September 25th, 2009 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Analysis & Editorial, Marketing Strategies | No Comments »
Digital Chocolate's CEO Trip Hawkins has unveiled their new virtual goods platform called NanoVerse. On it, they sell what they call NanoStars. Indeed, this is something new that they even patented.
NanoStars are online characters that can be purchased in packs that are a lot like those we know from card trading games. The characters can be used in DC's games and will bring in unique items depending on those games.
“Our goal with NanoStars is to bring the benefits of TCGs to a much larger audience that wants to play simpler online and mobile social games. One key goal is to do something akin to, “Pokemon for Grownups” by having our virtual items be amusing characters rather than just objects, things, or functions. We also are trying to properly adapt TCG principles to computer networks, which I don’t think the TCGs themselves have been able to do. The TCGs all felt obligated to literally map their card games to the online world, which in my view makes for tediously slow play in which you are constantly waiting and not sure if your opponent is even there. Another goal is to make the world’s simplest TCG so that we can all play it with our friends and family. We want to make a TCG “for the rest of us”. But of course since it is living in a computer network it can be much more than just a collection of paper trading cards playing a paper card game.”
“I’ll borrow a well-known character to better illustrate this notion. Suppose you bought a Batman virtual character in this kind of system. Hypothetically your ownership of this “virtual genetic code” could unlock a limited edition ringtone or screensaver. And a hooded black cape with pointy ears that your avatar could wear in a chat room. And you could furnish a virtual home with your characters, where your Batman might turn into a stunning Batmobile that sits out in front of your house. Then you could take Batman into various games. Perhaps in a Batman adventure game he plays himself. He turns into gorgeous virtual trading card that allows you to make a cool move in an online trading card game. In a soccer game he could be a really quick goalie who plays better in night games, and has a black mask. In a role-playing game he could be a magician that can turn into a bat. And all the while you are using him you are developing a relational and gameplay history that is meaningful, earning the equivalent of frequent flyer miles, and on occasion earning an “unlock” of some cool new feature that makes the character even more valuable on our stock market where you can trade and buy NanoStars.”
The first game that will support the NanoVerse will be called NanoVerse Castles and it will be a card trading game that will be folowed with more games from DC. The option to let third parties use the system will be available.
