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Gods Unchained
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Build the Deck of Ultimate Gods: Gods Unchained Research Report

XPAD

Feb 22, 2023

Build the Ultimate Deck of Gods

Gods Unchained is a free-to-play, play-to-earn trading card game built on the Ethereum blockchain. The game has been in development since in 2018 under the leadership of Nick Clay, former director of the Magic The Gathering Arena, and was one of the first of its genre to include crypto elements.

As in the classic trading card games, players build their deck and compete against each other for rewards and glory. Gods Unchained gives players true ownership of in-game assets by making them NFTs, which players can trade on the ImmutableX Marketplace.

With a rich lore, frequent new card expansions, and the utility provided by the $GODS token, Gods Unchained has become a reference in the blockchain gaming space.

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TOKENOMICS & BUSINESS MODEL

Gods Unchained's core currency is $GODS, an ERC-20 token that will be used for governance, crafting new NFTs, making in-game purchases, and is also a key component of the Play-to-Earn loop.

The P2E Rewards Pool accounts for 34% of the total token supply, highlighting the importance of the token in the whole ecosystem. The token will be allocated to a variety of P2E campaigns, such as weekend ranked matches, the daily token reward system, quests, tournaments, and others.

Gods Unchained follows a free-to-play model, where optional monetized content and features are released over time and are not required to play the game. The main way this is achieved is through expansion sets that are sold for a limited time. While users can unlock core cards through play, the expansion sets have a finite amount of NFTs, making them scarce in comparison. Five expansions have been released to date.

Within the motto of "free-to-play," there’s an in-game resource called Stars. You get them by winning ranked matches, and they can be used in the Star Store to buy new off-chain cards from the Core and Welcome Sets.

Secondary market royalties are another source of revenue. These are added to the rewards from the staking pool. Fee percentages vary depending on the card. As the trading economy expands, so will the money from royalty payments.

The latest P2E mechanic introduced was “Daily Play & Earn” which rewards players with $GODS tokens. By playing ranked matches, players can earn points called Fragments from the first 10 Ranked matches of the day. Only wins generate Fragments and the first 3 wins generate double the Fragments.

The amount of Fragments you can earn from winning a match depends on various factors, such as your Rank, how many wins you get, and the Shine Quality of the cards you use in the match.

The Fragment rewards will be translated to $GODS tokens and functions via a shared pool which varies based on the numbers of active players over the previous two days. Players receive a percentage of the pool based on their percentage of the total Fragments earned that day across the entire player base. Although the rewards are given daily, players can only redeem them after a 7 day period.

Then there are the Weekend Ranked events. Competing in them will reward players with valuable card packs from the latest expansion set based on the number of wins in the first 18 matches and also their starting rank at the beginning of the event.

Regardless of when you play, for each ranked match, players gain experience that counts towards their account level. At every level, players receive a core card pack as a reward.

The last P2E mechanic involves an in-game resource called “Flux”. Players received it for the first 3 wins with each god per day, making it possible to receive Flux 18 times per day.

Flux, in conjunction with the $GODS token, allows players to fuse cards via the Forge.

Fusing is the process of combining two or more identical existing cards into a single card of better quality. Despite giving just an aesthetic effect, the new card becomes an NFT and therefore gains real-world value as it may be traded in the marketplace.

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February's Web3 Gaming Montly Report

    Mar 1st, 2023

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February Digest; The number of UAW playing blockchain games in February was roughly 20 million, with a daily average of 730k players. This data confirms the pattern that has been noted in past months. We take a look at Bitcoin’s latest crazy, Ordinal Inscriptions, and assess its benefits and impact on the ecosystem. DigiDaigaku aired an ad touting a free mint of its Dragon Eggs collection during the last Super Bowl game, but it was met with disappointment and controversy. The NFT marketplace wars are heating up as Blur becomes a significant player in the NFT market, overtaking OpenSea in the past couple of weeks. BLOCKCHAIN GAMING ON-CHAIN DATA Around 20 million UAW played blockchain games in February, with an average of approximately 730k daily players. This data confirms the current trend of growth stagnation. DappRadar's analysis revealed that the top 10 blockchain games remained largely the same, except for the addition of Oath of Peak. 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Gaming for Everyone: A Look at AAA and Hyper Casual Video Games

