Advancing Traditional Player Participation in Blockchain Games: Engaging Native Game Mechanics

Abstract

As an emerging video game genre in recent years, blockchain games have attracted substantial attention due to the strengths of blockchain technology and the popularity of Web3 ideals. However, blockchain games have encountered a dilemma due to the inability to attract traditional video game players. In this paper, we compare data gathered from Twitter, webpages, and research literature through the grounded theory (Glaserian approach) to uncover that the key to transcending the current state lies in the innovation of native and engaging game mechanics. We propose a design framework for blockchain game mechanics derived from the concept of emergent games, which integrates the basic elements of emergent games with the unique features of blockchain technology, discussing its potential design directions. Finally, we implement a high-fidelity prototype to serve as a case, instantiating a novel mechanic based on this framework and providing early proof of feasibility.