Play-to-earn games are a revolutionary modern style of gaming, where players can earn tangible assets, cryptocurrency, or other items of monetary value simply by playing a game. If you’re already a gamer, and you’ve got an interest in crypto, then these games ought to be a natural choice. We’re going to take a look at how to get started with this genre of gaming, whether you’re a complete novice in the field of crypto, or a little wiser.
Creating a crypto wallet
In order to play any game that uses cryptocurrency, whether that’s a play-to-earn game, one of the many Bitcoin casino games to play, or an NFT trading game, you’ll need to have a crypto wallet. If you’ve got one already then feel free to skip to the next part, but if you don’t then pay close attention.
A crypto wallet enables you to connect to any number of plays to earn games and purchase NFTs directly from them. There are all kinds of different crypto wallets, and some people prefer the features and abilities of one over another. Whilst you’re at the beginning of your crypto gaming journey, it’s best to keep things simple, so choose a wallet that supports Ethereum. The vast majority of games work on the Ethereum network, and it’s vital to have a crypto wallet that is compatible with the game that you’d like to play.
If you don’t want to get into a great deal of research about wallets, then MetaMask is a popular option. It has a user-friendly interface that is perfect for beginners, and it’s easy to sign up. If you want to use it on mobile then you’ll need to install the MetaMask app, otherwise, install it as a browser extension on your computer. Once you’re all set up, it’s time to get your hands on some crypto.
Getting your first coins
If you’ve not yet got any coins in your wallet, then you’ll need to visit a crypto exchange. There are dozens to choose from, but again, looking for one that supports the cryptocurrency that you’ll be using is the most important thing. Many people use Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken, but the one that you choose is entirely up to you. Unfortunately, registering with a crypto exchange is the most arduous part of the entire process, so make sure you’ve got plenty of time on your hands to provide authentication when required.
Once you’ve completed the authentication process, you’ll be able to use your bank card to buy the cryptocurrency. All crypto exchanges charge a small fee, which will be less than a dollar. Use your bank card to buy some of the cryptocurrency that your chosen game uses, and you’ll be ready to get started playing.
Buying your first NFT
Play-to-earn games have an economy that revolves around NFTs. These are non-fungible tokens, meaning they can’t be broken down, duplicated, or otherwise tampered with. A simpler way to look at them is as digital assets. In the case of two of the most famous games, Axie Infinity and Crypto Kitties, their NFTs are Axies and Crypto Kitties. These cute characters are available to buy, breed, trade, and sell. If you start to breed rarer Axies, or ones with better stats then you’ll notice that people are willing to pay more to get their hands on them.
This holds true for all play-to-earn games, the rarer or better the NFT, the higher the price. Some games have much stronger economies, perhaps because they’ve been running for a long time, or have a higher buy-in price. For these, you’ll need more cryptocurrency to get started. Others might still be in their infancy, or run with a lower-value currency, making them more affordable to get started with.
When you’ve done the math and worked out which game to go for, it’s time to buy your first NFT. Your wallet must be able to store them; if you opted for any of the major crypto wallets, then this won’t be a problem.
All platforms will show the price of your NFT as well as a small fee to help keep the game running. You can think of it as putting your house up for sale and paying the estate agent a percentage. The only difference is that instead of paying because you were helped in finding the thing you wanted to buy, you’re paying to keep the game running.
Starting with a free-to-play title
If you’re a little concerned about investing real money into a video game, then that’s totally understandable. Some games will offer you the chance to earn for free, and they can be a nice introduction. You’re unlikely to make a great deal of money, but you’ll be able to learn the ropes.
If you’d rather start out with one of the bigger games, then you could always try the free-to-play version of a more well-established play-to-earn game. There are plenty of big games from the Play to Earn world that offer fresh players the chance to try out their games for free, to see if they like them. Once you’ve decided whether the game is for you (or not), you can buy into it with an NFT without worrying that you’ll lose interest a couple of days later.
