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New Steam Quest Live, Star Atlas' SAGE Labs Goes Open-Platform, Gods Unchained Season 2 Details, and More!

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GAM3S.GG
October 05, 2023

🔥 Top headlines from this week’s digest:

⚔️ NEW GAM3 Quest

Verify you have over 100 hours of playing time on Steam to claim a special Proof of Gamer badge and a chance to win one of 20 x $25 Steam Wallet Gift Cards.

Start Quest | Ends Oct 17th

📝 MapleStory M Surpasses $50 Million in China and Web3 IP

MapleStory M surpasses $50 million mark in China faster than any Korean game - with $600 million in cumulative sales and the recent announcement of web3 project.

What’s Going On Here? 

Amidst the dynamic landscape of mobile gaming, MapleStory M, an MMORPG born from Nexon's iconic 'MapleStory' franchise, has emerged as a colossal success story. Launched in October 2016, it has recently achieved a remarkable milestone by accumulating $600 million in sales, with a substantial $55 million earned in a mere 35 days after entering the competitive Chinese gaming market.

What Does This Mean?

MapleStory M's journey began as a mobile extension of the beloved 'MapleStory' franchise, which has garnered global adoration since its inception in 2003. Transitioning seamlessly to mobile in 2016, the game expanded globally in 2018 and entered the lucrative Chinese market in August 2023, under Tencent and Segi Cheonsung's expert guidance.

The game's sales are distributed primarily across Korea, the United States, Taiwan, Japan, and now, significantly, China. Notably, the Chinese iOS market made a massive impact, contributing 87.9% of sales between August 17 and September 20, 2023.

MapleStory M's entry into China catapulted it from 9th place to the 2nd spot in global MMORPG rankings, highlighting the seismic influence of its initial success in this new territory.

Why Should I Care?

MapleStory M's remarkable success and strategic localization serve as a testament to the enduring appeal of cherished gaming IPs and the power of effective adaptation for new markets.

However, what makes this story even more exciting is MapleStory's foray into web3 gaming and blockchain technology. By combining its core Reward Experience (RX) with blockchain, it aims to create RX 2.0, increasing the rarity and utility of in-game items. This move toward NFT-based ecosystems, where players can earn and trade limited quantity NFTs, marks a significant step toward innovation in the MMORPG genre.

Furthermore, MapleStory N, the PC MMORPG counterpart, plans to extend the MapleStory Universe NFTs to mobile platforms, introducing a sandbox platform for creators and enabling diverse applications. This expansion promises an exciting future for the franchise in the world of web3 gaming, where the boundaries of traditional gaming are pushed further.

In essence, MapleStory M's journey from success to innovation serves as a compelling example of how iconic IPs can adapt and thrive while embracing cutting-edge technologies, making it a noteworthy development for both gamers and the gaming industry at large.

Read the full report breakdown here

✍️ Reviews of the Week

We entered the futuristic world of Unioverse to kill enemy robots then battled our way to victory in Raini in our two featured reviews:

The Proving Grounds offers a player-centric experience with multiple heroes, frequent updates, captivating sound design, and challenging mechanics, making it highly immersive and addictive. It sets a standard for future Unioverse games, providing well-crafted and enjoyable gameplay with ongoing updates, leaderboard competitions, and NFT hero rewards.

Raini: The Lords of Light follows a conventional gameplay style, lacking innovation in the genre, with the primary objective being to reduce your opponent's health to zero. The game is easy to understand and offers depth for deck building and strategy, yet it may not cater well to non-web3 players due to its strong emphasis on crypto and web3 elements, which could be off-putting.

🎮 Fresh Games

From one of the most anticipated RPGs to cute little toy dragons, check out the latest games added to our platform!

Legions and Legends is an upcoming web3 RPG set in the mystical world of Akkad during its dark ages, where you will need to slay the Titans after their slumber for thousands of years and protect the kingdom.

Meta Toy DragonZ SAGA invites players into the realm of Generative Pixel Art. In this captivating universe, Toy Dragons evolve, engage in epic battles, and pursue their quest to reclaim the throne of the toy kingdom.

🎙️Conversation of the Week

This week we spoke with Kohji Nagata - Head of Game Design at Parallel to learn more about one of the hottest TCGs in town, their upcoming Parallel Colony and its innovative AI, and what the future holds for the studio.

The game's storyline is set in a dystopian future where Earth has become uninhabitable due to a cataclysmic tragedy known as "The Event," caused by a new form of fission using anti-matter as fuel. The radiation from this event forced humanity to flee to space, splitting into three expeditions to Mars, Europa, and the outskirts of the asteroid belt.

What You Need to Know About Parallel:

  • Game Overview: Parallel is a science fiction trading card game (TCG) that allows collectors to have full ownership of their cards and game items. Set in a dystopian future after a cataclysmic event, players explore the aftermath as humanity splits into different expeditions and later competes for Earth's newfound energy.

  • New TCG Mechanics: The Banking feature present in Parallel is a refreshing take on the traditional Mana approach in all TCGs. It forces the players to sacrifice one of the cards in their hands to be able to play bigger and more effective cards from their decks.

  • Innovative AI Simulation: Parallel Colony, another project by Parallel Studios, is an AI simulation game where players navigate a mining colony with Avatars. These Avatars, equipped with a 6551 wallet, can own and engage in transactions with digital items like ERC-1155s and $PRIME.

  • Adaptive AI Experience: The AI in Parallel Colony has the capability to adapt and "write its own code" as players engage, offering a vast and ever-evolving world. This feature aims to provide a continually growing and captivating gaming experience.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation recording here

📺 Video: Best 5 Web3 Games from September 2023

Games are a significant part of every summer, and September is no exception. In this video, we're excited to present our top 5 web3 games to enjoy in September 2023. Take a look at our list and let us know what was YOUR favorite game! 👇

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Until next time, happy gaming!