Contents:

Learn: Monetization in games
Learn moreSubscribe to our Telegram channel "Checkpoint" - a space where we share news about games and the process of their creation. Join us to stay up to date with the most interesting events in the world of gaming.
NFT technology, or non-fungible tokens, has become widely known and is used in various industries, including the gaming industry. NFTs allow developers and players to earn real money by offering unique digital assets. Players can own, trade, and sell their in-game items, which creates new monetization opportunities. This approach not only increases user engagement but also opens up new horizons for the development of the gaming economy.
In this article, we will discuss five of the most popular games whose developers have integrated NFT technology. These games attract the attention of gamers and investors due to the unique opportunities provided by non-fungible tokens. NFTs allow players to own, trade, and exchange digital assets, making gaming more engaging and valuable. We'll be looking at key projects that have successfully integrated NFTs into their ecosystems and discussing how this is impacting the gaming industry as a whole.

Reworked text:
Please note the following:
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are unique digital assets that NFTs are widely used in the gaming industry, allowing players to acquire, sell, and trade virtual items such as skins, characters, and land in games. These tokens provide players with ownership of their digital assets, which impacts the game economy and interactions between players. The use of NFTs in the gaming industry opens up new opportunities for developers and users. Players can profit from their achievements by selling rare items, and developers gain the opportunity to implement new monetization models. Thanks to NFTs, players can assign real-world value to their virtual goods, fostering active gaming communities.
Thus, NFTs are transforming not only the ways players interact with games, but also the very structure of the gaming market, creating new business models and investment opportunities.
CryptoKitties and Millions of Rubles for a Virtual Cat
Ethereum ERC-721 is one of the token standards, which was first used in the online game CryptoKitties, developed by the Canadian studio Axiom Zen. The main idea of the project is to breed and collect virtual cats. Game users pay a commission in Ethereum for each transaction. The developer receives 3.75% of each purchase and sale. This project has become a landmark in the world of NFTs, demonstrating the potential of unique digital assets and their role in the gaming industry.
CryptoKitties launched in 2017 and quickly gained popularity, with players spending approximately $6.7 million on these virtual cats by December of that year. The highest price for a single CryptoKitty reached $114,500, while the average price was $25. Total sales on the platform by that time amounted to $1.3 million. The most expensive item was sold in September 2018: a user with the nickname rabono purchased a crypto cat named Dragon for 600 ETH, which at the time was equivalent to 149.6 million rubles. CryptoKitties not only became a landmark project in the blockchain gaming space but also drew attention to NFTs (non-fungible tokens) as a new direction in digital art and collectibles.
The popularity of virtual cats reflects the euphoria observed in other areas of the cryptocurrency market. This phenomenon is similar to the Candy Crush craze that fueled King Entertainment's successful IPO at the peak of the unicorn era in mid-2014. Virtual cats are becoming not only collectibles but also an important element of the digital asset ecosystem, attracting the attention of investors and users.
Pantera Capital investment director Joey Krug, who has actively invested in Bitcoin, emphasized that crypto cats, from an abstract perspective, have no intrinsic value other than the valuation of users. However, this hasn't stopped Reddit users from making real money playing the game. One player reported earning $3,400 with just $40 in CryptoKitties. This situation highlights the potential of crypto assets and the opportunities they can offer users.
Axie Infinity and Pet Collecting
Developed by Sky Mavis and led by Jeff Zirlin, Axie Infinity is one of the most significant blockchain games. The game borrows elements from projects like CryptoKitties and the Pokémon series, while introducing unique mechanics. Players can collect and breed tokenized pets, but the main objective is to participate in PvP battles, which adds a competitive element and makes the game more exciting. Axie Infinity is attracting players thanks to its economic model and the ability to earn cryptocurrency, fueling interest in the game and blockchain technology in general. The platform features its own NFT marketplace built on the Ethereum blockchain, where users can trade pets known as Axies. Prices for Axies vary depending on their rarity and unique characteristics. Players earn the local currency, Smooth Love Potion (SLP), for each battle won, currently valued at $0.06 per token. The project also uses a second token, the Axie Infinity Shard (AXS), which will be available for trading on a decentralized exchange expected to launch soon. Both tokens are ERC-20 compliant and actively trade on the Ethereum network, making them an important part of the Axie Infinity ecosystem.
Zirlin, the company's founder, claimed that his organization was the first to implement the "play to earn" principle. According to him, thanks to Axie Infinity, half of the players were introduced to cryptocurrency for the first time and began actively using it. The game has already earned $2.4 billion in the non-fungible token (NFT) market.
