For the creators of a blockchain card game Lost Glitchesartistry is “critical” as a player engagement tool – something they feel has been missing from the last generation of major AAA games.
But speaking with DecipherGG ahead of Thursday’s open beta launch of the Ethereum-powered card battler Xai Layer 3 NetworkThe developers said they realized they needed to offer more than just bright and colorful graphics to keep players interested.
“I think for us, [art] “It’s critically important,” said Franco De Cesare, head of publishing and marketing at Lost Glitches. Mimunga“Behind everything we create there is an artistic and creative vision that is combined with the feelings we want to evoke in players.”
From the game’s inception, the founders had a vision of placing human-made art as a central element that would permeate the mechanics and atmosphere of The Lost Glitches. This comes amid what De Cesare sees as a stagnation of creativity in AAA games.
«[There is] “There’s a difference between innovation and creativity in the art and the quality of the visuals. Obviously, AAA games have incredibly high quality visuals,” De Cesare said. “But I think there’s a little less artistry and creativity there,” he added, noting that “it’s hard for big publishers today to make those creative, artistic bets on something.”
The art of Lost Glitches is the first window players get into the “techno-optimistic” world the developers invite them to explore. It’s a departure from the fantasy setting that has become synonymous with the collectible card genre popularized by Blizzard’s Magic: The Gathering and Hearthstone, but it’s also far more vibrant than the sci-fi card battler Ethereum Parallel.
“Technology has created difficulties in this world,” De Cesare explained, “but we accept them. [technology] with optimism, with colorful variety and diversity. And I think that’s what sets us apart, because it’s bright colors and different personalities. The characters have unique elements that are reflected in their gameplay power… and there are dark forces.”
But the game has more to offer than a vibrant world backed by carefully crafted artwork. The Lost Glitches also combines the collectible card genre with role-playing game (RPG) elements to deepen the experience for players.
“I don’t think anyone has really tried to combine the two genres,” De Cesare said. Decipher“You can improve your skills and then combine them with your strategy on the battlefield.”
«[It’s] “Skill meets strategy,” he explained. “You can develop your skill by playing in RPG mode and improving it in a way that you couldn’t do by just trading.”
By completing tasks and quests in a sort of “progress mode,” players will be able to build up their skill tree, which will then impact how they build their decks. This is a new feature added as part of the open beta, with other elements being gradually rolled out over time.
The Lost Glitches is currently in open beta via the Epic Games Store, but the team is already eyeing a full launch later this year. With this, The Lost Glitches aims to allow players to openly trade their cards via Xai, the growing Ethereum gaming network, potentially benefiting players as they earn and buy NFT-based cards over time.
“We think of all of our characters as digital art pieces. And in that sense, we believe in their value,” De Cesare said. “We think that creates an opportunity for the player to accumulate value and generate value, and then potentially monetize that value.”
Edited by Andrew Hayward
