Shockwaves is a groundbreaking online blockchain game that offers an unparalleled gaming experience through its unique combination of AI-driven NFTs, algorithmically generated cities, and music-infused gameplay. As a first-person shooter (FPS) powered by the Binance Smart Chain, Shockwaves caters to a diverse audience, bridging the gap between Web3 and Web2 players.
In this unique game, players engage in intense online battles where teams compete to capture a zone at the center of the map. The victorious team earns higher rewards based on various factors, including the number of kills, time spent capturing the zone, and headshots. This competitive edge, combined with cutting-edge technology, makes Shockwaves a standout in the gaming world.
During our time at the Non-Fungible Conference 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal, our Chief Editor Shuab had the opportunity to sit down with Ben Hattar of Shockwaves.ai, a key figure in the gaming industry and CTO behind this one-of-a-kind game.
Benjamin Benhattar, the co-founder and CTO of Shockwaves, is a highly regarded expert in video game innovation. With an impressive history of launching seven successful VR games, his educational background, including a Master’s degree in Physics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne and an MBA, underpins his visionary contributions. Benjamin’s deep expertise in AI and blockchain technologies, along with his proficiency in tokenomics, positions him as a leader in gaming innovation. His daily efforts at Shockwaves showcase his dedication to pushing the boundaries and his pivotal role in shaping the future of gaming and blockchain integration.
Benjamin’s Backstory
Shuab (GM Games): Who is Benjamin and what is his backstory?
Benjamin (Shockwaves.ai CTO): My journey started in a field quite different from gaming and Web3. I initially studied physics, which, while seemingly unrelated, provided a strong analytical and problem-solving foundation that has been surprisingly beneficial in game development. My entry into the video game industry came through a deep passion for interactive digital experiences. I primarily worked on virtual reality (VR) projects, which required a unique blend of creativity and technical expertise. This period was crucial in shaping my understanding of immersive environments and user engagement.
Over the years, I’ve collaborated with a talented group of colleagues, the same team currently developing Shockwaves. We’ve known each other for about 15 years, building a strong synergy through various projects. Our collective experience spans multiple genres and platforms, giving us a broad perspective on what makes games engaging and enjoyable. Our interest in Web3 emerged from recognizing the significant opportunities it presents, especially regarding the ownership of digital assets and the potential for incentivizing players in innovative ways. The blockchain’s ability to provide verifiable ownership and scarcity of digital items was a game-changer, prompting us to explore its integration into gaming.
The inspiration that led to the creation of Shockwave.ai
Shuab (GM Games): What inspired the creation of Shockwaves and its unique features?
Benjamin: The creation of Shockwaves was driven by a desire to create a highly engaging and dynamic gaming experience. User retention is a critical factor in game development, and we wanted to explore novel ways to keep players invested. One major inspiration was the immersive and rhythmic gameplay seen in VR titles like Beat Saber. The idea of integrating music into gameplay struck us as a powerful tool for enhancing player engagement.
We decided to take this a step further by using AI to generate not just the musical score but also the visual and interactive elements tied to the music. This approach allows for a more dynamic and immersive experience, where the game environment reacts in real-time to the musical beats, creating a unique synergy between audio and visual components.
Additionally, the concept of AI-driven NFTs emerged from our desire to create a more interactive and personalized gaming experience. These NFTs are not just static items; they evolve and interact with the game environment and the player. This interactivity extends beyond the game, as these NFTs can participate in the game even when the player is offline, earning rewards and contributing to the game’s ecosystem.
The algorithmically generated cities add another layer of depth and uniqueness to Shockwaves. Each city is a procedurally created environment, ensuring that no two gaming sessions are the same. This variability keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting, encouraging players to explore and engage continuously. Combining these elements – music integration, AI-driven NFTs, and procedurally generated environments – has allowed us to create a game that stands out in the crowded gaming market.
Interactivity with AI-driven NFTs and Algorithmically generated cities
Shuab: Can you explain the AI-driven NFTs and algorithmically generated cities?
