Billy
@okwme.bsky.social
We don’t know yet. But exploring this uncharted territory is the mission of @triflelife.bsky.social
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
We don’t know yet. But exploring this uncharted territory is the mission of @triflelife.bsky.social
What might it look like? An expanded magic circle? A place where you live, work, and never leave? Maybe it’s not even for people but for autonomous agents. Or it could be a haven for subcultures free from the postmodern context-collapse?
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
What might it look like? An expanded magic circle? A place where you live, work, and never leave? Maybe it’s not even for people but for autonomous agents. Or it could be a haven for subcultures free from the postmodern context-collapse?
This is the 'secret, more complex third thing' we’re all hoping will emerge. It may stretch the definition of play—a concept that feels too small to capture what this could become. For now, we call it play, but perhaps it’s something entirely new.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
This is the 'secret, more complex third thing' we’re all hoping will emerge. It may stretch the definition of play—a concept that feels too small to capture what this could become. For now, we call it play, but perhaps it’s something entirely new.
Gaming has become a Red Ocean industry—overcrowded, over-fished, and increasingly difficult to innovate within. To truly make waves, we need to aim for a Blue Ocean industry, where we invent not only a new product but also a new consumer.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Gaming has become a Red Ocean industry—overcrowded, over-fished, and increasingly difficult to innovate within. To truly make waves, we need to aim for a Blue Ocean industry, where we invent not only a new product but also a new consumer.
Perhaps they could compete with mainstream gambling in terms of cost and experience, but I don’t think that’s the right lens to view them through. The framing feels off—there’s something more unique about what Blockchain Games offer that goes beyond traditional comparisons.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Perhaps they could compete with mainstream gambling in terms of cost and experience, but I don’t think that’s the right lens to view them through. The framing feels off—there’s something more unique about what Blockchain Games offer that goes beyond traditional comparisons.
Another scrap touched on the definition of Disruptive Technology—something that needs to be both cheaper and better to replace what came before. But I’m not sure if Blockchain Games can ever truly be cheaper or better than mainstream games.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Another scrap touched on the definition of Disruptive Technology—something that needs to be both cheaper and better to replace what came before. But I’m not sure if Blockchain Games can ever truly be cheaper or better than mainstream games.
Could something similar happen with Autonomous Worlds? Will we invent a game or mechanism in the short term to bridge the gap to an ambitious future, only to discover that this 'bridge' becomes the defining feature of the industry?
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Could something similar happen with Autonomous Worlds? Will we invent a game or mechanism in the short term to bridge the gap to an ambitious future, only to discover that this 'bridge' becomes the defining feature of the industry?
Eventually, people realized that this 'game' wasn’t just a coping mechanism—it was the killer product all along. Strip away the tech, and you’re left with meme coins where the community _is_ the product.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Eventually, people realized that this 'game' wasn’t just a coping mechanism—it was the killer product all along. Strip away the tech, and you’re left with meme coins where the community _is_ the product.
While ambitious, multi-year infrastructure projects were underway, a large consumer-investor base got bored. To fill the gap, they created the game of 'wagmi' and 'gm'.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
While ambitious, multi-year infrastructure projects were underway, a large consumer-investor base got bored. To fill the gap, they created the game of 'wagmi' and 'gm'.
To close the talk, I shared a few scraps of ideas. One that came to mind was inspired by a panel discussion hosted by Maria Paula Fernández about Crypto Culture. It’s fascinating how the industry essentially turned waiting into a game.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
To close the talk, I shared a few scraps of ideas. One that came to mind was inspired by a panel discussion hosted by Maria Paula Fernández about Crypto Culture. It’s fascinating how the industry essentially turned waiting into a game.
Could Skin in the Game be the key to populating Autonomous Worlds, enabling them to fulfill their potential and become the thriving, dynamic spaces we imagine them to be?
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Could Skin in the Game be the key to populating Autonomous Worlds, enabling them to fulfill their potential and become the thriving, dynamic spaces we imagine them to be?
Which brings me back to the slide: Skin in the Game. Is this simply a point on the spectrum between strong narratives and strong incentives? Or is it something more—a secret, more complex third thing?
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Which brings me back to the slide: Skin in the Game. Is this simply a point on the spectrum between strong narratives and strong incentives? Or is it something more—a secret, more complex third thing?
Eve Online feels real because the stakes are real. Gains and losses of value carry genuine weight. I’ve heard countless stories of players transferring not just monetary value in and out of the game, but also life skills and meaningful relationships forged through its high-stakes world.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Eve Online feels real because the stakes are real. Gains and losses of value carry genuine weight. I’ve heard countless stories of players transferring not just monetary value in and out of the game, but also life skills and meaningful relationships forged through its high-stakes world.
