Blockchain gaming has been around for years, but it wasn’t until 2024 that its true potential was recognized. This article takes a look back at the origins of GameFi, explores the play-to-earn concept, and highlights key milestones in this niche sector.
The journey begins with the launch of CryptoKitties in 2017, a game that allowed players to buy, breed, and trade virtual NFT-cats on the Ethereum blockchain. Despite its seemingly simple gameplay, CryptoKitties quickly gained popularity and even saw one of its in-game cats sold for a whopping 247 ETH. This success led to the developer, Dapper Labs, raising $12 million in funding the following year.
While CryptoKitties eventually saw a decline in popularity, it laid the foundation for the future of GameFi. Around the same time, Nguyen Thanh Trung, one of the creators of CryptoKitties, was working on a new project called Axie Infinity. This game introduced an in-depth in-game economy where players could buy, sell, and trade resources earned in the game.
Other blockchain games like The Sandbox also started gaining traction, but it was the introduction of the play-to-earn concept that truly revolutionized the industry. Players could now own in-game assets represented by tokens and NFTs, opening up new possibilities for decentralized gaming.
In 2024, The Open Network (TON) entered the scene and brought with it a game-changing dApp called Notcoin. This simple yet addictive game allowed users to earn coins by tapping on their screens, leading to over 8 trillion taps and 17 trillion Notcoins generated collectively. Players were then rewarded with an airdrop of the actual TON-built token, NOT, which saw a significant increase in value.
Another standout game in the TON ecosystem is Pocket Rocket, a Whitechain-powered clicker game where players compete for crystal rocks, the currency of the Web3 space. Players can complete various tasks to earn rewards, including tapping the screen, hunting asteroids, and upgrading spaceships.
The popularity of TON-powered games can be attributed to their community-focused approach and seamless integration with Telegram. Notcoin and Pocket Rocket offer players a sense of participation in a community while driving the development and adoption of decentralized applications.
Overall, TON-powered games have proven to be a hit among players due to their engaging gameplay, community-building features, and seamless integration with other blockchains and protocols. As the GameFi industry continues to evolve, TON and its dApps are at the forefront of this exciting new frontier.