Benjamin: Our AI-driven NFTs are designed to bring a new level of interactivity and autonomy to the game. These NFTs are essentially characters that players can use as skins, but their functionality extends far beyond cosmetic changes. Each AI-driven NFT has its own set of capabilities and behaviors, making them active participants in the game even when the player is offline. These NFTs can autonomously join matches, perform actions, and earn rewards such as loot boxes and experience points. This ensures that players continue to benefit from their NFTs, adding value and engagement even during downtime.
The algorithmically generated cities are another key feature that sets Shockwaves apart. These cities are created using advanced procedural generation algorithms, ensuring that each game session takes place in a unique environment. This randomness in city design keeps the gameplay fresh and unpredictable, encouraging players to adapt their strategies to different layouts and scenarios. The cities are not just visually distinct; they are also structurally diverse, with varying terrain, building placements, and interactive elements. This variability enhances replayability and maintains player interest over the long term.
Extracting Music Data for Extra Immersion
Shuab: How does music influence the players’ experience in Shockwaves?
Benjamin: Music is a central component of the Shockwaves experience, influencing both the visual and gameplay elements. We use sophisticated algorithms to analyze the music tracks and extract key data points, such as beats, rhythms, and tempo changes. This data is then used to create synchronized visual effects that enhance the immersive quality of the game. For instance, as the music intensifies, the game’s lighting, particle effects, and animations respond dynamically, creating a more engaging and immersive atmosphere.
Beyond visual synchronization, music also directly impacts gameplay mechanics. Players can time their actions to the beats of the music to gain various advantages. For example, performing certain actions like jumps, attacks, or dodges in sync with the music can trigger special effects such as double jumps, increased damage, or temporary invincibility. This beat-matching mechanic adds an extra layer of strategy and skill to the game, rewarding players who can effectively sync their movements with the music. This integration makes the game feel unique and immersive, as players are constantly interacting with both the visual and auditory elements in a harmonious way.
Shockwaves.ai Gaming Economy
Shuab: What sets the game’s economy apart from other blockchain games?
Benjamin: One of the main challenges in blockchain games is managing the game’s economy to avoid issues like inflation. In Shockwaves, we’ve designed a tokenomics system that carefully balances rewards and utility. Players earn an in-game currency through various activities, which can be used to purchase items, upgrades, and other game-related assets. However, this in-game currency is distinct from our primary token and cannot be directly converted back into the primary token. This separation helps prevent inflation of the primary token, maintaining its value and stability.
Additionally, the items and assets purchased with in-game currency can later be tokenized into NFTs, which players can then sell or trade on secondary markets. This system creates a sustainable economy where players are rewarded for their in-game achievements without causing an oversupply of the primary token. By limiting the direct issuance of tokens and focusing on item-based rewards, we ensure that the game’s economy remains healthy and players have ongoing incentives to participate. Our approach not only maintains the value of our tokens but also provides meaningful utility, encouraging long-term engagement and investment in the game.
NFTs within Shocwaves.ai
Shuab: What types of NFTs are available in Shockwaves?
Benjamin: In Shockwaves, we offer a diverse range of NFTs that enhance the gaming experience in various ways. Our NFTs include weapons, characters, and special items like sentry turrets. Each type of NFT is designed to provide unique advantages and customization options for players. For example, weapons can vary in power, range, and special abilities, allowing players to tailor their loadouts to their preferred playstyle. Characters, on the other hand, can have different skills and attributes, impacting gameplay by providing bonuses to speed, health, or accuracy.
These NFTs come in varying rarity levels, from common to legendary, which influences their effectiveness and value. Higher rarity NFTs typically offer more significant benefits and can greatly impact a player’s performance in the game. Additionally, players have the ability to mint new NFTs through in-game achievements. This means that as players progress and accomplish specific goals, they can create new, unique NFTs that reflect their achievements and can be used, traded, or sold within the game’s ecosystem. This system not only incentivizes gameplay but also fosters a vibrant marketplace for trading and collecting rare and valuable items.
