The rise of GameFi, blockchain-based gaming, continues to be a hot topic in 2023. With billions of dollars pouring into the space, project teams are eager to onboard new players and make the most of this funding. Polkastarter Gaming recently organized The GAM3 Awards 2022, the first of its kind, to recognize excellence in gaming across 16 categories, including ‘game of the year,’ ‘best RPG,’ and ‘best content creator.’ The event was a success, with a 39-person jury judging nominees on various criteria such as accessibility, gameplay, graphics, and overall experience.
During the two-hour live stream event, representatives from DappRadar, the Solana Foundation, Fractal and Arcade, joined the jury to evaluate the nominees. The community was also involved in the voting process, with 10% of the votes coming from the public. Ryan Day, a judge from Blockworks’ Playconomy, commented on the high quality of games in the Web3 space, suggesting that future titles could compete with traditional games for awards. The success of mainstream gaming events like The Game Awards, which attracted 103 million viewers, indicates the potential for growth in Web3 gaming.
Omar Ghanem, head of gaming at Polkastarter, expressed the importance of showcasing top-quality games in the Web3 space through events like GAM3. He aims to shift the focus from popular games like Axie Infinity to a broader range of games that offer unique gameplay experiences. Ghanem believes that it will take time for AAA studios like Ubisoft and Square Enix to make a successful entry into the Web3 ecosystem, but when they do, the industry will see even greater growth and innovation.
The Game of the Year title at the GAM3 Awards went to the multiplayer action RPG ‘Big Time,’ which stood out among nominees like Illuvium, Gods Unchained, The Harvest, and Superior. According to a spokesperson for The Big Time team, the game was designed to be both fun and accessible while giving players a sense of ownership in the game economy. Another highlight of the awards was the most anticipated game category, which was won by the first-person shooter game ‘Shrapnel’ developed by Neon.
In addition to major awards, the GAM3 Awards also featured a special Games’ Choice Award, which went to the NFT trading card game ‘The Harvest.’ The game, still in closed beta, combines elements of third-person shooters, multiplayer online battle arena games, and battle royale. The winners of the 16 categories will share over $1 million worth of prizes sponsored by companies like Immutable X, the Blockchain Game Alliance, and Machinations. Overall, the success of the GAM3 Awards highlights the growing importance and potential of GameFi in the gaming industry.
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