How Are Cryptos and the Blockchain Bringing Back the Buzz of Retro Games?

The last few years have given us some fascinating examples of how cryptocurrencies and the blockchain have introduced new ways of handling our money. Yet, there have also been great ways that this technology has helped us rediscover the pleasure of retro games. 

Three-Reel Slots and Classic Card Games

Online casinos were already among the biggest technology success stories of this century, even before cryptos hit the scene. The chance to play games like slots and roulette so conveniently has made these sites hugely popular, but the addition of cryptocurrencies as a payment method has also helped create a banking process that’s smoother and more secure. If we check out the range of online slots at a crypto casino, we see a wide variety of themes and features.

This includes a number of three-reel slots that are similar to the classic slots of the past, with fruits and 7s among the key symbols. Clicking on the classic slot category, we see titles like Gemini Joker, Shining Hot 100, and Wild Cash. The crypto theme is alluded to in slots like mBit Lucky Streak, creating an interesting mixture of retro games with Bitcoin images. There’s certainly a big mix of online slots to choose from, and cryptocurrencies are infusing new life into them.

Traditional casino games such as blackjack and baccarat can also be played using cryptocurrencies. The introduction of live streaming has added an extra element, with the timeless gameplay being enhanced by the presence of human dealers on the screen. Bitcoin isn’t the only token accepted, as a number of other popular tokens can be used for deposits and withdrawals. While Bitcoin often dominates crypto conversations, it’s worth remembering that the likes of Tether and Litecoin are also excellent choices for moving funds to these sites.     

The Return of Retro Games – MapleStory

Crypto casinos aren’t the only platforms integrating cryptocurrencies, though! Other retro games are making use of them too, like MapleStory.

First released in 2003, MapleStory quickly became a global hit and established a reputation as a classic game, where players need to move around Maple World, gaining skills and battling monsters. It has been revamped since then and has seen big success in recent years.  

Recently, the game was brought into the blockchain age, as it was repackaged as a Web3 title backed by a blockchain Ecosystem known as MapleStory Universe. The creator, Nexon, has already brought out the first blockchain version of their game, which is called MapleStory N. This game was launched in a few dozen countries, although huge markets such as the US, Japan, and South Korea weren’t on the list – perhaps they will be in the future.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this development is that it uses the Nexpace (NXPC) token as an in-game payment method for items like rewards and NFTs. This token has been listed on major exchanges such as Binance, where it enjoyed a massive price increase upon launch. It could prove to be a valuable blueprint for other gaming companies that want to add their games to the blockchain.

Atari’s Retro Ethereum Arcade

As one of the world’s longest-running and most respected game developers, Atari has made history over the years. From their early gaming cabinets to the boom in home consoles that they led, Atari has shown an ability to use the latest technology to shape the gaming industry. Therefore, we can be certain that many industry insiders are keeping a close eye on the success of their latest project.

This is a retro arcade built on Ethereum’s Base network. Asteroids is the first title to be added, with players looking to collect weekly prizes by playing this space shooter that was originally released in 1979. NFC access passes will be used to allow players to access this and other games as they’re added. Asteroids can already be played on some sites for free, but this new blockchain version adds a competitive edge by letting players challenge others.

Since Atari has shown a lot of interest in this technology, it seems safe to assume that we will see more blockchain games in the future. Breakout is one possible addition to the crypto arcade that’s been mentioned, while Space Invaders, Pac-Man, and Combat are among their most popular games.

This story of Ms Pac-Man brought to us by mBit Casino shows another retro game that would be welcomed by many modern players, although they point out that it began life as an unauthorized version of the famous game, which was quickly bought up by the developers and distributed alongside Pac-Man.

What to Expect Next? Crypto and retro games a success story

These examples let us see that there are many ways of adding retro games to the blockchain. The success of these efforts will help to determine how many more games of this type are seen in the future. It certainly seems likely that we will see the blockchain used to bring many more types of retro games to life in interesting ways.

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(Featured image AI generated via Freepik)

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