    Feb 16th, 2023

    XPAD

Video games have evolved significantly over the years, and today we can find different types of games that cater to different audiences. From the high-budget AAA games to the simple, fast-paced, hyper casual games, there is something for everyone. In this article, we will confront AAA with Hyper Casual, and delve into the characteristics, gamer profiles, and popularity of each type. AAA Video Games AAA video games, also known as triple-A video games, are high budget games with high production values, such as big-name franchises like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto. These games tend to have more polished graphics, deeper gameplay mechanics, and larger, more intricate worlds to explore. The process of creating a AAA video game is a complex and time-consuming one that typically involves a large team of developers, designers, and other professionals. The development time can vary greatly depending on the size and complexity of the game, but it can take several years to develop a AAA game. The gamer profile of a person who chooses AAA games is typically someone who values a more immersive and complete gaming experience. They are looking for a game with high production values, such as polished graphics and intricate game worlds, and they are likely to have an interest in exploring and discovering all that the game has to offer. They may also be willing to invest a significant amount of time and money into the game, as AAA games offer a deeper, more rewarding experience. In terms of demographics, consumers of AAA video games tend to be older, with a median age of around 35 years old. They are also likely to be more affluent, as AAA games tend to be more expensive than other types of games. Hyper Casual Video Games Hyper casual video games, on the other hand, are simple, fast-paced games designed to be played in short bursts, such as Angry Birds or Candy Crush. These games tend to have simpler graphics, more straightforward gameplay, and they are often designed to be addictive and easy to pick up and play. A hyper casual game's development time is typically shorter than that of a AAA game. Due to the simplicity and smaller scope of the game, its development can take anywhere from a few months to a year. People who love playing hyper casual games typically appreciate simplicity and ease of play. They might be searching for a game that's quick to start, easy to pick up, and that can be enjoyed in short sessions. They might also be looking for a game that's highly engaging and keeps them coming back for more. In terms of demographics, people who enjoy these types of games tend to be younger, usually around 25 years old. Over the last decade, both AAA and hyper casual games have seen popularity and success in the video game industry. AAA games have historically dominated the sales charts. Additionally, the success of the open-world and RPG genres has contributed to the popularity of AAA games. Hyper casual games, on the other hand, have grown in popularity particularly with the rise of mobile gaming. Some hyper casual games have become household names and have been downloaded billions of times, generating millions in revenue each year. It's not surprising that 2022 saw 5x more hyper casual games than the previous year, given the shorter development times. It's worth noting that in the last decade, the gaming industry has seen a huge shift towards mobile gaming, and hyper casual games have taken advantage of that trend. However, AAA games still have a strong presence in the console and PC markets and continue to be popular among core gamers. The incorporation of elements of hyper casual games into AAA titles is a growing trend in the gaming industry; however, it raises some concerns. One concern is that this may be done to attract a wider audience and generate more revenue at the expense of the player experience by making the games more accessible for players who may not be as experienced or interested in traditional AAA titles. Another concern is the use ofmicrotransactions, which are a common feature in hyper casual games in AAA titles, which could lead to players feeling pressured to spend more money on the game to acquire in-game items or currency and create a "pay-to-win" scenario. Now, taking a look at the current state of web3 games, it’s fair to say that Hyper Casual or even Casual games are well-suited to the current state of web3 technology and audience. As of today it can be challenging for game developers to create AAA-quality games using blockchain, aside from the need for significant investment, expertise and time. Additionally, the current audience for web3 games is relatively small and mostly composed of early adopters and enthusiasts of blockchain and cryptocurrency. These players are often more interested in experimenting with new and innovative gameplay mechanics, rather than in traditional AAA-style games. Hyper Casual games are well-suited to this audience as they are simple to understand and easy to play, which makes them accessible to a wide range of players. That being said, the new economic models made possible by the use of blockchain technology will allow developers to have revenue streams in web3 games where previously was not possible, potentially pushing forward more AAA games development. Despite the concerns pointed out, both AAA and Hyper Casual games have their own unique audiences and can be successful in their own right. It's important to note that these are generalizations and there may be some overlap between the two groups. Some people may enjoy both types of games, and some people may not fit the typical demographic profile for either group. Both types of games have their place in the gaming industry and can co-exist and even complement each other. Ultimately, the choice between AAA video games and hyper casual video games will depend on the individual player's preferences and what they are looking for in a game.

