Запись АМА от 30.08.2024 | Результат работы за 3 месяца | Проблемы с которыми мы столкнулись

Results and Insights from the Last Three Months

Overview of the Session

• The speaker begins by introducing the session, highlighting a wealth of information to share regarding community insights and team perspectives over the past three months since the last AMA session.

• Discussion will include problems faced, potential solutions, and a brief mention of strategic plans, although most focus will be on challenges encountered.

Key Developments in Application Features

• Introduction of Telegram login for easier access to both app and web platforms, enhancing user convenience.

• NFTs were integrated into the application but later disabled; they await reintroduction into the economic model once ready.

Challenges Post-Release

• The release on March 15 led to immediate operational challenges akin to "working on a running engine," necessitating ongoing adjustments and improvements.

• Acknowledgment that many existing crypto games lack engaging gameplay loops; thus, there is a need for continuous player engagement through quality game mechanics.

Enhancements for Player Engagement

• Emphasis on creating sustainable gameplay loops similar to successful mobile games that allow players to progress indefinitely while maintaining interest.

• Introduction of bonuses like zero gas fees when purchasing Pro accounts aimed at attracting users unfamiliar with cryptocurrency.

Incentives and Rewards System

• Launch of a $100 super prize received positively as part of testing new reward systems; future prizes will increase based on player engagement levels.

• Implementation of features allowing all players (even non-subscribers) opportunities to earn rewards through gameplay.

Development Pipeline Insights

• Significant updates took about six weeks to develop; complexity arises from numerous variables involved in development processes.

Feedback and Future Improvements

• Received mixed feedback regarding combat mechanics; comparisons made with established games like Marvel Snap highlight aspirations for quality improvements over time.

• Plans are underway to enhance combat features based on user feedback while ensuring basic functionalities remain accessible for all players.

Market Update and Community Engagement

Token Performance and Market Maker Introduction

• The token experienced a significant decline, but a new market maker has successfully halted this downward trend. The token has stabilized in a range of $0.06 to $0.18 for about 10 days.

• Previously, there was no market maker, leading to continuous price drops. The introduction of the market maker in early August has been crucial in stopping the decline.

Token Buyback and Burn Mechanism

• Over the past month, 60 million tokens were repurchased and subsequently burned as part of a monthly mechanism aimed at supporting the token's value.

• This buyback strategy is essential; without it, the token's price would likely continue to fall. The current price stability is attributed to these buybacks.

Community Feedback and Support Improvements

• A concerted effort has been made to engage with the community through structured feedback collection methods, moving from chaotic comment reading to organized surveys.

• Feedback is now systematically collected via special forms filled out by community managers, which are then analyzed by the product department for feature development.

Technical Support Enhancements

• Significant improvements have been made in technical support response times; issues that previously took weeks or months are now resolved within days.

• A dedicated developer on the second line of support allows for rapid resolution of various issues related to NFTs or subscriptions.

Addressing Criticism and Future Communication Strategy

• Recent updates faced criticism after extensive development time; however, adjustments based on feedback have already been implemented.

• The team acknowledges previous communication failures due to unrealistic expectations set during project updates. Moving forward, they aim for transparency regarding company realities.

Commitment to Realistic Expectations

• There’s an emphasis on honesty with stakeholders about company status rather than inflating expectations that lead to disappointment.

Reflections on Communication and Ecosystem Challenges

Desire for Reconnection

• The speaker expresses a wish to return to regular communication, proposing monthly meetings to review progress and set future goals.

Encountering Complexity in Product Development

• Acknowledges the challenges faced due to an underestimated complex ecosystem of products, including mobile games, wallets, and marketplaces.

• Initially thought the project scope was manageable but discovered numerous unforeseen tasks that complicated development.

Evolution of Product Strategy

• Lists various components of their ecosystem: mobile game, web platform, Telegram bot, multiple websites, social media technologies, blockchain tech, and NFTs.

• Reflects on past decisions regarding product offerings; some features like loot boxes were ultimately removed due to inefficiency.

Focus Shift Towards Core Product

• Concludes that focusing on the primary product—mobile gaming—is essential for overall success; other products will continue but with less emphasis.

• Notes a trend where projects launch standalone games as a primary focus rather than diversifying too early.

Financial Struggles and Team Growth

Navigating Financial Difficulties

• Discusses financial constraints typical in startups; mentions experiencing a "death valley" phase where cash flow issues threatened operations.

• Describes critical moments when salaries could not be paid due to lack of funds; emphasizes resilience during tough times.

Transitioning Team Size

• Highlights challenges associated with scaling from three employees to seventy; this transition is often difficult for any growing company.

Business Process Reengineering and Product Quality Challenges

Focus on Business Process Overhaul

• The current priority is the reworking of all business processes, which is seen as crucial for resource management.