The final example is @eveonline.bsky.social, the long-running shared-reality space opera. A delicate balance of regulatory arbitrage allows the in-game currency to carry the semblance of real-world value. The screenshot here shows the destruction of valuable assets during a massive in-game battle.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
The final example is @eveonline.bsky.social, the long-running shared-reality space opera. A delicate balance of regulatory arbitrage allows the in-game currency to carry the semblance of real-world value. The screenshot here shows the destruction of valuable assets during a massive in-game battle.
In Peglin, they elevate randomness by incorporating a pachinko-style peg board to determine moves in an otherwise classic RPG format. This blend of chance and drama makes every action feel dynamic and unpredictable—an innovative twist on traditional mechanics.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
In Peglin, they elevate randomness by incorporating a pachinko-style peg board to determine moves in an otherwise classic RPG format. This blend of chance and drama makes every action feel dynamic and unpredictable—an innovative twist on traditional mechanics.
Coming from the other direction is Peglin by @rednexusgames.bsky.social, a more traditional roguelike RPG that leans heavily into elements of chance. While it doesn’t fully embody Skin in the Game, it does something I find incredibly exciting: dramatizing the RNG 🎭.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Coming from the other direction is Peglin by @rednexusgames.bsky.social, a more traditional roguelike RPG that leans heavily into elements of chance. While it doesn’t fully embody Skin in the Game, it does something I find incredibly exciting: dramatizing the RNG 🎭.
While there are professional players, the vast majority of poker games are played by amateurs who aren’t financially motivated.
Still, the game only works because every decision carries real monetary risk. It’s the Skin in the Game that makes poker engaging—not the pursuit of profit.
Still, the game only works because every decision carries real monetary risk. It’s the Skin in the Game that makes poker engaging—not the pursuit of profit.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
While there are professional players, the vast majority of poker games are played by amateurs who aren’t financially motivated.
Still, the game only works because every decision carries real monetary risk. It’s the Skin in the Game that makes poker engaging—not the pursuit of profit.
Still, the game only works because every decision carries real monetary risk. It’s the Skin in the Game that makes poker engaging—not the pursuit of profit.
Poker is another example of a game that involves incentives but is fundamentally about having Skin in the Game.
I play poker occasionally with friends, and our games can stretch for 8 hours. Even on a lucky streak, my 'hourly wage' ends up well below minimum wage.
I play poker occasionally with friends, and our games can stretch for 8 hours. Even on a lucky streak, my 'hourly wage' ends up well below minimum wage.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Poker is another example of a game that involves incentives but is fundamentally about having Skin in the Game.
I play poker occasionally with friends, and our games can stretch for 8 hours. Even on a lucky streak, my 'hourly wage' ends up well below minimum wage.
I play poker occasionally with friends, and our games can stretch for 8 hours. Even on a lucky streak, my 'hourly wage' ends up well below minimum wage.
For me, betting on a horse isn’t just about winning money—it’s like paying an admission fee to step into the magic circle. The real thrill is screaming at the top of your lungs for two minutes. That’s the fun—but you need Skin in the Game to experience it.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
For me, betting on a horse isn’t just about winning money—it’s like paying an admission fee to step into the magic circle. The real thrill is screaming at the top of your lungs for two minutes. That’s the fun—but you need Skin in the Game to experience it.
The first example is horse racing, which leans closer to the 'Incentive' side of the spectrum. Growing up in Kentucky, my family trained racehorses, so I spent plenty of time at the track. Despite being terrible at picking winners, I’d still bet.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
The first example is horse racing, which leans closer to the 'Incentive' side of the spectrum. Growing up in Kentucky, my family trained racehorses, so I spent plenty of time at the track. Despite being terrible at picking winners, I’d still bet.
If we think of this as a spectrum, there are examples that don’t sit squarely at the center but fall closer to this new middle ground than the extremes.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
If we think of this as a spectrum, there are examples that don’t sit squarely at the center but fall closer to this new middle ground than the extremes.
This feels like the emergence of a new category of game—neither a 'Game of Skill' (rooted in narrative) nor a 'Game of Chance' (driven by incentives). Instead, it’s defined by having Skin in the Game.
Let’s give it the kind of gruesome name: 'Game of Skin'.
Let’s give it the kind of gruesome name: 'Game of Skin'.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
This feels like the emergence of a new category of game—neither a 'Game of Skill' (rooted in narrative) nor a 'Game of Chance' (driven by incentives). Instead, it’s defined by having Skin in the Game.
Let’s give it the kind of gruesome name: 'Game of Skin'.
Let’s give it the kind of gruesome name: 'Game of Skin'.
But what if we had both?
Would this be an incremental improvement on each category or a new category in itself?
Would this be an incremental improvement on each category or a new category in itself?
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
But what if we had both?
Would this be an incremental improvement on each category or a new category in itself?
Would this be an incremental improvement on each category or a new category in itself?
So far I've been speaking as if Narratives were incompatible with Incentives.
November 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
So far I've been speaking as if Narratives were incompatible with Incentives.