The Future of Splinterlands: Why the Hive Community Should Support Splinterlands DHF Proposal

As an avid member of the Hive community and a passionate supporter of Splinterlands, I find myself at a crossroads. Today, I want to delve into a proposal that could shape the future of Splinterlands and the Hive blockchain. This proposal, brought forward by @yabapmatt, co-founder and current President and CEO of Steem Monsters Corp, is a call for support from the Hive community. It's about raising 500,000 HBD over the next six months to ensure Splinterlands' continued success and growth on the Hive blockchain.

A Brief History

Splinterlands, formerly Steem Monsters, has been a beacon of innovation and excitement on the Hive blockchain for six years. During this time, it has not only created a profitable business but has also significantly contributed to the Hive community. From purchasing and burning millions of HIVE tokens to developing essential tools like Hive Engine and Hive Keychain, Splinterlands has been a cornerstone of our ecosystem.

However, the bull market mania of 2021 and early 2022 led to rapid expansion and diversification into multiple game products and a blockchain-gaming platform, all on Hive. When the market turned in mid-2022, the company faced significant losses and had to restructure. Today, the focus is back on making Splinterlands profitable and growing.

The Need for Capital: Why Hive Should Invest

To turn Splinterlands around, Steam Monsters Corp needs to raise capital. While they are exploring options outside the Hive ecosystem, Matt firmly believes that Hive is the best chain for their mission. Unfortunately, most external investors are affiliated with other blockchain platforms and often push for a move to their preferred chains.

This proposal is not just about securing funds; it's about ensuring Splinterlands remains on Hive. By approving this proposal, the Hive community can prevent the potential loss of one of its most successful projects to another blockchain.

Exploring Alternatives: Top EVM Blockchains

While I strongly believe in Hive, it's essential to address the potential of moving to another EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) blockchain. Let's explore some of the top EVM blockchains that present viable alternatives:

Base: The Coinbase Advantage

Base emerges as a standout contender. Developed by Coinbase and utilizing Optimism's OP Stack, Base functions as a Layer-2 solution for Ethereum. Its direct integration with Coinbase provides developers with access to a vast community of crypto enthusiasts. Moreover, Base has become a dynamic playground for developers seeking to implement innovative on-chain mechanics.

Notable games like the trading card game Parallel, the Tamagotchi-inspired game FrenPet, the city-building game Proxcity, and the move-to-earn pet game LOOTaDOG leverage Base's low-fee ecosystem crafted by Coinbase. This demonstrates Base's efficacy in facilitating diverse gaming experiences while catering to the needs of developers and gamers alike.

Arbitrum: Advanced Fraud-Proof System

Arbitrum operates as a Layer-2 network built atop Ethereum, leveraging Rollups to reduce gas fees and alleviate network congestion on the Ethereum mainnet. Its standout feature lies in its advanced fraud-proof system, facilitated by its direct integration with the Ethereum blockchain.

With Arbitrum Nova, the ecosystem offers a specialized solution targeting game developers. TreasureDAO, a prominent gaming ecosystem in Web3, has chosen to build on Arbitrum, hosting popular games like the action roguelite RPG The Beacon and the metaverse world SecondLive. This solidifies Arbitrum's status as a preferred platform for gaming innovation and development within the Web3 space.

Arbitrum has a $215 million to be distributed over three years through the newly established Gaming Catalyst Program (GCP)

Solana: The Gamer's Choice

The Solana blockchain has emerged as a top choice for gamers due to its vibrant community and minimal gas fees. Beyond gaming, the Solana ecosystem offers an array of developer-focused services such as data storage and cloud computing, enhancing its appeal among developers.

Notable games like the space epic Star Atlas, the play-to-earn game Genopets, and the role-playing game Aurory highlight Solana's status as a hub for highly anticipated Web3 games. Despite facing significant hurdles, Solana has overcome obstacles to become a beloved platform within the gaming community.

Ronin: Home of Axie Infinity

The Ronin Network, originally known as the home of Axie Infinity, has evolved into a thriving gaming hub. Spearheaded by Sky Mavis, the studio behind Axie Infinity, the Ronin Network has forged strong developer partnerships, resulting in significant growth and recognition.

Games like Apeiron, Wild Forest, and Pixels represent just a few of the titles making their way to this vibrant gaming chain, renowned for its enthusiastic community. Developers understand that by choosing to build on Ronin, they gain access to an active and dedicated user base, fostering a conducive environment for game development and engagement.

Immutable X: Enhanced Scalability and Cost Efficiency

Immutable X initially originated as a standalone Layer-2 network built atop Ethereum. However, recognizing the potential of Polygon CDK, Immutable has pivoted to integrate it into its ecosystem, resulting in Immutable zkEVM. This strategic move allows for enhanced scalability and cost efficiency.

Immutable distinguishes itself with Immutable Passport, a user-friendly consumer service simplifying wallet creation without requiring technical expertise. Notable titles like Gods Unchained, Cross the Ages, Ember Sword, and Illuvium have found a home within the Immutable ecosystem, further bolstering its reputation in the industry.

Immutable has a $500 million fund that is dedicated to accelerating the growth and success of games on Immutable

Polygon: Cutting-Edge Technology

Polygon CDK (Chain Development Kit) is at the forefront of Polygon's ecosystem overhaul, alongside its zkEVM (Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine) technology. The integration of zero-knowledge proofs within the zkEVM chain enables faster transaction confirmations with significantly reduced gas fees. Moreover, the Chain Development Kit empowers developers to seamlessly leverage the Polygon ecosystem, enhancing accessibility and flexibility.

Maplestory Universe's decision to build its forthcoming Web3 game on Polygon's technology underscores its appeal and reliability. With transactions already cost-effective on Polygon, the implementation of zkEVM further drives costs down to nearly negligible levels, ensuring an optimal user experience.

Polygon has a $720 million Community Treasury to fund blockchain projects, targeting developers within the Polygon.

A Call to Action: Support the Proposal

As you can see there are plenty of other gaming oriented blockchains competing for games that can bring new users to their blockchain. A lot of these blockchains have millions of dollars that they give developers to develop games on their platform. If Splinterlands doesn't get the funding here they will most likely partner up with a VC that will invest millions of dollars into Splinterlands to help them move to another blockchain and list SPS on a major exchange.

I have been part of this community for over two years so it saddens me to see Hive lag behind other blockchains. Despite Hive's superior technology and community, Hive is losing ground by almost every metric. To maintain relevance and value, we need to attract great projects to our ecosystem.

The Decentralized Hive Fund (DHF) may not have as much capital as other VC-backed chains, but if we allocate it effectively, we can compete with the best. Splinterlands has a proven track record of delivering value to Hive. Although they have made mistakes, they are committed to fixing them and reclaiming their position as a top web3 project.

I urge the Hive community to support this proposal. By doing so, you are not only investing in the future of Splinterlands but also in the future of Hive. Splinterlands has demonstrated its value time and again, and with Hive blockchain support, Splinterlands can continue to bring new users and visibility to Hive.

If you are not part of Splinterlands yet you can use my link to begin your Splinterlands journey.