NFT Game Development

NFT are a type of digital asset that represent real art in a virtual world. It can be photos, paintings, videos, music tracks or any other objects. NFTs are non-fungible tokens. This means that each token is unique due to the built-in smart contract and has its own value.

In 2022, one of the main growth drivers of the cryptocurrency market was the GameFi sector, which brings together blockchain games that work on the play-to-earn model. Such projects open up the possibility of real earnings not only for publishers, but also for the gamers themselves – by completing various tasks they earn digital assets, which they can later withdraw and exchange on crypto exchanges.

At the end of 2021, over 1.4 million wallets were connected to games in the GameFi sector, and the total trading volume of in-game non-fungible tokens exceeded $4.5 billion. As a result, it has become difficult for even major publishers to ignore new trends. For example, today companies such as Ubisoft, Epic Games, EA and Square Enix are considering the possibility of using NFT in their AAA projects.

Despite the big numbers, many experts are convinced that the NFT game market is still in its infancy and has significant growth potential ahead of it. Therefore, if you were planning to invest in the development of a game project, we suggest considering the development of a GameFi project using non-fungible tokens.

The development cycle of NFT games differs from traditional game development as they are created using blockchain technology and integrated with popular crypto exchanges to power the domestic economy. The entire production process can be divided into several stages.

Let’s consider the main ones in a little more detail.

Step 1. Formation of the concept

First of all, the idea and general outlines of the future game project are formed. At this stage, it is important to answer a number of key questions:

• Genre of NFT games: arcade, card, fighting, etc.
• What graphics format will be used – 2D or 3D.
• What will the characters be like?
• What audience of gamers is the project intended for.
• The main features of the scenario and gameplay.

In this manner, the foundation of the future project is laid, which is rich in what the success of the future is expected to be. That forming the concept and planning needs to be given sufficient respect.

Step 2. Choosing a blockchain

In NFT games, the blockchain ensures the transfer of in-game assets, the possibility of monetization, the storage of rewards, and the security of users. Therefore, it is important to choose the network that is most suitable for the implementation of the project objectives. For example, it can be Ethereum, Solana, Binance Smart Chain, or your own solution.

Step 3. Preparing for Development

At the pre-production stage, specialists determine how exactly the ideas generated at the planning stage will be implemented, and what is the technical feasibility of their implementation, taking into account the proposed budget. For example, the scriptwriter agrees with the game designer on the number of key characters in the project and their background, the programmers determine the load capacity under the technical constraints of the chosen environment, and the designers make the first character prototypes.

Step 4. Production

Most of the time and resources for the implementation of an NFT game falls on the production stage. During this process, all the main work is performed:

• Character models are created and animated.
• Audio design is formed and voice acting is done.
• Game designers determine the difficulty and features of the levels to ensure maximum player engagement.
• Programmers write thousands of lines of code to keep a project running as planned.
• Using API, the game integrates with popular cryptocurrency exchanges to enable quick purchase of in-game content and withdrawal of NFT tokens by players.

Step 5. Testing

After the development is completed, the project is transferred to the Quality Assurance department, where it undergoes mandatory testing. There are several common methods for testing NFT games. In AVADA-MEDIA we use the most common of them:

• Functional – the project is checked for bugs and errors, problems with connecting to the Web or integrations, and so on.
• Exploratory – the tester checks the project manually and, using human thinking and imagination, identifies non-obvious problems with the project.
• Regression – helps to identify the recurrence of defects in already tested code sections.
• Compatibility testing – determines the compatibility and correctness of the project on the operating systems that were included in the terms of reference.
• Play-testing — the tester enters the game on behalf of the end user and checks the correct operation of all functions “from the inside”. This helps to determine the overall atmosphere of the game, user engagement and other important nuances.

Launch and support

The release is the most exciting stage, after which the NFT game becomes available to a wide range of consumers, and begins to bring real profit to the business. However, the technical work on the game does not stop there.

To ensure a positive user experience and maintain engagement, the game needs constant improvements – balance changes, the creation of new levels and characters, the creation of unique in-game events, etc.

Closed beta test

At this stage, a limited number of users are invited to take part in testing a new game project. This helps developers identify and fix as many bugs as possible before an official release is announced.

The NFT industry is rapidly evolving. If you already have an original idea for your own blockchain game or are just thinking about investing in this direction, please contact AVADA-MEDIA.

Our specialists have experience in creating and launching similar projects, and will help with the technical implementation at all stages of production.