Land Ownership Within Shockwaves.AI
Shuab: How do the game’s levels and gameplay structure connect with the concept of land ownership?
Benjamin: Shockwaves is primarily an online PvP (player versus player) game, featuring different maps where teams compete against each other. These maps are a crucial part of the gameplay experience, providing diverse environments and strategic challenges. Our future plans include offering these maps as tokenized assets that players can own, customize, and monetize.
Land ownership in Shockwaves allows players to personalize their maps by choosing various elements such as advertisements, environmental features, and even gameplay modifiers. This customization enables landowners to create unique gaming experiences and potentially attract more players to their maps. Players who own land can also benefit economically, as they can earn revenue from in-game activities that take place on their maps, such as tournaments and events. This integration of land ownership not only adds depth to the gameplay but also provides players with additional opportunities to engage with and invest in the game’s ecosystem.
The Tech Powering Shockwaves.Ai
Shuab: What is the technology stack behind Shockwaves?
Benjamin: The technology stack for Shockwaves is designed to ensure reliability, scalability, and compatibility with various platforms. We have chosen to build on Polygon and BNB Chain, two blockchain networks known for their low gas fees and robust infrastructure. These networks offer the reliability and efficiency needed to support the game’s complex transactions and interactions without imposing high costs on players.
On the development side, we use Unity as our primary game engine. Unity is a powerful and flexible tool that allows us to create high-quality graphics and seamless gameplay experiences. It also provides excellent compatibility across different devices, ensuring that players can access Shockwaves on various platforms, from PCs to mobile devices. Our familiarity with Unity also means we can quickly implement new features and respond to player feedback, continually improving the game. This combination of blockchain technology and a versatile game engine forms the foundation of Shockwaves, enabling us to deliver an innovative and engaging gaming experience.
Maintaining Close Ties with the Community
Shuab: How are you engaging with the community?
Benjamin: Engaging with our community is a top priority for us at Shockwaves. We believe that a strong and active community is essential for the success and growth of our game. To achieve this, we maintain close ties with our players through various channels and activities. We hold weekly meetings where we discuss game updates, gather feedback, and share our development progress. These meetings are a great way for us to stay connected with our community and ensure that their voices are heard.
Additionally, we host development streams where players can watch our team work on the game in real-time. These streams offer a transparent view into our development process and allow for direct interaction between developers and players. This level of transparency helps build trust and fosters a sense of involvement among our community members.
Tournaments are another key aspect of our community engagement strategy. We organize regular tournaments, providing players with opportunities to compete, showcase their skills, and earn rewards. These events are highly anticipated and help maintain a lively and competitive atmosphere within the community.
Our main platforms for communication are Discord and Telegram. Discord is primarily used for game-related discussions, feedback, and community interactions. It’s a vibrant space where players can share their experiences, ask questions, and connect with each other. Telegram, on the other hand, is focused on discussions about tokenomics and other aspects of the project beyond gameplay. By using these platforms effectively, we ensure that our community remains engaged and well-informed.
Incorporating Player Feedback
Shuab: How has player feedback influenced the game’s development?
Benjamin: Player feedback is a cornerstone of our development process. We constantly monitor and adjust the game based on the insights and suggestions provided by our players. This iterative approach ensures that the game evolves in a way that meets the expectations and preferences of our community. For instance, we received feedback about players camping on rooftops to gain an unfair advantage. In response, we adjusted the score incentives to discourage this behavior, promoting more dynamic and fair gameplay. This kind of responsiveness helps us maintain a balanced and enjoyable gaming environment. Our goal is to create a game that players love, and their feedback is invaluable in achieving this.
Supporting Players
Shuab: How are you helping players get better at the game?