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reNFT x XPAD: Web3 Gaming Solutions Partnership

    Feb 9th, 2023

    Partners

We're incredibly excited to announce that XPAD will be partnering with reNFT — the leading NFT rentals protocol — to drive the adoption of digital asset rentals in Web3 Gaming. NFT rentals have a wide range of applications, including digital collectibles, artwork, music, and items in video games, and a lot more (especially considering the infancy of this industry) - and although in this specific area, reNFT and XPAD are paying more attention to the gaming assets, it is surely very interesting to see so many different possibilities enrich this market. While Web3 gaming continues gaining traction worldwide, many mainstream players, especially those unfamiliar with decentralized tech, face numerous roadblocks to adoption. To attract users at scale, games need to onboard their players effectively, it's their lifeblood. NFT rentals is key to lower entry barriers and the mainstream adoption of Web3 games. It empowers players, opens up new economic opportunities, and links diverse sets of players across games and ecosystems. reNFT rentals protocol jump starts game economies by enabling holders of NFT assets to put them to work by renting out gaming assets to use in blockchain gaming experiences, and by enabling new players to experience a game without having to purchase an NFT. Let’s take a look at some of the possibilities, shall we? Now, from the viewpoint of Gamers, it might seem quite obvious that if you want to give it a spin to, say, Dookey Dash, but your finances are far from the level that allows you to own a Bored Ape - you can now opt for a rental solution. Or let’s imagine, you’d like to participate in a token-gated event or tournament, or you need a certain collectible to unlock that tough level, don’t worry, NFT rentals complements game design by allowing users to temporarily use an NFT they otherwise don't want or can't purchase, for a set time period. But what about NFT owners? Well, naturally, just like a physical asset, as a digital asset owner, utilizing an NFT rental service offers several benefits. Firstly, it provides an additional source of income for the owner, as they can rent out their NFTs for a certain period of time and receive payment for it. Secondly, it increases the visibility and exposure of the digital asset, as the rental service will market the NFT to potential renters. This can also help increase the demand and value of the NFT. Thirdly, these rental services often have a secure and trustworthy platform for transactions, which provides peace of mind for the owner and protects their asset. Overall, NFT rental services offer a convenient and profitable way for NFT owners to monetize and promote their digital assets. The partnership between reNFT and Exeedme is a significant step towards the integration of Web3 Gaming in the Gaming Industry. With shared strengths and vision, this collaboration has the potential to bring innovative solutions to both communities. We look forward to seeing the results of this partnership and its impact on the future of the industry. We are thrilled to join forces and work together with the entire Exeedme team to enable digital asset rentals within its Web3 game partners and ecosystem! Together we will continue unlocking mass scale Web3 gaming accessibility and true freedom for players and their assets. Nick Vale, Founder and CEO of reNFT Partnering with reNFT not only expands the reach of our platform, but it also opens up new possibilities for our players to monetize their in-game assets in exciting and innovative ways as well as bring democratization into Web3 gaming, opening access to NFT’s for a much lower cost . The XPAD is committed to expand the possibilities of Web3 gaming, and this partnership is a step in that direction. Francisco Varela, Co-Founder, Chairman and CSO of Exeedme

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