Users’ Perceptions of Key Blockchain Features in Games

Abstract

The blockchain is an emerging technology that has the potential to revolutionize the gaming industry among a wide range of different business fields. So far, only a few studies have been conducted about blockchain gaming. This study introduces a mobile game utilizing blockchain asset tokens and smart contracts. It was developed for research purposes and used to demonstrate blockchain-based games using semi-structured interviews. This study follows the exploratory research paradigm, which aims to map research of little-known areas. This study focuses on how participants perceived blockchain attributes such as trust, transparency, and user-generated content and how this affected engagement and their willingness to play the game again. Based on our evaluation, generating blockchain assets positively impacted player retention. According to the results, providing genuine asset ownership through the blockchain contributes to environmental engagement and self-engagement, as well as player retention. Another positive blockchain feature discovered from the interview data is user-generated content implementation into games.

Blockchain-Powered Gaming: Bridging Entertainment with Serious Game Objectives

“…The data presented in Figure 18 highlight participants' dissatisfaction with aspects such as the lack of high-quality graphics, in-game features, and available content. These results corroborate the findings of Iikka Paajala et al [21], emphasizing the importance of not solely focusing on blockchain integration but also giving substantial attention to game graphics and mechanics in the development of a blockchain game. With the assessment of participants' understanding and perceptions of blockchain technology completed, the survey now delves into the second part, focusing on the developed game.…”

“…As blockchain games expand in popularity and diversify in form and function, several pioneering studies have emerged to unpack the intricacies and potentials of this synergy [19]. These studies delve into the categorical variations [20], player perceptions [21], technical functionalities [22], and educational aspects of blockchain games [16].…”

“…On another note, Iikka Paajala et al [21] sought to investigate the factors that contribute to player retention and engagement in blockchain games. Their focus was on understanding the player's perceptions and how they are influenced by blockchain's inherent characteristics.…”

“…Its educational focus is further enhanced by future updates that will introduce more features to engage players and deepen their understanding of renewable energy transitions. The game also promotes collaboration through a marketplace feature, and its research component includes a questionnaire to capture player perceptions, contributing to broader research efforts in the field like the one Iikka Paajala et al [21] sought to investigate. The use of DappRadar for obtaining fresh data about blockchain games provides an updated perspective, adding to the research initiated by Tian Min, Hanyi Wang, and others.…”

Special Issue on Security and Privacy in Blockchains and the IoT Volume II

“…Digital assets are increasingly distributed as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which can be verifiably linked to a specific user, e.g., unique player items in a video game, while this can be solved relatively easily from a technical point of view via blockchain entries certifying ownership and authenticity, player perception of such techniques is still largely unresearched. Paajala et al [11] therefore study the opinion of gamers towards the inclusion of such blockchain-based features in games. Based on a game called IkuneRacer, they investigate how players perceive transparency, trust, and user-generated content in blockchain-based games.…”