How does Starknet drive the development of blockchain-based games?

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The use of Starknet's native language, Cairo, can enhance the potential for success in blockchain-based games, as it can handle massive amounts of computational data, perform highly efficient verifications, and provide a smooth user experience through account abstraction. This article will analyze how Starknet is driving the development of blockchain-based games.

Starknet is redefining the crypto gaming industry by offering fast, low-cost, and secure transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. Games like Realms and Influence, developed on Starknet, showcase the potential of encrypted gaming. Starknet employs a developer-friendly language called Cairo, which is ergonomic and akin to Rust, for game development.

Starknet and Cairo

Starknet is a powerful Layer 2 scalability solution built on Ethereum. This means transactions are not only fast and low-cost (as they are aggregated on L2) but also secure. Recent upgrades to Starknet have significantly increased its transaction throughput (TPS). This is crucial for transaction-intensive industries like blockchain-based gaming.

Cairo is a Rust-like smart contract language that allows developers to easily build provable applications, fully leveraging STARK's scalability potential. Several game projects (such as Influence, Realms, Topology, Briq, Cartridge, Dojo game engine, etc.) are being built on Starknet using Cairo. Cairo 1.0 version makes Starknet more user-friendly than before, so if you previously coded with Cairo 0, you can now try Cairo 1.0.

The potential of blockchain games to empower ownership and transfer of in-game assets has long been touted as a game-changer for the industry. Ownership is just the starting point for blockchain games; the greater potential lies in the DeFi-like revolution of decentralized and interoperable gameplay. Unfortunately, the reality of slow and expensive blockchain transactions has hindered the realization of this potential.

Starknet is changing this narrative by enabling fast, low-cost transactions while providing Ethereum's security. Starknet's recent increase in throughput has paved the way for upcoming blockchain games to unlock their full potential. Two of these games are Realms and Influence.

I. Realms

Realms.World is a pioneer in the field of blockchain-based games. They are developing multiple games and building a "Creators' Studio."

The inspiration behind the Realms project came from the 2021 launch of the Loot project on Ethereum. The Loot project aimed to collaboratively build a fantasy world on Ethereum using smart contracts, attracting numerous developers and gamers. They recognized the immense potential of decentralization, open-source, and self-hosting for gaming.

While traditional Web2 games (like Minecraft and Roblox) typically center around creators, with gamers playing visitor roles, blockchain-based game worlds become independent once deployed, allowing anyone to build upon them. This goes beyond just "right to fork" and ownership; it's about a new way of collectively building and engaging with games.

Inspired by these possibilities, the Realms community established the Bibliotheca DAO to drive the development of a blockchain game world, including the lore of Loot and its unique stories. DAO and Realms are early adopters of Cairo and Starknet, exploring new possibilities for blockchain games.

II. Influence

Influence is a highly strategic, socially interactive space colonization game where players compete for dominance and control in colonies within the newly formed Adalian asteroid belt.

After escaping an endangered Earth, humanity's new frontier is the Adalia star system's asteroid belt. These 250,000 asteroids each possess unique mineral compositions, orbiting Adalia in real-time. Players engage in competition through mining, building, trading, traveling, researching, and combat.

Influence offers players the choice to own their asteroid or embark on their journey on Adalia Prime. Adalia Prime, the largest asteroid in the system, is an open land where all players can mine valuable resources and start expanding their influence. Interestingly, the structure of the asteroid belt follows the principles of real-world orbital physics.

Unstoppable Games is set to release the first fully playable version of the game, the "pre-release version," on the testnet.

Currently, over 15 independent applications are being built around the Influence contract, a possibility only enabled by a framework as open and permissionless as blockchain.

In Conclusion

Blockchain-based games empower players and usher in a new era for the gaming industry. Built on decentralization, they foster player-driven economies and active gaming communities. Additionally, they encourage innovative gameplay, leading to a dynamic and evolving ecosystem.

By using Starknet's native language, Cairo, the ability to succeed in blockchain-based games can be further enhanced, as it can handle massive computational data, conduct highly efficient verifications, and provide a smooth user experience through account abstraction. Furthermore, with enhancements like Volition and native account abstraction integrated into Starknet, transaction costs will further decrease. As Starknet's rollup technology continues to improve, transaction speed will increase. With the entire ecosystem progressing, the gaming industry and Starknet exhibit vast and promising prospects beyond imagination.

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