Of course, I am available to help you with text editing. Please provide the text itself for revision.
In the long term, Axie has an ambitious goal of becoming the first game owned and operated by the player community. Despite the presence of many talented developers with unique ideas, many of them face problems related to the lack of a strong brand and active community support. Sky CEO Mavis emphasizes the importance of building a solid foundation that will allow players not only to enjoy the game but also to actively participate in its development and management. This commitment to decentralization and player involvement in decision-making opens new horizons for the gaming industry.
Gods Unchained and Tokens in a Card Game
Another successful example of a blockchain-based game is Gods Unchained. The developers of this game adapted the classic card game formula by integrating NFT technology. Like other collectible card games, players in Gods Unchained build their decks by purchasing cards from other participants or receiving them in PvP battles. This mechanic not only allows players to develop strategic skills but also actively participate in the game's economy, making it appealing to fans of the genre.
NFT technologies blend harmoniously with the classic concept of card board games, which emphasize tactical and strategic mastery. Gods Unchained features a ranking system that ensures competition between players of the same level in each match. Players earn experience points for winning battles, and by filling a special meter, they can advance to a new level or increase their ranking, which allows them to receive new card decks as a reward. Each card in Gods Unchained has a unique ERC-721 token, which opens up trading opportunities on the platform's internal market and on the Ethereum network. Thus, the game not only offers engaging gameplay but also integrates elements of blockchain technology, expanding the horizons of interaction and exchange between players.
The development team recently introduced the platform's own token, GODS. This token is designed for settlements within the ecosystem and is actively used on the internal market. The introduction of the GODS token facilitates financial transactions and expands the platform's user experience.
Since its launch in 2018, Gods Unchained has raised $15 million in funding. The project is led by brothers James and Robbie Ferguson, with Chris Clay, who previously worked on the acclaimed card game Magic: The Gathering Arena, serving as head of development. Gods Unchained combines collectible card game elements with blockchain technology, allowing players to own their cards and use them in various game modes.
The Sandbox and the Roblox-inspired Sandbox
Launched in 2015, this project is a voxel gaming metaverse similar to Minecraft and Roblox. The Sandbox offers players powerful tools for creating and animating a variety of objects that can then be sold on marketplaces. Within The Sandbox, users can also develop their own games, which opens up wide opportunities for creativity and interaction in the gaming space.
The platform uses its own SAND token, which complies with the ERC-20 standard, which players use to purchase in-game items on the marketplace. However, the most valuable asset is LAND tokens, which are linked to digital real estate. These tokens are the most sought-after assets in the game, with their sales volume in April 2021 reaching an impressive $8.5 million. LAND tokens are limited to 166,464 units, making them even more valuable in the market. Investing in LAND tokens can be a profitable strategy for platform users seeking to profit from digital assets.
Alien Worlds and Exploration of Distant Planets
In Alien Worlds, players have the unique opportunity to explore seven different planets in search of a valuable tokenized resource — Trulium. This resource is the key to accessing additional content and plays a vital role in the governance of decentralized autonomous organizations on the planets. Exploring the Alien Worlds world not only allows players to find Trulium but also encourages interaction with other players, making the game more engaging and dynamic.
Alien Worlds gameplay focuses on socialization among players, who can both collaborate and compete to achieve their goals. In this metaverse, users have the opportunity to purchase NFT tokens, which are needed to mine Trulium. Players can also engage in exciting battles and complete a variety of in-game quests, making the gaming experience even more engaging and multifaceted. Social interactions and the opportunity to earn real-world assets through in-game activity attract more and more users to the world of Alien Worlds.
According to DappRadar, the daily transaction volume of players is $7.7 million, and the value of in-game assets on the cryptocurrency market reaches $16 million. Alien Worlds is currently the most popular blockchain game, attracting over 700,000 monthly active users.
According to PRN, since the start of beta testing in late 2020, the number of registered users on the Alien Worlds platform has grown to nearly 3.6 million. Kevin Wang, founder of the developer Forgame, noted that Alien Worlds is built on the concept of effectively using NFT tokens and blockchain technology. The platform creates a socio-economic structure that gamers can explore and use to achieve their goals in a variety of ways.
Monetization in games
You will learn all the tools for increasing the profitability of games from scratch. You'll understand how to integrate advertising and paid products into projects, design an internal economy, and spark excitement in players. You will be able to maintain user loyalty and make games successful.
Find out more