• There has been a significant rush in operations, leading to wasted time and negative feedback regarding product quality.

Product Quality Issues

• A major issue arose with the application launched in March, which was plagued by numerous bugs and instability.

• The company identified product quality as a top priority, emphasizing technical stability as essential for success.

Testing Improvements

• The team increased testing resources from one to five testers to better handle the volume of features being developed.

• A new development flow was established that requires one month for feature integration: one week for documentation, two weeks for development, and one week for testing.

Stability Enhancements

• As a result of these changes, application stability improved significantly; error rates dropped from thousands per day to around 1,000.

• Crash incidents were reduced dramatically due to focused efforts on improving product quality.

Market Performance and Token Value Fluctuations

Current Market Status

• The token's listing price was $0.30 in March; it peaked at $0.08 but has since declined significantly.

• By August 30th, the token's value had decreased further; however, it remains 80% higher than its initial listing price despite market fluctuations.

Coin Market Cap Discrepancies

• Coin Market Cap reports show a 93% drop based on peak values rather than initial listing prices, creating misleading perceptions about performance.

Strategies Moving Forward

• Efforts are underway to stabilize the token's value through daily buybacks while addressing past errors that led to declines.

Long-term Vision

• Maintaining a trading price above the listing price is critical; currently at $0.016 (120% above listing).

Game Development and Token Economics

Popularity and Demand for the Game

• The game is gaining popularity, leading to an increased demand for its token, which is rising monthly.

• There are challenges with the current utility of the token in-game; it is primarily used in pets and minor upgrades.

Balancing Token Supply

• Adding tokens can create bottlenecks for new users, indicating a need for careful balance in token supply.

• Currently, 10% of tokens are used daily within the application; plans are in place to reduce this percentage monthly.

Strategic Focus on Mobile Gaming

• The overarching goal remains to create the most popular mobile game integrated with cryptocurrency.

• The focus has shifted from building a blockchain ecosystem to developing a mobile game that attracts users due to its gameplay rather than just its crypto features.

Development Phases and Marketing Plans

• The initial phase involved creating a blockchain product ecosystem, which has been completed.

• Once the mobile game meets all requirements, marketing efforts will commence in the CIS region.

Team Changes and Future Directions

• A significant team change occurred with the departure of Technical Director Alexey Seliverstov; he was instrumental in establishing stable smart contracts.

Company Strategy and Team Introduction

Overview of Company Goals

• The company aims to generate profit by focusing on token management, working with market makers, and increasing sales.

• Emphasis on the importance of B2B sales experience, particularly from a new commercial director who has worked at Microsoft in Eastern Europe.

Key Personnel Introductions

• Alexey Melets has joined as the commercial director, bringing essential expertise for building a profitable business rather than an economic pyramid or bubble.

• Evgeny Mikhailov is introduced as the game producer with significant experience in game production from major American companies like NBA 2K Playground 2.

Game Development Insights

• Under Evgeny's leadership, the mobile game development process is expected to undergo significant improvements and enhancements.

• Peter Alyoshkin, the marketing director, has relevant experience launching NFS Shift in the CIS market and is preparing for a similar launch for their current project.

Community Engagement and Testing Plans

Community Involvement

• The company invites its community to participate in application testing to gather feedback on updates before release.

• Although recent updates were delayed, future updates will include user testing phases aimed at improving product quality.

User Testing Initiatives

• Genesis users will be given opportunities to test applications; plans are underway to create dedicated communication channels for testers.

NFT Supply Management

NFT Burn Announcement

• The company burned 14,400 NFTs that they owned as part of supply management efforts. This included purchasing some from the market and burning others to support community value.

Game Mechanics Updates

Energy Balance Changes

• Adjustments have been made to energy drop rates post-release; higher office levels will increase energy drop frequency while reducing overall drop rates.

Future Game Developments

• Plans remain focused on integrating new mechanics into gameplay; discussions about upcoming features are ongoing but not fully disclosed yet.

Game Mechanics and Player Motivation

Understanding Game Mechanics

• The current perception is that game mechanics are disconnected, leading to confusion about the game's purpose, narrative, and player motivation.

• By the end of the year, the goal is to have a stable game with clear mechanics that interconnect seamlessly, creating an engaging gameplay loop.

Addressing Design Challenges

• There is a desire to eliminate artificial limitations in gameplay, such as construction time restrictions and building limits.

• Temporary design solutions often arise from time constraints; these can lead to mistakes that should be avoided in production.

Release Challenges and Feature Implementation

Navigating Release Constraints

• Introducing new features during release feels like navigating a minefield due to potential negative player feedback.

• Caution in feature implementation may appear foolish but is necessary given the high stakes involved in maintaining player engagement.

