Parallel uses great art design, excellent script and story, unique game mechanics, passionate community and strong capital to create the next game IP.
Recommended reading: ” First Class: A Brief Analysis of NFT Card Game Parallel Mechanism and Product Features ” ” Understanding the Popular NFT Card Game Parallel in Three Minutes “
Written by: Fitch, Founder of Inverse Guild Compiler: Perry Wang
This article mainly discusses views on the Parallel protocol and other collectible card games (CCG)/trading card games (TCG) IP. All the content in this article does not constitute investment advice. This only represents my personal opinion and does not reflect the official opinions of Parallel or any other project party. The purpose of writing this article is to explain why I believe Parallel will become the world’s top gaming IP.
First, let us ask ourselves a question.
What is Parallel?
Parallel is a science fiction game powered by NFT technology. The first deliverable of Parallel IP is CCG, which stands for collectible card game. The game includes trading cards that compete with one opponent or multiple opponents, depending on the specific gameplay. The Parallel team has stated that a variety of team game modes will be provided soon.
There are currently five “parallel” card factions available for play. The specific factions are as follows:
Marcolian -Martian colonizer, proficient in science, originally called himself “Martian colonizer”. They tried to create a perfect civilization and avoid the mistakes made by their ancestors on earth. However, as their beautiful and idealized metropolis continues to grow, their self-esteem is also expanding. Marcolian is determined to further consolidate its scientific superiority by declaring its sovereignty over the earth and the possibilities that Priming has unlocked.
Shroud — They used to be the best elite group on earth. Long before the earth collapsed, he was sent into the depths of space on the “New Dawn” spacecraft. A mission driven by human optimism will trigger an additional chapter on Kepler-1649c (note: the media is happy to call Kepler-1649c the most earth-like exoplanet discovered so far). Shroud is a scientist, a farmer, an explorer, a thinker, an artist, and even a warrior. Mankind needs to create new things to open up new homes on distant planets. That was their hope, but they encountered misfortune. An undiscovered cone-shaped cloud tore every molecule on the spacecraft and its occupants, sucking it into the depths. They did not reach the destination, but they did go to places that humans lacked understanding before. They have undergone eternal changes. Black holes gave birth to them, and they themselves are agents of black holes.
Earthen -They are the survivors left after the human escape from the earth. Therefore, they remain loyal to the earth. Through evolution, they have realized the connection with all natural things. Since the realization of Priming, this connection has grown exponentially. When other parallel universes try to control the earth, they will use the power of nature to maintain its long-term harmony. They are the pipeline for the earth’s self-defense.
Augencore — The Augencore race chose to stay in space. They did not colonize the land, but used their spacecraft as their permanent home. They skillfully mine resources and continuously expand their base of operations to asteroids. In order to survive its cruel and demanding lifestyle, Augencore uses electromechanical and bionic technology to modify and enhance itself in a very efficient manner. They believe that form obeys function. Machines and human beings became one… They finally discovered the way back to earth and embarked firmly on the return journey.
Kathari , the colonists on Europa (the moon of Jupiter), are forced to eat mass-produced genetically modified foods over time, and these foods render them unable to bear children. Therefore, they resorted to cloning as a means of continuing life. Soon after, they accepted genetic manipulation as a way of salvation and tried to optimize the human genome. Kathari people are perfect in terms of ability and aesthetics. They are both tough and in step, which is amazing. Although they have chosen a simple and refined lifestyle, their extremely precise lifestyle is daunting when a large number of Kathari people live in unison. However, even in their perfect state of organization, they yearn for the chaos of personality and want to know whether there is a key to the natural and pure way of creating life on earth.
The above description comes from the Parallel official website page.
The background story is that in the near future, a disaster has occurred on the earth, and sustainable energy needs to be created. The disaster prompted people on the earth to flee in four spacecraft, and another group remained. This is the source of the five factions in the parallel game. They represent the development direction of each of the four spaceships and the evolution and development of the remaining races. Driven by variables such as time, distance, and difficult choices, these groups have become completely different in biology and behavioral motivation. This story is fascinating, and I suggest you click here to read more.
So let’s take a step back and learn about the CCG game categories that Parallel intends to be shortlisted in the competition, and learn about the opportunities for success bred in them. The likelihood of Parallel’s success is driven by external factors; the competitive environment in which they intend to compete also depends on internal factors, such as the decisions the Parallel team made when creating its IP and games. The last variable to be considered in determining success or failure is resources. All three are covered in this article.
Card game, a subversive factor that has matured?
Collectible card games are an exciting and lucrative game type, but there are few outstanding performances in projects in this field. The current major card game (CCG) IPs include “Magic the Gathering”, “Hearthstone”, “Yu-gi-oh” and “Pokemon” (Pokemon). ) Waiting for the game. Strangely, I said that there are very few outstanding games in this category, because you can think of other game types, such as role-playing games (RPG) or first-person shooters (FPS). Many outstanding IPs may be listed. They The popularity is much higher.
