Wildcard has successfully transitioned its Wildpass NFTs to the Ethereum mainnet and is gearing up for a token launch. This game is a highly anticipated player-versus-player (PVP) battle experience that incorporates cryptocurrency elements, which I’ve been monitoring for several years. Players take on characters that navigate a 3D battlefield, hurling cards that morph into formidable creatures that engage in automated battles. Additionally, spectators of Wildcard matches can also earn rewards for their participation and interaction with the game.
### Development Challenges and Game Design
The project is being brought to life by Playful Studios, founded by Paul Bettner, who has a notable history in game development, having contributed to titles like Words With Friends, Age of Empires, and Lucky’s Tale. Despite the excitement surrounding Wildcard, the game has yet to be officially launched, even after two years of development. According to Bettner, the challenge lies not just in creating an enjoyable game, but in integrating cryptocurrency elements, which complicate the design process.
“It’s akin to navigating through a minefield while constructing a game,” Bettner remarked with humor. He noted that over the past two years, various conflicting interests have often diverted the focus from simply delivering a fun gaming experience for a broad audience, primarily due to the influence of cryptocurrency.
### Prioritizing Player Experience
Bettner’s ambition is to create a game that stands out in players’ libraries, offering an enjoyable experience that users will prefer over other options. He emphasized that crypto introduces a set of pressures that can sway the design of consumer applications, particularly games, in ways that may not align with user enjoyment.
### Transition to Ethereum Mainnet
Originally, Wildpass NFTs were launched on the Polygon network in 2023, granting early access to 4,444 dedicated fans during the game’s development phase. Bettner refers to this group of NFT holders and Discord community members as the “golden cohort,” highlighting their importance to the game’s success. Previously, Bettner and his wife, Katy Bettner, represented Wildcard at the Game Developer’s Conference under the Polygon booth, which also showcased other projects like the now-defunct shooter Deadrop.
However, the Wildpass NFTs have recently migrated to the Ethereum mainnet. The team covered the gas fees for this transition, indicating their commitment to their community. Bettner mentioned that while they are not locked into any specific Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chain for future developments, they believe the Ethereum mainnet is advantageous for the initial NFT offering due to its liquidity, despite higher transaction costs compared to Polygon.
### Innovative Community-Owned Token
The upcoming WC token, which has yet to be launched, promises to be a unique offering as it will be entirely community-owned, with no allocations for the team or venture capitalists. Bettner clarified that this token will not be akin to a memecoin. “I’m aiming to establish a new precedent here,” he stated. The absence of team or VC allocations is intended to prevent any financial conflict between the Wildcard community and the development team, especially if investors opt to liquidate their holdings, which could negatively impact the token’s value.
With the recent positive regulatory developments following Trump’s election and changes at the SEC, the team feels more confident about introducing the token. Bettner described the WC token as fundamentally different from typical meme tokens, asserting that it is intrinsically linked to the Wildcard ecosystem and its generated value.
### Future Plans for Playful Studios
In addition to Wildcard, Bettner’s Playful Studios is also in the process of developing Thousands, a blockchain-based streaming platform akin to Twitch, but designed to offer enhanced incentives and rewards for both viewers and streamers. Having tested an early version of Wildcard, I found it to be impressive. As a fan of multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) and arena-style games like Overwatch, coupled with a love for vibrant sci-fi environments featuring characters with unique abilities, I eagerly anticipate the full release of this game.
