Virtual assets, like weapons in a video game, have long been finite. Owning these weapons has not been possible for users since they depend on a central server to allow access to them. The ramifications of this are actually quite significant especially in gaming. When you play a game and collect, trade, and purchase in game goods (items) it will feel as if you own the items you have earned, the unfortunate truth is you don't.
Consider these scenario, what happens if the game you are playing shuts down, goes offline for a bit, or bans your account. In all of those cases your access to your items is compromised -- at best temporarily, at words indefinitely. Also, consider what happens when a hacker gains access to your game account. It would be trivial for them to take everything you have earned, bought, and laboured for.
Lets look at how this differs with items being stored on a blockchain. No longer is the a games server shutting down, having downtime, or you being banned a risk factor. Even without access the game you will still have access to your items, and could even trade/sell them as normal. In the example of your account getting hacked, your items should still remain safe. A hacker when trying to steal your hard earned items would need to verify the transaction on your wallet -- which should not be tethered to the game's server.
As you can see, with blockchain we have enabled true ownership of virtual assets, users are no longer beholden to server admins. Somewhat unsurprisingly brilliant minds have already put these ideas of decentralized virtual asset ownership into practice.
0xUniverese
"0xUniverse is powered by the Ethereum blockchain. This tech guarantees you indisputable ownership over the planets you’ve conquered – even if the developers get hit by a meteorite."
0xUniverse is a game set in the 22nd century where interstellar travel has become a reality. Cosmic expansion has been deemed a necessity, and to speed up the process the United Earth Government decided to pass law that gives ownership to those who discover new planets.
In 0xUniverse you will be playing as a discoverer in search of unique and collectible virtual planets to learn the secrets of the 0xUniverse. Planets in 0xUniverse can be bought and sold to fuel your next astronomic expedition. The Ethereum blockchain is what powers ownership on 0xUniverse insuring users that they own their planets, and rockets.
Planets come in 4 different varieties, common, rare, epic, and legendary. Common being the least rare/valuable, and legendary being extremely rare and valuable. Planets provide valuable resources that will need to create and launch ships. Each launch is high risk, high reward, you never know if you will find the next legendary planet, or lose your ship to the difficulties of space travel.
Prospectors
"Prospectors is the first of its kind MMO dapp, economic strategy, and crypto game, where you can find your own way and reach your goals. This blockchain dapp will let you try yourself in business development during the Gold Rush Epoque and building your social network."
Prospectors started a new game genre known as MMORTES (Massive Multiplayer Online Real Time Economic Strategy). Economy is such an essential part of Prospectors that you could probably get away with call Prospectors an economic simulation rather than a game. With that said the economy, and economic incentives are what make Prospectors strategic, rewarding, and fun then it would be otherwise. The EOS blockchain is what powers ownership in prospectors, giving in game items actually value, and use.
Prospectors is all about resources and it's players are the ones in charge of harvesting, converting, and exchanging the lands resources. As a prospector you will be trying to harvest resources such as coal, iron, clay, wood, stone, and gold. These resources drive the economy, and are essential for trade, crafting, building, even hiring workers. The free market between prospectors is essential; it allows any resource rich prospector to pay new prospector for work. As a prospector earns more wealth they can begin to fill unique rolls, like hiring others to mine ore, and setting up shop to build the tools needed for mining.
As you can see the economy is what Prospectors game play revolves around. Without everyone working together resources would be much more difficult to obtain as well as profit from -- supply and demand.
Cryptovoxels
"Cryptovoxels is a virtual world powered by the Ethereum blockchain. Players can buy land and build stores and art galleries. Editing tools, avatars, text chat and voice chat are built in."
Cryptovoxels is a creative sandbox with similarities to Minecraft. Land ownership is powered by the Ethereum blockchain so users have true ownership over their plots. Upon plots can be built, art, digital store fronts, social spaces (music centers, chat spaces), and much more.
Cryptovoxels doesn't have any essential goals, making it more about social experiences like creating, sharing, and exploring. The lack of a goal gives Cryptovoxels a similar charm to early releases of Minecraft, but with a twist of decentralized ownership.
When watching the trailer you will likely notice that most of Cryptovoxels is just white blocks. Color in Cryptovoxels is an token asset called COLR, you can purchase COLR and use it to make what you build more vibrant. A further explanation of COLR tokens can be found in this article by Ben Nolan (the founder and lead Cryptovoxels developer).
As Cryptovoxels develops I'll be interesting in watch the directions it is taken, the possibilities are open.
Summary
Blockchain gaming is still infantile, but as the examples above demonstrate it provides game developers and maybe more importantly users with unique opportunities. Virtual asset ownership is now a reality, and that provides an opening for all kinds of interesting things. For example, because of blockchain technology, virtual assets are no longer dependent on one game, and could be used across many.
With blockchain technology now in the hands of game developers it is only a matter of time before we see massively decentralized games become mainstream. Blockchain has the potential to revolutionize the gaming industry, developers just need to find the right key to unlock it.
Enjoy!