Episode 106: An Aftersound Conversation

Welcome back to the People's Guild. We welcome back to the show the Praetorian Bard & our first ever podcast guest from way back in Episode 7, @aftersound.

We discuss a bit of everything in this one as we hadn't had a proper chat with AS since October '22 - serendipitously just around the time SoulKeep was announced (and SoulKeep officially launched yesterday).

Sit back, toss on the headphones & enjoy the show!

Aftersound's Return and Splinterland Token Discussion

Aftersound, a renowned content creator, was welcomed back by Bjangles. They discussed the fluctuating value of Splinterland's token and clarified the importance of fact-checking. Aftersound shared his process for developing insightful content, emphasizing the importance of the community's feedback and his efforts to reconnect with a former community member, DarkestNyte. Despite a downturn in subscribers, Aftersound noted high engagement with the community, indicating a continued interest in the project.

Game Ecosystem, Splenolens, and Community Engagement

Aftersound, FatJimmy, and Bjangles discussed their experiences with the newly scaled back game ecosystem, with a focus on the Tower Defense game. They also discussed the potential of the newly acquired game, Splinterlands, and its upcoming features, expressing optimism about its success due to its unique hybrid graphics and the marketing efforts of its developers, Double Coconut. The team also discussed the importance of staying active and engaged in the community, as it could lead to increased exposure and new players, as well as the need for outside capital to support Web 3's sustainability. They also touched upon the balance between catering to new players and maintaining the loyalty of the older fan base.

Balancing Rewards and Motivation in Games

Aftersound and Bjangles discussed a new approach to their game's reward system, emphasizing the importance of immediate, accessible rewards for players. They considered the role of soul bound cards in limiting extractors and enhancing playing experience, and debated their continued necessity now that extractors were discontinued. The team also explored the balance between reward and motivation, with Aftersound cautioning against discouraging new players with overly difficult reward systems, and FatJimmy advocating for a more segmented card release schedule. Ultimately, the team agreed on the need for a well-designed progression system to strike a balance between reward and motivation.

Balancing New Features and Player Retention

The team discussed their concerns about the current workload, release schedules, and the potential for integrating conflict technology into the modern game. They also debated the re-release of Rebellion cards, the development of one-click set rentals, and the importance of a comprehensive tutorial experience for new players. The team agreed on the need to balance these new features with other aspects of the game and the potential for web 3 gaming to improve player retention and satisfaction. They also expressed anticipation for the completion of the back end for one-click set rentals by July and the front end by September or the end of Q3.

Discussing Rule Sets and Game Progression

FatJimmy, Aftersound, and Bjangles discussed the progression of rule sets in the game, with more challenging rule sets available at higher levels. They explored the idea of incentivizing progression, expanding the game with new rule sets, and improving the tournament and league systems. The team also discussed the engagement of players in online card games, the potential of introducing new rule sets to re-engage players, and the concept of league-based rule sets. They further discussed the importance of making the 'wild' game mode more appealing to players, with the idea of 'modern' and 'wild' representing different card sets and mechanics. Lastly, they touched upon the development and implementation of new features and game modes, including one-click set rentals, liquidity bots, and improved onboarding experiences.

Discussing Card Supply, CEO Performance, and Crypto Validators

The team discussed burning unused cards and packs from the Nifty Deck era to reduce the supply of Chaos Legion cards. There was a debate on the potential economic impact and whether new players should be onboarded to reduce the surplus of cards. The team also discussed their views on Matt's performance as CEO, with mixed feedback on his handling of the voucher system and communication. A proposal was made to eliminate vouchers or transition to a soul-bound capacity, with concerns raised about the impact on those with large stakes in the voting process. The team also discussed the development of crypto validators and the potential impact on the community.

Presale Glitch and Music Preferences

The team discussed various topics including a glitch in the presale system affecting some members, and personal interests. They also delved into their musical backgrounds and preferences, with Aftersound sharing his journey from listening to rap and hip-hop to discovering new genres, and even revealing his intention to promote his own music-related videos with sponsorships. FatJimmy and Bjangles had an exchange about their familiarity with Outcast's Stankonia album, with FatJimmy admitting he didn't have much interest in rap music. The conversation also touched on file-sharing platforms like Napster and Limewire.

Classic Rock, New Music, and Community Engagement

FatJimmy, Aftersound, and Bjangles discussed their shared love for classic rock, particularly the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. They also talked about the musical impact and talent of John Mayer, and the enduring popularity of his music. The conversation then shifted to exploring new music and expanding their musical tastes, with mentions of Van Halen, Derek Trucks, and Billy Strings. The group also discussed their community engagement through their podcast, People's Guild, and personal plans for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.

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