For example, “Grand Theft Auto” (Grand Theft Auto) is estimated to have more than 140 million players, and this game alone has more users than Hearthstone and Magic: The Gathering. The “Super Mario” series has sold 388 million copies, and its total sales exceed all CCG games combined. But the key is not only popularity, because some games in the CCG genre are also very popular. The key is that compared with other genres, there are few relatively outstanding products in CCG.
We have seen the overall growth of the CCG industry and the expected growth, but compared with another similar type of board game, the CCG market penetration rate is obviously lagging behind. Board games have similar simulation and publicity to CCG, and similarly, the sense of immersion is weaker than other game categories.
According to Grandview Research, a leading US market research agency, “The rising casino culture is expected to promote the development of games that use poker cards to win cash. Card games also teach valuable social skills, such as oral communication, group interaction, and improvement. Personality development, etc.” This just describes the current situation of the increasingly popular “play while earning” (P2E) model in the game field, and how to promote the growth of this field. Later I will talk about more information on how Parallel can take advantage of this.
With all of this in mind, we must ask ourselves, compared to other game styles, why are few CCG games able to capture the hearts of all of us? We know that this industry is very important and growing. Why on earth?
I think part of the answer is that compared to FPS or RPG, CCG has historically been less immersive and instant appeal than the latter two. In “Call of Duty”, you immediately go into battle with a controller in your hand. In Skyrim, you can use magical abilities to fight CGI dragons. Comparing this with the traditional CCG, which is a tabletop card game, the difference becomes obvious. It can be difficult to travel long distances to play the physical version of CCG with peers, especially under the threat of an epidemic.
CCG has certainly been modernized now, providing fascinating digital versions of the game. However, these digital versions still cannot match the immersion or engagement of modern shooting games or RPGs. The leading CCG IP does not have too many diverse themes and styles. Both “Magic: The Gathering” and “Heartstone” are magic themes. Both Pokemon and Yu-gi-oh are cartoon/anime monster type games.
I think we can reasonably assess that there is some room for subversion. A game that increases participation to close to FPS or RPG, and brings multiple styles/themes that are not seen in major TCG games. It is a good opportunity to attract people’s attention and keep their attention, and it will go far beyond the whole The industry expects a compound annual growth rate of 9%. Adding more ways to actually “own” assets also provides a way to disrupt.
But obviously, it is obviously an arduous task to create a CCG that is more immersive than the IP that has achieved great success. Others have tried it. What are the internal factors that give Parallel a chance to succeed where others have fallen?
Let’s take a look at some fundamental factors.
First of all, the sense of art and design
Artistic design is essential to the immersion of trading card games. It is also the first thing we see when playing a game-the card surface. Therefore, first-rate art can clearly distinguish excellent TCG IP from ordinary IP.
Parallel has a great art of card design.
I really don’t need to say too much here, the artistic level is self-evident. There is no doubt that Parallel has the most impressive artistic design I have ever seen in a card game. A team of Oscar Mar, Nacho Yague, Oscar Cafaro, Dhenzel Obeng, and a new artist that has not yet been made public have jointly developed “Fearless Contract”, “Valorant”, “Assassin’s Creed” and “Splinter” Cell) and other AAA games, and even did design work for companies such as Adobe.
Secondly, the story
A great story is also crucial to immersion and the success of modern TCG IP. Once we are visually attracted by art design, the story is the real link that connects us to the new universe. I am a deep story lover. I read “World of Warcraft”, Elder Scrolls and other game stories purely for fun. I think Parallel is indeed one of the best story narratives I have ever seen.
The legendary story of Parallel is driven by five parallel factions themselves, and a story that seeks to return to their homeland (earth) and fight for the perfect energy source.
After escaping from the earth, each parallel distribution took a unique evolutionary path, and then returned to the earth as the target and catalyst of the battle, which promoted the development of many rich main narrative and secondary plot stories. The concept of Paragons (models, which will be discussed in detail later) shapes the main characters of each faction, which further enhances the narrative potential. In addition, unlike the classic anime monsters or fantasy themes commonly seen in TCG, Parallel has chosen science fiction, which can provide a new type of modern and future story to attract new audiences.
Energy dilemma, international crisis, fighting for homeland. These are all a mixture of the current spirit of the times and eternal themes, and have been packaged in beautiful science fiction art to create a powerful dynamic story potential. The development of comics and movies seems inevitable. The Parallel team talked about their desire to seek various forms of media production around IP.
When evaluating the possibility of Parallel’s success, there are other factors that need to be considered in addition to the artistic design and story. It’s not enough to have a beautiful and exciting story. The game itself must be vibrant and engaging.
Based on the information we know, how likely is Parallel to succeed as a TCG? Let’s evaluate it.
