When I was younger I used to play games a lot.
Getting up at 8am playing the whole day till midnight or more. No Problem.
The game I played for the longest of times was World of Warcraft.
It's an online RPG that came out in 2004 and is still played today by millions of players.
I used to be pretty good at it. Not only defeating difficult bosses with a group of players (getting rare items) but especially playing the in game auction house.
Basically buying and Selling goods for a profit for in game GOLD.
picture of the World of Warcraft auction house.
Now if that GOLD would have been a cryptocurrency that I could have traded for Bitcoin then I probably would still be playing today :)
But sadly that was never the case.
I willingly gave a lot of time to the game, but it never gave back more than fun.
And the moment I left the game (which I did many years ago) everything I owned in the game I left behind. Wasted.
Digital ownership on a blockchain will change that on more than one front.
In game currencies like World of Warcraft gold will eventually be connected to Bitcoin or another crypto.
It just makes sense. It's too frictionless to not explore it and it gives instant liquidity to any game.
But even cooler I find the digital ownership of in game items.
In game Weapons, shields and Armor for instance digitally verifiable on the blockchain. Digitally yours!
It opens so much possibilities that are not possible today.
Renting out your weapon or shield for a while in a smart contract for a cryptocurrency when you are not playing for instance.
Or
Selling in game very hard to get items that only the good players can get for crypto.
The way I see it is that every individual will be able to get a job as a gamer in the future (if you are good enough).
And I would have been able to have CASHED OUT of World of Warcraft selling everything I owned.
All of this is not possible today yet, but it will come.
And we are about to see a small preview of this future on Steem.
Automated tournaments for Steem Monsters are coming to the blockchain.
Here's a sneak preview of what it will look like but I expect this list to be much longer soon with way more price money.
The problem with Steem Monsters though is that if you want to compete as a gamer on the highest levels you need to invest a lot of your money first to buy the cards.
And that's a problem. I know it very well.
Back in my day I used to have a lot of time but no money.
I'm sure there are fantastic players out there that have time but they simple can't afford the money to buy the cards.
I'm also sure there are players/investors out there that don't have time but have money.
Now, younger me would have jumped on the chance to play in as many tournaments as I could to earn money. Yet, younger me would not have been able to buy in.
Younger me is going meet older me pretty soon though because Card delegations are coming to Steem Monsters.
While I'm not playing I can 'rent' my cards to anyone or I can delegate my cards to anyone who then can play in tournaments for me.
A deal will struck between us of course. I'm not sure yet what it will look like. 50/50 of the price money for example.
For me, these types of constructions are just the beginning of how blockchain will change gaming in general and we are having a front row seat.
Games like Steem Monsters are taking the first baby steps into this new realm.
It will be a new endeavour for me to explore. It's going to be fun.
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