Future Plans for Quests

• The team plans to implement quests when they are ready for scaling; currently, they lack the capacity for mass audience engagement.

• Launching quests requires readiness both technically and strategically to attract a large user base effectively.

Game Development Issues

Incomplete Mechanics

• Many game mechanics remain unfinished due to a fragmented approach in mobile game development; this has led to challenges in integration.

• While some mechanics seem underdeveloped, they often function well but require balancing and additional content refinement.

Prioritizing Development Efforts

• The focus will be on refining existing mechanics rather than introducing new ones; updates will enhance current systems without expanding their number significantly.

Economic Adjustments and Gameplay Features

Economic Balancing

• The increase in mint prices reflects adjustments based on initial launch conditions; ongoing evaluations are crucial for balance.

Future Gameplay Enhancements

• Players will eventually have options regarding pet selection for battles; however, this feature's rollout depends on resolving more pressing issues first.

Game Economy and Token Strategy Discussion

Challenges in Game Mechanics

• The complexity of combat mechanics is highlighted, indicating that developing a balanced system requires significant time and cannot be rushed.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of creating a quality product first, followed by popularity, which should lead to organic growth in token value driven by demand.

Financial Insights on Token Management

• It is revealed that the company has not profited from the token; instead, they have incurred losses related to liquidity management.

• The decline in token value is attributed not to excessive selling but rather to financial mismanagement and an inability to stabilize the market effectively.

Market Maker Dynamics

• A new market maker was introduced after previous attempts failed; however, their contributions were minimal and did not significantly improve liquidity.

• Continuous decrease in liquidity over time raises concerns about audience engagement being insufficient for price stabilization.

Marketing Strategies and Community Engagement

• The potential for using influencers for marketing is discussed, but there are concerns about short-term gains leading to long-term losses as hype fades quickly.

• A stable economic model within the game has been established through reinvestment strategies that aim for sustainability rather than quick profits.

Reward System Innovations

• The game's economic system relies on unpredictable rewards based on player engagement and strategy rather than fixed periods like traditional airdrops.

• Players receive daily opportunities for rewards based on their activity level, enhancing engagement without requiring long waiting periods.

Addressing Economic Model Concerns

• While pyramid schemes may seem attractive due to short-term benefits, they are unsustainable; thus, a more reliable model was developed since launch.

• Issues with reward distribution affecting token value were acknowledged; efforts are underway to manage these distributions better.

Development Priorities and Bug Fixes

• There’s an ongoing effort to prioritize bug fixes based on user feedback while acknowledging resource limitations impacting resolution speed.

• User experiences with bugs highlight areas needing improvement; transparency regarding issues is essential for community trust.

Future Plans for Game Features

Discussion on Game Mechanics and User Experience

Balancing Energy and User Feedback

• A user expresses dissatisfaction with low energy drops, suggesting potential fraud in the game's mechanics.

• The team clarifies that testing is optional for users, emphasizing their commitment to regular drops for Genesis accounts despite minor issues encountered.

Upcoming Features and Enhancements

• Plans are discussed for introducing rare pets to Genesis accounts, along with a bonus feature yet to be revealed.

• Staking technology is confirmed as ready and will soon be launched alongside a webshop allowing cryptocurrency purchases of gems and subscriptions.

Gameplay Dynamics and Rewards

• The amount of rewards players receive in battles will depend on the rarity tier of their pets, indicating a direct correlation between investment and returns.

• The speaker shares personal gaming preferences, highlighting unpredictability in gameplay as an engaging factor.

Suggestions for Game Improvement

• Users are encouraged to propose alternative game mechanics to replace luck-based elements like loot boxes; the team is open to integrating viable suggestions.

• There’s acknowledgment of current energy drop rates needing review, with plans to reassess balance based on user feedback.

Team Structure and Development Challenges

• The development team consists of various specialists including developers for both front-end and back-end tasks; overall satisfaction with the team's work ethic is noted.

• Concerns are raised about inherited process inefficiencies from previous teams affecting current project outcomes.

Frequency of Drops and User Expectations

• Monthly drops for Genesis accounts are deemed unfeasible due to resource constraints; future drops may occur quarterly instead.

• Acknowledgment that while some users desire frequent updates, maintaining quality development processes takes precedence over quantity.

Community Engagement and Future Developments

• New characters (pets), including various crypto-themed ones, are planned for introduction into the game environment.

Discussion on Game Mechanics and Economic Models

Changes in City Selection for Game Development

• The speaker discusses the need to reduce the number of cities in the game, indicating that smaller cities (e.g., those with populations around 5,000) may not have enough players to sustain engagement.

• A shift in approach regarding city selection is confirmed, with an announcement of changes to the collection system expected soon. The speaker assures that these changes will be positive.

