Show Notes - The Web3 Gamer - Episode 11: Decoding Web3 Gaming with Hal Crawford: From Journalism to Blockchain Challenges
In this episode of The Web3 Gamer, we welcome Hal Crawford, a former news executive and an experienced journalist. He's worked in print, digital, radio, TV and was once, a long time ago, a games reviewer. Hal is currently the head of content for Polemos a Web3 Gaming news platform.
Join us as we explore a variety of topics around Journalism, gaming, and Web3 gaming.
Listen in to this insightful conversation and discover the exciting possibilities of Web3 Gaming with Hal Crawford.
Links to Polemos Socials:
Stay tuned for more episodes exploring the latest in Web3 Gaming. Game on! 🎮
1.journalism, gaming enthusiasts, Blockchain gaming, digital media (00:00:00 - 00:31:38)
The transcript discusses the excitement of the host in having Hal Crawford as a guest, who is a veteran journalist and content creator and currently the head of content at Palamos, a blockchain gaming company. They discuss Palamos' services and compare it to IGN. Hal shares his extensive experience in journalism and content creation. The host asks Hal about his background in gaming journalism and how it influenced his decision to work with Palamos. They also discuss the challenges of being a game reviewer and their curiosity about web three gaming and blockchain technology. They emphasize the importance of finding the good in everything and appreciate the hard work in game development. They express concerns about game balance and fairness. They believe that having an open beta allows for genuine player feedback.
2.games, developers, community, monthly active users (00:31:38 - 00:57:05)
The transcript discusses various topics related to game development and the challenges faced in the industry. It emphasizes the importance of game developers taking the lead in decision-making rather than relying on community input. The speakers also discuss the time and experience required to create successful games, mentioning the unrealistic expectations set by some developers. The conversation touches on the integration of blockchain technology in games and the difficulties associated with user interfaces and adoption. The transcript concludes by mentioning the competitiveness of the gaming market and the dominance of established franchises and intellectual properties. The speaker discusses the challenges of developing a successful gaming business without a strong intellectual property (IP) and emphasizes the importance of building a dedicated community. They acknowledge that achieving a large user base may not be feasible in the short or medium term and suggest focusing on smaller, but engaged, user numbers. The speaker also mentions the mismatch between the significant funding in the blockchain gaming industry and the limited user base. They highlight the need for more coverage and reporting on the industry and share their strategy of covering both established games and cutting-edge blockchain games. They emphasize the importance of avoiding evangelism and providing objective reporting. The speaker advises aspiring journalists to cultivate curiosity, ask questions, and take their work seriously. They express the need for more independent reporters and encourage others to enter the field. The podcast host thanks the guest for their perspective and encourages listeners to rate and support the podcast. They provide contact information and express their willingness to collaborate and improve.
