CryptoKitties or how I spent all my Ether
A long time ago, I wanted to dive into the world of crypto-kitties and understand how everything works and what fuels it.
As of today, I have completed the main introductory course and closed everything. Goalsthat gives me the right, with a clear conscience, to share my thoughts with you.
In short, CryptoKitties it's a kind of "game" where you take one cat, breed it with another cat, and get a third cat. The special difference here is that the cats are unique. digital assetsthat fluctuate in price in the market (almost like cats in life).
Prices
I'll start with the most interesting part — the cost of kittens starts from 15$.
It is clear that everything depends on the exchange rate. Ethereum and from the network commission (GAS), but to find a cat cheaper, you will have to try very hard (although the game does not prohibit giving away cats and setting prices at $5, such kittens are simply impossible to find).
And here I encountered the first, very sharp underwater rock... GAS
When buying a kitten for $15, its final price can be $35 or even $50, depending on the network fee.
There's nothing you can do about this; the transaction fee is not factored into the prices. Sometimes it spikes unreasonably high and stays there for quite a long time.
If the minimum limit is more or less clear (from ±$15 to $50), then beyond that... prices will be limited only by the rarity of the cats and the imagination of their owners.
Well, you can check that without me. in the store.
The mechanics are very simple: you buy one male kitten, one female kitten, and send them to make a third kitten.
Perhaps one of the most fundamental parameters affecting the cost of a kitten is its generation.
Gen0
Here we come to tokenization and NFT technology.
At the start, they wanted to launch only 50,000 cats, but something went wrong and only 34,928 were produced. All these zero cats have Gen 0.
If cats of different generations breed, they produce offspring of a later generation. Gen 3 + Gen 4 = Gen 5
The closer a generation is to its ancestor, the higher its value.
Crossbreeding cats is naturally not free either.
To breed two kittens, you need to pay. 0.016 ETH (3800 RUB | 52 USD)
+ network fee, which is paid separately.
In total, to buy two kittens and try to breed them, I spent
0.0413 ETH (10,000 RUB | 135 USD)
If you're curious about what happens during crossing, it looks like this.
As a result, after a couple of hours, this miracle was born.
Furthermore, if we go deeper, kittens can meow, and they may exhibit some super cool coat traits. by genetic lineage in the blockchain network... in general, moles and horns from ancestors that cost thousands of dollars.
Original picture: open source
Of course, to sell a kitten, you need to announce an auction.
This is done. for free.
But no one will pay the network fee for you, so the free listing of the cat for sale will still cost you. 50$ 😉
Summary
I can't really call it a game :(
however, this is very close to browser quests.
I can't really call it a financial instrument either :(
however, it fully reflects the spirit and capabilities of NFT technology and blockchain as a whole.
I really liked the phrase I came across in the manuals.
First and foremost, this is a game centered around collecting digital cats, not an investment portfolio or a get-rich-quick opportunity. If you're collecting CryptoKitties with the intention of making a quick buck, you're going to miss all the magic and fun (and, let’s be honest, probably the quick buck, too). This is primarily a collector’s game. You might make some money, but don't be annoyed if you don't. Just love your cats.
First and foremost, this is a game focused on collecting digital cats, not on building an investment portfolio or the opportunity to make quick money. If you are starting your journey in CryptoKitties with the intention of making a quick profit, you will miss out on all the magic and fun (and, to be honest, you might quickly lose all your money). This is primarily a game for collectors. Of course, you can make some money, but don't be disappointed if you don't. Just love your cats.
In the joy of the experience gained, I launched CryptoKitties Stickers (bot) for Telegram.