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E42: Vertical Progression Is Gaming's Sex & Finally A Web3 Hope

E42: Vertical Progression Is Gaming's Sex & Finally A Web3 Hope

Forget the endless autopsies on why Web3 gaming flatlined, @Chris gets past the clichés and gets into the real pathology: a misdiagnosis of what “play-to-earn” was ever good for. @Eric & @Phil on vertical progression is the most important retention driver for several specific reasonsThe “market for lemons” problem in developer <> publisher relations: why developers can banbooze publishersSub to Eric and Chris' Substack here:https://substack.com/@ericguanhttps://substack.com/@chriseconomics00:00 Introduction and Free Trials in Drug Dealing00:28 Economics of Drug Dealing02:11 Personal Experiences and Data Collection03:24 Car Dealerships and Market Monopolies04:57 Gaming Industry Insights: Clash Royale19:08 Battlefield 6: Gameplay and Strategy27:11 Rollerblading Adventures28:36 Rollerblading Economics30:16 Web3 Gaming Struggles34:54 Understanding Play-to-Earn Mechanics43:42 The Market for Lemons52:24 Conflicting Data on Gen Z Spending56:51 The Importance of Reliable Economic Data01:05:43 Conclusion and Future Topics

Game Economist Cast · Phillip Black

September 1, 20251h 6m

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Show Notes

Forget the endless autopsies on why Web3 gaming flatlined, @Chris gets past the clichés and gets into the real pathology: a misdiagnosis of what “play-to-earn” was ever good for. 

  • @Eric & @Phil on vertical progression is the most important retention driver for several specific reasons
  • The “market for lemons” problem in developer <> publisher relations: why developers can banbooze publishers

Sub to Eric and Chris' Substack here:

  • https://substack.com/@ericguan
  • https://substack.com/@chriseconomics

00:00 Introduction and Free Trials in Drug Dealing
00:28 Economics of Drug Dealing
02:11 Personal Experiences and Data Collection
03:24 Car Dealerships and Market Monopolies
04:57 Gaming Industry Insights: Clash Royale
19:08 Battlefield 6: Gameplay and Strategy
27:11 Rollerblading Adventures
28:36 Rollerblading Economics
30:16 Web3 Gaming Struggles
34:54 Understanding Play-to-Earn Mechanics
43:42 The Market for Lemons
52:24 Conflicting Data on Gen Z Spending
56:51 The Importance of Reliable Economic Data
01:05:43 Conclusion and Future Topics