impatient to get their hands on the game. In addition, the game may include huge bonuses and great deals within the first month to attract more players. Creating an intriguing ad can encourage the target audience to try the game.
Key Factors of NFT Gaming
The key factors of NFT gaming are decentralization, blockchain foundation, and the use of non-fungible tokens as in-game assets. Blockchain is essential in game development because it allows you to turn in-game items into non-fungible tokens. In addition, it supports the creation of a decentralized gaming environment. Gamers can sell or buy in-game items, and a portion of the profits go to the developer. Unlike regular games, the currency of NFT games is non-fungible tokens, which can be used for buying or upgrading characters.
How to Choose Reliable Nft Game Developers
It may sound like an easy task, but choosing a reliable team can determine the progress and outcome of an NFT game. The NFT game development team could be in-house, freelance, or outsourced. Outsourcing is one of the most popular ways to choose an NFT game development team. Tech companies can help you build your NFT game while focusing on other aspects of the business. Although it is less expensive, freelancers may have multiple tasks to deliver, so they may not be fully dedicated to the job. On the other hand, creating an in-house team may be time-consuming and expensive. However, there is a guarantee of quality results in the process due to proper communication between team members.
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Frequently Ask Questions
Can I add NFT to an existing game?
Can I earn from NFT games?
How do NFT games work?
What is the cost of developing an NFT game?
More advanced games, such as a 3D mobile game with many animations, will cost more than a 2D game with lesser animations and complexity.