Contents
Introduction
Interviewing the co-founder and former CEO of the now-defunct NFTNewton platformer, Dom Hofmann, is no ordinary task. After months of buzz in the digital currency and NFT space, Dom provided some insight on the experiences that led up to the start of the game, where it was heading, and his plans for the future.
From a Beginner to One of the Biggest NFT Experiences
Before Dom served as the CEO of NFTNewton, he had far more experience with game development than at one of the biggest NFT experiences. Dom spent much of his early career coding virtual worlds for games like Neopets, and even garnered attention from the big production houses.
One of the more major projects he found himself involved in was the implementation of an entirely new game engine into the world of Neopets. This same engine was then extended to create the very first Virtual Reality game, in 1993.
Dom soon felt the need to jump into the world completely, and so he started his own game developer agency, which he named ‘Newton’. It was here that the roots of NFTNewton were laid. NFTNewton was not just any ordinary digital platformer, it was a 3D platformer made using actual 3D assets, similar to a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ type game.
The aim was to make players feel like they were actually inside the game, akin to Neopets. This experience was made through the use of actual 3D assets and the concept of ‘owning’ them as an asset. Players could then trade and exchange the NFTs as desired, giving the game an edge over its peers.
Dom Hofmann’s Vision
The vision behind the game was simple; make NFTNewton the pinnacle of the NFT platformers. This included pushing the boundaries of what was possible in said realm, whilst still keeping with the core concept of the game, of being an open platform with a vision of ‘playing and owning’.
The game was initially very successful in terms of downloads, however a majority of the players had difficulty in understanding the complex gameplay mechanics. This led to an overall decrease in demand for an NFT platformer experience, which eventually caused the game to close its doors.
Aside from the platformer, Dom and his team have also implemented some real-world NFTs that players could purchase that could be used in the game itself. This kind of ‘physical’ ownership was something rarely seen in digital games.
Dom’s Plans for the Future
Dom and his team plan on continuing to develop games, but their eyes are now set on a slightly different market. Instead of focusing on NFTNewton, they plan to focus on the world of blockchain games in order to tap into the growing demand of users looking for games where they can actually own and trade digital assets.
Dom and the team are also looking into developing games with a greater focus on the consumer. This includes games tailored to different playstyles and times of day, meaning that players can jump into and enjoy a session with the game, no matter their schedule.
Conclusion
Interviewing Dom Hofmann was an eye-opening experience. From his troubled past in the industry to his ambitions for the future, the amount of insight we can gain from his experiences is absolutely incredible.
Dom’s plans for the future show a personal goal and ambition of bringing more fun and quality games to the blockchain space, one of the main issues people have with digital games. With his team behind him and the industry ever growing, who knows what big steps Dom may take after all.
Related FAQ’s
1. Why did Dom Hofmann start NFTNewton?
Dom Hofmann started NFTNewton as a part of his game developer agency ‘Newton’, with the aim of creating an open platform with a focus on ‘playing and owning’.
2. What challenges did NFTNewton initially face?
The main challenge NFTNewton initially faced was that the players had difficulty understanding the complex gameplay mechanics which consequently led to an overall decrease in demand for the game.
3. What does dom hofmann nftnewtonplatformer?
Dom Hofmann was the former CEO and co-founder of NFTNewton, a 3D platformer made using actual 3D assets. The aim of the game was to “allow players to actually ‘own’ within the game” through the use of NFTs.
4. What ventures for the future does Dom Hofmann have planned?
Dom Hofman and his team plan to focus on the world of blockchain games in order to tap into the growing demand of users looking for games where they can actually own and trade digital assets. They are also looking into developing games with a greater focus on the consumer.
5. What insight can we gain from speaking to Dom Hofmann?
Speaking to Dom Hofmann was an eye-opening experience. From his troubled past in the industry to his ambitions for the future, the amount of insight we can gain from his experiences is absolutely incredible.
