An Interview with Mines of Dalarnia: Carving New Paths in the Web3 Wilderness
March 2024, [email protected]
Guest: Manfred Pack, Game Development Director of Mines of Dalarnia
Interviewer: Alex Cooper, Head of Community and BD in North America of Footprint Analytics
In the blockchain gaming world, where decentralization and player-driven economies are reshaping experiences, Mines of Dalarnia (MoD) stands out as a model of innovation. Amidst this backdrop, Footprint Analytics connected with Manfred Pack, Game Development Director of MoD. The discussion focused on MoD’s innovative blockchain integration and its commitment to community-driven development.
MoD is an interstellar mining game where players excavate rare resources to create items and equipment, advancing to perilous zones. The aim is to enhance power, accumulate wealth, and conquer challenges.
Q. Manfred, could you share your journey into blockchain gaming and the inception of Mines of Dalarnia?
A. My journey into the realm of gaming has been long and diverse, spanning over a decade in various roles from project manager, product manager, to game director, from traditional gaming, or Web2 gaming, to Web3 gaming. I joined MoD about 7 months prior to its release in April 2021.
MoD is a project under the Dar Open Network. We aimed to perfect the core gaming experience in a genre relatively untapped in the blockchain world: a side-scrolling action-adventure game. Despite the challenges of a tough market and some development hurdles, we’ve been committed to enhancing and expanding MoD.
The Dar Open Network’s vision is to craft an open and decentralized space that doesn’t just house our own games but also welcomes external developers to join in the creation process. With the necessary tools and infrastructure for managing digital assets across various games, our aim is to democratize game development, enhance player agency, and incentivize creative contributions.
Q. From your vast experience, how do you compare the development and market dynamics between Web2 and Web3 games?
A. In Web2 gaming, the focus is squarely on crafting a compelling core game experience, understanding the diverse player types, and applying the industry’s best practices in design, production, and marketing. Web3 gaming, however, navigates new territory with a complex mix of players, earners, and investors, introducing tokenomics and a sophisticated economy that reshapes game monetization and interaction.
Web3 games often launch in “early access” to quickly adapt to user feedback, facing unique development challenges and design limitations. However, the talent pool for Web3 gaming is currently smaller, making it challenging to find experienced developers, designers, and marketers who are well-versed in both gaming and blockchain technologies.
Despite these differences, the core challenge remains the same: creating an engaging and enjoyable game that captivates users.
Q. What strategies are you employing to enhance user engagement and retention within MoD?
A. Initially, it’s essential to develop games that captivate players beyond just the allure of Web3 benefits; the core game experience must be compelling in its own right for long-term engagement. We’re focusing on building a solid foundation for early game retention, ensuring teams are aligned on engagement expectations from the outset.
A key component in sustaining engagement is the introduction of the Dalarnia Nexus and our DAR ID progression system. This innovative feature allows players to create a customizable base within the Nexus, decorating it with assets earned across our game universe. This personal space strengthens player attachment, while engaging in quests across the Dalarnia Multiverse and participating in community votes further deepens their involvement.
Moreover, we’re leveraging established Web3 incentives, like token and NFT airdrops, as mechanisms to maintain interest and encourage return visits to our projects.
However, at the heart of our retention strategy is the intrinsic quality of the gameplay itself.
Q. Can you discuss any upcoming features, updates, or expansions planned for Mine of Dalarnia or other games on Dar Open Network?
A. Absolutely. We’re rolling out several exciting developments:
- MoD Updates: An early Q2 update and a summer update will introduce new content and gameplay features, expanding MoD with innovative mechanics for fresh experiences.
- Dalarnia Legends: Aimed for an end-of-April playtest, this new card game will be developed in close collaboration with our community, featuring regular updates.
- Long-Term Vision:
- DAR ID and Citizenship: Introducing an account management tool, DAR ID, for seamless integration and a staking program, DAR Citizenship, that redefines premium memberships in a Web3 context, with the difference that our players can easily cancel at any time and instantly reclaim their funds.
- Dalarnia Nexus: We’re passionate about making the Nexus a central hub for our community. We’ll be announcing the first public product demo very soon.
- Prototype Production: Focusing on generating new game prototypes, with community votes guiding which concepts move forward into full production.
Q. Does your team have any plans to introduce a new blockchain or migrate your games to a different chain in the future?
A. Yes, we’re actively looking into supporting new blockchains for either specific titles or the entire Dar Open Network. We’ve recently confirmed full support for the Chromia relational blockchain for MoD, planning to deploy the game to Chromia mainnet upon its launch. Each game within Dar Open Network will be considered individually for potential migration.
Furthermore, we aim to incorporate multichain support into Dar Open Network’s infrastructure. By embracing well-established chains within the gaming sphere, we intend to enhance our ecosystem’s accessibility and versatility.
Q. At this point in MoD’s development, what do you prioritize more: refining in-game tokenomics or enhancing the gameplay experience?
A. Currently, our primary focus is on expanding our player base and community engagement, as this directly influences the economic dynamics of MoD and the broader Dar Open Network.
We’re actively working to enrich the gameplay experience, believing that a captivating and enjoyable game is crucial for long-term success and user acquisition. Concurrently, we’re meticulously monitoring and adjusting our game economy to ensure it remains robust and scalable.
As the interview drew to a close, Manfred’s profound passion for the Web3 gaming industry and their game and platform shone through unmistakably.
The debate around what draws gamers to Web3 games — be it the enjoyment of the gameplay itself or the allure of earning — continues. However, Mines of Dalarnia seems to offer its own compelling response: players are here not merely to mine cryptocurrencies but to mine something far rarer in the crypto world — genuine “fun”.
Footprint Analytics is a blockchain data solutions provider. It leverages cutting-edge AI technology to help analysts, builders, and investors turn blockchain data and combine Web2 data into insights with accessible visualization tools and a powerful multi-chain API across 20+ chains for NFTs, GameFi, and DeFi.
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