Even though gamers themselves aren't very fond of AI in games, recent developments have opened up a plethora of new avenues for improving games and the gaming experience.
AI is being used in a variety of ways to improve popular video games. For example, in "The Last of Us," AI is being used to create realistic adversary behavior and motion matching. In "FC 2024," developed by EA Sports, AI is being used to more accurately reflect real player talents and tactics through hyper-realistic animation.
It may transform from a "necessary evil," as some experts refer to it, to a feature that both players and creators find valuable.
Thus, it should come as no surprise that Web 3.0 gaming, also known as "blockchain" or "NFT gaming," would also employ AI technology.
Is it possible to implement this method without trying to cover up a disorganized gaming experience using digital tape?
AI may be used in Web 3.0 games in a (supportive) capacity
Web 3.0 games are still in their infancy when compared to the traditional gaming business, and they have had their share of volatility like the larger crypto sector.
The industry rose to popularity during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when many workers were sent on unpaid leave, as a result of the introduction of play-to-win mechanics. Well-known titles such as "Axie Infinity" have the unusual ability to combine nostalgic gameplay with in-game ownership of non-fungible tokens.
Numerous other Web 3.0 game initiatives started to debut in an effort to mimic the popularity of "Axie" and a few other titles.
But it didn't take long to see that the majority of these initiatives would fail for various reasons.
Web 3.0 gaming and NFTs lost most of their appeal when the crypto sector crashed in the summer of 2022, which negatively impacted even the most well-known titles in the market.
Due to a continuous drop in users, value, and venture funding, three out of every four games had to close.
The structural weaknesses and long-term viability of the sector were starkly visible without the protection and easy money of a bull market.
Whatever the case, the first wave of Web 3.0 games was harshly criticized for being uninteresting, having unengaging plots, being overly preoccupied with the in-game economy, and using "pay-to-win" tactics.
Rewriting this story should be the primary goal of web 3.0 gaming.
Many gaming ventures are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) in an attempt to attract interest and legitimacy from venture capitalists, mainstream gamers, and cryptocurrency enthusiasts as Bitcoin sits at over $60,000 and the broader crypto industry continues its return nearly two years after its meltdown.
Similar to traditional gaming, AI should be applied when appropriate to improve Web 3.0 game quality overall.
A major deficiency in the first wave of Web 3.0 games was the lack of rich, genuine, and dynamic gameplay, which can be improved, for instance, by utilizing AI to improve interactions with NPCs (non-player characters).
AI can also be cleverly used to control in-game economy, identify bots, produce NFTs, and more.
By demonstrating to those who doubt Web 3.0 gaming that the new breed of developers and games has distinct goals, these kinds of use cases can help the ecosystem as a whole.
This does not, however, imply that Web 3.0 game makers should employ AI as a gimmick or marketing tool to attract attention. This is because such strategies are similar to the flimsy strategies employed during the 2021 cryptocurrency boom, in which businesses frequently made false and inflated claims.
These actions simply served to further delegitimize the industry and bring significant ridicule.
Game creators and studios should avoid stumbling into old practices and depending solely on AI's buzz to draw in users as the industry embraces AI.
Writing the script again
It is critical that the Web 3.0 gaming industry acknowledges and addresses the errors and flaws that caused the industry's widespread criticism in order to restore its standing.
Using AI cannot be the main focus, even for game companies and titles that are taking the necessary actions to rectify the shortcomings in the business.
Hyping up the usage of AI or employing it where it's not useful would leave gamers with a foul taste in their mouths, just as early Web 3.0 games unduly concentrated on token launches and crypto features like staking and prizes.
The industry has a second chance thanks to a more developed Web 3.0 gaming environment, but this time it can't be blown by using flimsy strategies to appeal to wider audiences.
Redefining the industry and taking charge of its story can only be accomplished by creating better games that appeal to both mainstream players and cryptocurrency enthusiasts.
This entails putting narratives ahead of token launches, emphasising high-quality visuals and audio over financial procedures, and putting a powerful physics engine ahead of pointless AI integrations.
The need to foster the more promising components of Web 3.0 gaming, such as community building, transparent gameplay, ownership and interoperability of in-game assets, and user participation in creation, must be balanced with the variables that will lead to higher quality games.
Fortunately, it seems that the industry is acknowledging its problematic paradigm and adopting a fresh strategy.
The new strategy appears to be working as more games have made gameplay a priority and the market capitalization of gaming tokens increased by about 25% in March, coinciding with VCs' increasing interest in Web 3.0 gaming.
Better infrastructure, in the form of additional blockchain networks on which developers can build, further supports all of this.
Although the industry seems to be moving in the right direction, it must exercise caution when utilizing AI. In the end, the creation of enjoyable, excellent games that deftly and imaginatively incorporate the greatest Web 3.0 capabilities will be what draws more players to Web 3.0.
No matter how much AI is used in a game without this, no one will play it.
May 2024, Cryptoniteuae