Benjamin: We believe that providing resources and support is crucial for helping players improve and enjoy the game to its fullest. To this end, we’ve created a range of tutorials and guides that cover various aspects of gameplay. These resources are designed to help new players understand the mechanics and strategies needed to succeed. Additionally, we collaborated with one of our top players to create a detailed video tutorial. This video showcases optimal strategies and techniques, giving new players a valuable resource to learn from. By offering these tools, we aim to empower our community and enhance their gaming experience.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Shuab: Are there any exciting partnerships or collaborations in the works?
Benjamin: Yes, we are thrilled about our current and upcoming partnerships and collaborations. We are working with a talented musician who has composed fantastic music specifically for Shockwaves. This collaboration adds a unique and immersive auditory experience to the game, enhancing the overall atmosphere and player engagement.
We are also actively forming partnerships with other projects within the GameFi space. These collaborations are designed to integrate their tokens as rewards in our tournaments, providing additional incentives for players and fostering a sense of community between different gaming projects. For example, we are working with Aviator, another GameFi project, to cross-promote and integrate features that benefit players from both communities.
These partnerships not only enrich the gameplay experience but also expand our reach within the blockchain gaming ecosystem. By collaborating with other innovative projects and talented artists, we aim to create a richer and more interconnected gaming experience for our players.
Challenges
Shuab: What are the biggest challenges in developing Shockwaves, and how are you overcoming them?
Benjamin: One of the biggest challenges we face is bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3 users. Many players are unfamiliar with blockchain technology and may find it daunting to navigate. To address this, we’ve implemented a user-friendly onboarding process that allows players to start playing without the need for a wallet or NFTs. This way, they can experience the game first-hand and appreciate its value before diving into the blockchain aspects. Once they see the benefits, such as owning unique in-game assets or earning rewards, they are more likely to engage with the blockchain elements. This approach eases the transition and lowers the entry barrier for new users.
Future Plans of Shockwaves.Ai
Shuab: What future plans can players look forward to?
Benjamin: We have an exciting roadmap ahead for Shockwaves, filled with new developments and features that will enhance the gaming experience. One of our primary focuses is on developing new maps. These maps will introduce fresh environments and challenges, keeping the gameplay dynamic and engaging. Each new map will bring unique strategic elements, encouraging players to adapt their tactics and explore different aspects of the game.
In addition to new maps, we are organizing more tournaments, which have been a big hit with our community. These tournaments provide a platform for players to compete, win rewards, and earn recognition within the community. We are also forming partnerships with other projects, especially within the GameFi space, to offer even more exciting opportunities for our players.
We understand the importance of continuous improvement and player feedback. That’s why we encourage players to join and test the game anytime. We host tournaments every Sunday, making it the perfect time for new players to dive in and for regular players to test their skills and strategies. These frequent updates and community events ensure that Shockwaves remains an engaging and evolving platform.
Shuab: What is your ultimate vision for Shockwaves?
Benjamin: Our ultimate vision for Shockwaves is to create a game that truly embodies the potential of Web3 gaming. We want to build a resilient, long-lasting platform that continues to grow and evolve over the years. This means developing a game that not only provides a fun and engaging experience but also leverages blockchain technology to offer real ownership and value to players. We aspire to be a pioneering force in the gaming and blockchain communities, demonstrating the benefits of decentralized gaming and setting a standard for others to follow. Our goal is to create a game that remains relevant and enjoyed by players for many years to come.
Find out more
Players can find out more about Shockwaves by visiting Shockwaves.ai. For the latest updates and announcements, follow Shockwaves.ai on X @shockwaves_ai. The game is available for download on the Elixir platform, where players can experience it first-hand. We also encourage players to join our Discord server for game discussions and community engagement, and our Telegram channel for updates on tokenomics and other project-related news. These platforms provide a wealth of information and opportunities for players to connect with us and each other.
Website: http://shockwaves.ai/
Discord: https://discord.gg/shockwaves
X: https://x.com/@shockwaves_ai
Download: https://elixir.games/
Telegram: https://t.co/0LezU9a8Qi