Game Mechanics and Popularity Challenges

• The conversation touches on the mechanics involving cars and their limited appeal among users compared to airdrop mechanics, which are gaining traction in various games.

• The speaker highlights how many games are adopting similar reward distribution mechanisms as seen in their own game.

Addressing Economic Model Concerns

• Questions arise about introducing burning mechanics for items like car repairs; however, simpler solutions are suggested instead.

• The economic model is clarified as sustainable and capable of accommodating varying player influxes without collapsing under pressure.

Stability vs. Pyramid Schemes

• A comparison is made between their economic model and pyramid schemes, emphasizing that their structure can support any number of players without requiring exponential growth.

• An explanation follows about why pyramid schemes fail due to geometric progression requirements for new participants.

Building a Robust Ecosystem

• The speaker emphasizes creating a stable economic model integrated with mobile gaming while leveraging blockchain technology.

• They express frustration over slow progress but note that 95% of the work has been completed towards building this ecosystem.

Team Structure and Expertise Requirements

• Discussion shifts to team dynamics, highlighting challenges faced when establishing effective business processes within the development team.

• Emphasis is placed on hiring professionals with relevant experience for key roles such as product director or technical director to ensure successful project execution.

Importance of Relevant Experience

• The necessity for experienced individuals in game development is reiterated; each new game presents unique challenges requiring specific knowledge bases.

• Examples are given regarding what constitutes relevant experience, particularly concerning mobile applications and user acquisition metrics.

Leadership Roles Defined

• Clarification on who manages various processes within the team: product development by producers, technical aspects by directors, etc., showcasing a well-defined leadership structure.

Game Development Challenges and Strategies

Overcoming Negative Perceptions of Crypto Games

• The speaker discusses the challenge of attracting experienced game developers to work on a crypto game, highlighting the negative perceptions surrounding crypto games despite their success in traditional gaming.

• Emphasizes the importance of building a strong team to address these challenges and improve user engagement through innovative solutions.

User Engagement and Game Mechanics

• The conversation shifts to user acquisition strategies, noting that both luck-based mechanics and scaling issues need to be addressed for better player retention.

• The speaker expresses a desire to create engaging quests that integrate seamlessly with the application, enhancing user experience.

Decisions on Game Features

• A definitive decision is made against reintroducing certain mechanics (like walking avatars), based on past user behavior indicating low engagement with such features.

• Despite users expressing interest in outdoor gameplay, actual participation has been lacking when given the opportunity.

Token Utility and Economic Considerations

• Discussion about integrating utility into the game's token system, specifically addressing concerns over how tokens are utilized within gameplay mechanics.

• The speaker acknowledges current limitations in token functionality but emphasizes plans to enhance its utility for players.

Balancing Game Economics

• There’s an ongoing effort to balance game economics effectively; however, challenges arise from previous decisions that may not have considered all implications thoroughly.

• The focus is on ensuring that one primary token becomes central within the ecosystem while maintaining economic viability through careful integration into marketplace transactions.

Addressing Player Feedback and Iterative Design

• Continuous feedback loops are established as essential for improving game design; hundreds of daily transactions indicate active engagement from users.

• The complexity of balancing various game elements is highlighted, showing how changes can lead to unforeseen consequences requiring extensive recalibration efforts.

Managing Community Expectations

• Acknowledgment of community feedback regarding game features leads to iterative improvements; however, managing expectations remains crucial as new updates roll out.

Discussion on Game Strategy and Player Feedback

Concerns Over Strategic Decisions

• The speaker expresses frustration over the lack of thoughtful strategy in recent game decisions, highlighting actions taken without proper consideration.

• There is a call for better responsiveness to player feedback, emphasizing that requests for changes have gone unaddressed for months.

Impact of Utility and Game Mechanics

• The absence of utility due to low currency value is damaging the core gameplay experience, particularly affecting player engagement with features like vehicles and income mechanics.

• A question is posed regarding the vision for the game's alpha version, indicating a need for clarity on future developments.

Incremental Changes and User Growth

• The development team discusses their phased approach to introducing new features such as jackpots and super prizes, stressing caution in implementation.

• The relationship between user base size and reward potential is explained through an analogy about playing football with varying numbers of players contributing different amounts.

Commitment to Improvement

• The speaker reaffirms their commitment to continue working through challenges, stating that they will not give up despite difficulties faced by the team.

NFT Utility and Future Plans

• Discussion includes plans for quarterly drops related to NFTs, aiming to provide access to testing phases and other benefits as initially promised.

• Clarification is provided regarding previous statements about listing prices on exchanges being perceived as errors but still reflecting market realities.

Community Engagement Initiatives

• Gratitude is expressed towards participants in the discussion, along with a proposal for creating leaderboards with prize pools as part of community engagement efforts.