Welcome back to the People's Guild. To round out our third season of TPG, we welcome back to the show, Splinterlands founder and CEO, 
In this episode Matt shares valuable insights into the game’s current progress, challenges & exciting future plans.
Covering a wide array of topics, from game design innovations and economic improvements to upcoming launches and community engagement, this conversation highlights the ongoing efforts to elevate the Splinterlands experience.
Enjoy the show!
Game Design, Economic Improvements, and Launch
In the episode, Yabapmatt discussed the progress and challenges of the past year, focusing on game design and economic improvements. He highlighted the team's efforts to fix issues from the last Bull Run and the introduction of the glint system, soulbound reward cards, and the wild pass. Yabapmatt also mentioned ongoing business side cleanup and the shift towards a more streamlined team. The conversation then shifted to the new player experience, with Yabapmatt explaining their plans to improve it, including a free-to-play experience and a training set of cards. The team also discussed the upcoming Conclave Arcana launch, with Yabapmatt expressing a desire to launch it in April but acknowledging the need for flexibility due to changing circumstances.
Introducing Training Cards for New Players
Bjangles and Yabapmatt discussed the concept of a new set of cards for new players in Splinterlands. These cards, referred to as "training cards," would be available to all players and would be objectively worse than other cards. The idea is to provide a fun and rewarding experience for new players, encouraging them to spend more time in the game and understand its mechanics. Yabapmatt explained that these cards would be cheap and could be earned through gameplay, with the goal of making the game more appealing to new players. Hepthorn agreed with the idea, noting that it could help players understand the game better and potentially lead to more purchases of cards. Yabapmatt also mentioned the need to improve the mobile experience, with the website now rebuilt and a new app in development.
SPS Token and Splinterlands' Future
Bjangles and Yabapmatt discussed the importance of the SPS token in the Splinterlands ecosystem and its potential impact on the game's success. Yabapmatt expressed optimism about the upcoming launch of Conclave Arcana, hoping it would lead to a similar surge in SPS token value as seen with the release of Rebellion. He also acknowledged the need for better marketing messaging and strategies, which he hoped the team from Alluvium would provide. The team also discussed the potential target demographic for Splinterlands, with Yabapmatt expressing a desire to understand the gaming audience better. The conversation ended with Yabapmatt sharing his optimism about the future of Splinterlands, drawing on past experiences and the progress made in recent months.
Company Growth and Centralized Exchange
Yabapmatt expressed optimism about the future of the company, citing the potential for growth and the positive impact of a pro-crypto government. He also mentioned his desire to step back from his CEO role and focus on game design. The team discussed the goal of reaching 500,000 active players, which would be a significant achievement. They also discussed the potential of a centralized exchange listing, with Yabapmatt stating that it would be extremely challenging, regardless of the presence of validators.
Token Access and Exchange Challenges
Yabapmatt discussed the challenges and potential solutions for making it easier for people to get money into their tokens. He highlighted the administrative difficulties and fraud issues associated with using fiat currency and expressed a desire for a day when it's easy for everyone to get DEC without needing PayPal. Yabapmatt also mentioned the importance of a major exchange listing, but noted that it might not be feasible in the near future. He suggested that validators could potentially operate exchange nodes, making it easier for people to withdraw tokens directly from exchanges. Hepthorn agreed, noting that getting listed on major exchanges like Binance or Coinbase might not be as crucial as making the process of getting tokens easier for users. Yabapmatt also mentioned exploring ways to make the process simpler, such as using Coinbase or Crypto.com, and bridging through Hive Engine.
Introducing Hardcore Survival Game Mode
Yabapmatt discussed the introduction of a new game mode, Hardcore Survival Mode, which was initially met with concerns about potential bot farming and economic drain. Yabapmatt assured the community that they would not allow any type of farming to happen and that the mode was designed to encourage players to buy and rent more cards, potentially benefiting the ecosystem. Yabapmatt also mentioned that the mode was relatively easy to implement and that they were willing to take the risk to see how it goes. Hepthorn expressed concerns about the potential economic drain and the optics of introducing the mode at this time. Yabapmatt clarified that the mode was not intended to be a drain but rather a fun and exciting game mode that could potentially benefit the ecosystem.
Soulbound Cards and Future Updates
Yabapmatt expressed his desire for soulbound cards to be allowed in the game, despite concerns about potential exploitation by accounts that had earned a lot of soulbound cards in the past. He suggested that there are other ways to deal with the issue of old bot army accounts. Yabapmatt also discussed the team's plans for the future, including the development of a daily focus or daily quest system, a guild update, and the revamping of the practice mode. He emphasized the importance of keeping the game polished and engaging for players. Yabapmatt also mentioned the potential for introducing new features like guild alliances, new buildings, and customizable challenges. The team is planning to start making more decisions as they get closer to the launch of Conclave Arcana.
Rebellion Set Success and Game Strategy
In the episode, Yabapmatt discussed the success of the Rebellion set, noting that it was smaller than expected but still popular. He expressed his desire for people to buy packs only if they want to use the cards in the game, not as a future investment. Yabapmatt also mentioned that the Town Hall meeting would cover similar topics and answer questions.
