This week, the Game Developers Conference (GDC) is in full swing. As a top event in the global gaming industry, the conference has not only attracted giants such as Microsoft, Google, NVIDIA, Meta, and Tencent, but in recent years has also become an important showcase for the new force of Web3 games represented by Wemade (Wemix) and Gala Games. At GDC 2024, MetaCene, an exhibitor that recently raised tens of millions of dollars in funding, may attract more attention from Web2 players.

MetaCene is a Web3 MMORPG developed by the Singapore-registered company Pengu Software, founded by Tan Qunzhao, co-founder of Shanda Network. Other team members also have over a decade of experience in the gaming industry, having held leadership positions at companies such as Perfect World and Blizzard Entertainment, and have a deep understanding and rich experience in the MMO game market. Pengu defines MetaCene as a Web2-friendly AAA-level blockchain game, dedicated to creating a game that rivals the character plots, gameplay, and open world of traditional Web2 games.

Binance Incubation, Tens of Millions of Dollars in Funding

Last July, MetaCene raised $5 million in seed funding, led by Hash Global and SevenX Ventures, with participation from WeMade, Emurgo, MixMarvel DAO Ventures, Sinovation Ventures, and LK Ventures, among others. A month after announcing the list of seed round investors, MetaCene, which had been in development for nearly two years, completed its first week-long Alpha test, attracting nearly 3,000 players, two-thirds of whom played continuously for a week, with an average daily playtime of two and a half hours. In September of the same year, MetaCene was also selected for the sixth season of the Binance Labs incubator.

"Encrypted games must first and foremost be good games, with encryption being secondary. Encrypted games should use the various functions brought by Web3 to enhance the fun of the game, rather than using finance as the main driving force." Tan Qunzhao's vision of development trends and MetaCene's game concept has gained support from more investment institutions. Recently, MetaCene announced the completion of a $10 million private placement Series A round of financing, led by Folius Ventures and SevenX Ventures, with other participating institutions including The Spartan Group, Mantle EcoFund, Animoca Ventures, Longling Capital, Comma3 Ventures, and IGG. The funds raised will be used to expand the team and drive user acquisition plans.

Currently, MetaCene is building the next generation of blockchain-driven MMORPG ecosystems. In this game universe, players will discover a surreal post-apocalyptic society where survivors interact with NFTs and define a new civilization. MetaCene combines player-centered entertainment, governance, social guilds and DAOs, economic systems, and of course, the most classic PVE and PVP gameplay.

Gameplay: PVE, PVP, and Mining Trio

MetaCene adopts an anime art style and innovatively integrates three game mechanisms: resource collection, PVE, and PVP. PVE mainly focuses on game plots and open worlds, completing tasks and unlocking various stories through adventures. Players can also delve into dungeons to obtain top-tier loot and greater challenges, with dungeons being randomly generated like Roguelite games, achieving higher complexity and replayability. In MetaCene, players can also manage land, purchase land, and build their own properties. Additionally, they can create a resource market, create and sell unique avatars, or participate in daily activities such as fishing and farming.

For many players, the battle aspect of PVP combat is the most interesting. MetaCene's PVP system is divided into cooperative and competitive types. Players can join guilds and make friends, fighting for glory together. They can engage in solo 1v1 battles, as well as team-based PK between guilds. The mining system is an indispensable part of MetaCene's gameplay, directly related to leveling up and exploring the game world. Players can roam the land in MetaCene and explore mining areas. These mining areas have different levels, with higher returns also meaning higher risks. Low-level safe areas are relatively peaceful, mid-level dangerous areas have PVE enemies, and in high-level relic areas, players compete with each other.

Social interaction and competition are at the core of MetaCene's vision for building the next generation of MMOs. Players need to compete with or work together to find resources, collect items, and win honor. According to MetaCene's vision, it allows players to hire other players to participate in game activities, all of which will be supported by smart contracts. This means that players can hire others to fight alongside them or cultivate resources. They are no longer just consumers, but more as producers and co-builders. They will be able to participate in important issues by staking governance tokens and participating in DAOs, collectively building the game's economic system. They can also earn income through labor, produce more means of production, openly trade on the market, and improve their status in the game by acquiring virtual assets.

Pillar of the Ecosystem: $MAK

With sustainability in mind, MetaCene has designed the $MAK token, whose economic model aims to encourage players to engage in long-term strategic consumption and staking, ensuring stable demand and continuous growth for $MAK. The total supply of $MAK is 1 billion, and holders can receive rewards for staking, exclusive event access, and governance rights. According to the official introduction, the token's allocation is as follows:

• Financing: 20% of the total supply for all rounds of funding;
• Liquidity and ecosystem fund: 26% of the total supply;
• Team and advisors: 24% of the total supply;
• Community rewards: 30% of the total supply.

The $MAK token is a key to enhancing the gaming experience. By staking $MAK, players can enter VIP levels and gain unique game privileges, such as exclusive NFT access and advanced dungeons. In addition to gaining game privileges, players will also be able to participate in MetaCene's decision-making process and become part of the game's development. Furthermore, the MetaCene ecosystem also includes another basic asset, $MUD, which serves as the game's universal currency and can be used for synthesizing and upgrading weapons and equipment.

From February 26 to March 17 this year, MetaCene and OKX Cryptopedia jointly launched an activity, offering a total of $300,000 worth of $MAK tokens. Players only need to watch designated MetaCene videos, complete quizzes, and sign in daily to receive $MAK token rewards and have the chance to win an Alpha Test III whitelist. According to a recent official announcement, the listing of the $MAK token should already be on the agenda.

MetaCene has completed two rounds of Alpha testing. At the end of Alpha V2, the game had nearly 6,000 active players, with an average daily playtime of 3 hours per player, and nearly half of the players remained actively involved a week after the test. In this round of testing, players collectively consumed $8.1 million worth of $MUD, and the average daily trading volume (ADTV) of the NFT market reached $150,000 in $MUD.

Therefore, the upcoming Alpha Test V3 for PC and mobile devices at the end of this month is worth looking forward to, and its performance will also affect whether the commercial v1.0 version, aimed at the public by the end of this year, can be launched as scheduled. PANews will continue to follow this closely.

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