Make an innovative game
The stage for subverting the CCG game is ready. The earliest and largest CCG IP “Magic: The Gathering” has become a huge money printing machine, with a large number of new product releases, endless power spread, making old games quickly obsolete, and digital cards and games that cannot be collected The component adopts the “walled garden” model.
The new CCG with its innovative game style and attractive and rare design has made considerable progress in the competition, but the launch of CCG games is extremely risky and costly. Most projects would rather attract children, a niche market, and plan to grow as a nostalgia based game. A cash cow for feelings, or incorporate mature global children’s brands (such as Pokemon, etc.) into CCG products and get the support of other IPs. Due to the confluence of many of these factors, “Magic: The Gathering” usually dominates the market and enjoys the continuity of the Lindy curve: it attracts users of all ages while satisfying nostalgia; it requires practice and continuous game balance while creating a powerful New game; both physical and digital options are provided.
But new technologies, especially NFT technology, can be used to challenge the market position of Magic. Parallel intends to carry out this challenge in the following ways:
Unique mechanism
- Physical and digital experience: Parallel will provide physical CCG and digital CCG combined by the AR/metacosmic layer. Please click here to see how it looks.
- Paragons. Paragon is the leader of each parallel faction. In the game, Paragons, as the number one game character of each ethnic group, builds a macro game style around it and adds dynamic game elements. They bring an exciting twist to the classic CCG game. For more information about Paragons, click here to listen.
- Paradox (paradox): As the second of the 3 “Ps”, Paradox is a voting system that allows members of the Parallel community to guide the direction of the ecosystem. Players can participate fairly in terms of IP, community activities, game balance, etc.
- Power Banking: A unique way of thinking about designing land/energy/mana, all cards can be deployed face down to the “bank” to generate electricity. The card can then be recalled from this energy bank through various mechanisms. This adds a unique dimension to the gameplay. Players can live resources more easily, increase the speed of the game, and can also use the cards deposited in the bank to play dynamic offensive and defensive strategies.
- Dynamic update: Parallel cards can theoretically be adjusted when they are tested in battle, without the need for expensive large-scale reprints. This is physically done through the AR layer and digitally through the way that NFT interacts with the game client is enhanced.
- Player-driven story: The Parallel team hinted at the fact that the players participating in the game are active members who promote the development of the Parallel story. Their actions/winning rates, etc., are factors that may have a real impact on the outcome of the story.
- Earn while playing / Earn while winning: Parallel will have game elements for users to play while earning (complete basic tasks to get rewards) and win while earning (win competitive games to get bigger rewards). Combining the two enables Parallel to get rid of linear matrix incentives and become more dynamic behavioral incentives. Rewards will come in various forms, including but not limited to tokens, unique NFTs, hardware (gaming laptops, etc.) and cash rewards.
One last thing to note is that the game design team is supported by the famous MTG player and content creator Merchant . For information on how Parallel explains how it will stand out as a game, we recommend that you listen to the Parallel podcast , which discusses such topics in detail.
data support
There are some impressive resource data that help us realize that Parallel will become a strong competitor in the CCG field. Let’s take a look at these data. As of this writing, all data is up to date.
- Financing: Parallel recently announced a financing of US$50 million from Paradigm and other top investment institutions at a valuation of US$500 million.
- Total number of holders: There are currently 25,000 Parallel card holders, making Parallel one of the five most widely distributed major NFT projects. After the upcoming airdrop, this number may double or even triple.
- Initial sales: Parallel’s initial sales (the first PS15 airdrop and the first packaged airdrop) brought them nearly $2 million in revenue. The upcoming airdrop on October 30 will bring them more than $4 million in revenue. Continuous packaged airdrops may bring more than 5 million U.S. dollars in revenue each time.
- Secondary market sales: So far, Parallel has generated approximately $15 million in revenue from secondary market sales. After the upcoming packaged airdrop, this number may increase significantly.
- Historical ranking: At the time of writing this article, Parallel has completed 41,483 ETH transaction volume, ranking 15th in the history of NFT projects. After the upcoming packaged airdrop, this transaction volume will double or triple in a short period of time, making Parallel firmly occupy a place among the top 10 NFT projects in history, and may even be trading after only two airdrops. Ranked among the top 5 forehead. The additional appeal of the halo of this star project to user growth/attention should not be underestimated.
It is estimated that by the end of 2021, the Parallel team will have approximately US$100 million in deployable capital. This money is enough to build the next great game IP.
Brief summary
All in all, we have witnessed the birth of a brand new CCG new force project. Parallel uses great art design, excellent script story, unique game mechanics, passionate community and very strong capital to enter a fully prepared for subversion. The game classification market.
There is a lot of evidence that Parallel can and will challenge the existing game IP to gain a dominant position in the TCG game field. It is very exciting to observe how IP develops inside and outside the trading card field and affects the form and characteristics of the game.
Source link: medium.com
