Seizing Opportunity for Improvement: A Roadmap for Redefining Video Games with Blockchain

I was recently reading a post on Reddit about making video games and enabling it on blockchain. Immediately, the poster was attacked by an individual claiming

“Like all crypto-currency evangelists, you peddle a solution to a non-existent problem.”

This led me to the realization that some people don’t really recognize that it’s not really “problems” as much as there is “an opportunity for improvement.” The “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” attitude. Sometimes, things don’t seem broken because we’ve lived with it for so long and we just don’t know any better. Or perhaps what we are working with was the best solution we had at the time. Or we recognize there is a better way to do it, but we just don’t want to spend the time to improve it. Or we don’t know how to make it better, though we know it’s not effective. Or we think it’s some one else’s problem. Or a multitude of other reasons. I suggest it’s time to start examining these things a little more closely and seeing if there is anything that can be done about it.

Artist KC Green from the webcomic “Gunshow”

At 8 Circuit Studios (8CS) we have a passion for creating. Creating art and entertainment, great stories, and systems that benefit both our players and content creators. In our time as innovators and creators we’ve noticed there are some things that clearly can be improved upon in the current model of product development, distribution and ownership rights.In the next few articles, I’m going to point out some of the things we’ve seen as “just fine” to date and now we can take the opportunity to improve it. Maybe even create an entirely new perspective in the process.

To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.
     -Aristotle

Digital Asset Ownership

As a player in a video game, the current model is: you are paying for the right to play the game. Everything you do in the game world, all the levels your character gains through your experience, the items you find, the items you create, all of it, belongs, not to you, but to the publisher of the game. Even your character. Why? Because it’s in the game and what you paid for was the experience of the game world. If you try to sell your character, or the items you found or made, for money outside the game world, you are likely violating the terms of the game you accepted by purchasing or playing it.

Funding and Distribution Models

Where does the money to create all these things we have in the world come from? And what is the result of the current funding models and methods of distribution that are commonly used? These will be a couple of questions that we investigate and we’ll look into the results. In my experience, it tends to result in very short sighted goals that leave the end user wanting a better experience.

Product Development

“Interested in a career in video games?” If you answered yes to this, get in line with the rest of ’em.

"I can’t wait to work in video games!"

This is the attitude of much of the development community. In the coming articles we’ll examine what it’s like trying to break into an industry you’re passionate about and what it often looks like once you’re there. Then I’ll talk about the 8 Circuit Studios plan to open those doors and let people do what they are good at and contribute where they can.

Blockchains

All of these articles in this series will talk about blockchains and the potential that they hold. This will be the overarching theme and we’ll answer what “the problems” are and how we think the current models can be improved. We want to see a better future for all of us, and we think that we see the ways we can get there.

Join Us in Finding Solutions

Want to get involved in creating amazing art, stories, content, and making the world a better place for all those things? The simplest way is demonstrate support for these ideas is the 8 Circuit Studio Token Sale. On July 17th, 2017 we’ll be offering our in game currency for sale. Purchasing 8BT Tokens will help to make these games and our ecosystem a reality. D-PARC, our first game, is well on it’s way.

D-PARC Teaser Trailer

D-PARC UI Schematic

D-PARC Building the Bridge

Participants in the Token Sale will be given access to the Alpha version of D-PARC in August of 2017. We have a few other surprises scheduled for holders of 8Bit Tokens too, so stay tuned. You will be part of a pioneering effort to change the way that people work and collaborate together. Join us in being a part of that change.

Learn More About 8 Circuit Studios

We are an experienced group of game developers, with over a century of combined experience in the video game industry. We have a passion for creating video games, telling compelling stories, and creating new models to benefit people.

Read more about our ideas
The 8 Circuit Studios Token Sale by James Mayo, posted on Medium
The 8 Circuit Studios Experiment by James Mayo, posted on Medium
Video Games, Driving Technology: What’s Next? by Mike Jones, posted on Medium
How 8 Circuit Studios Hopes to Influence the Blockchain and Video Game Industries by Shingai Thornton, posted on Medium

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About Mike Jones

A member of the video game development community for over 20 years, Mike runs business development and helps guide the vision of the future for 8 Circuit Studios. He’s been fascinated by cryptocurrencies, the blockchain and the potential for where they can take us as a world society. Mike is humbled by the opportunities that have led him to a point in his life, where he is able to take his passion for telling a good story, providing space for people to be their best, and offering opportunities for them to find their own passion.

Find this article on medium too: https://medium.com/@mejones73/seizing-opportunity-for-improvement-2c54704cd902