Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what the next one will taste like.

Whether in Web2 or Web3, blind box gameplay is common in the art market. Bubble Mart has carved a niche in the trendy entertainment circle with its blind boxes, and its market value has approached HK$150 billion within two months of its listing. But when the popularity subsided, a series of shortcomings such as duplication of IP in the blind box gameplay, imperfect narrative, and inability to keep consumers enthusiastic were also exposed. Similarly, there are also many blind box gameplays in NFT. How to grasp the balance between player surprise and narrative construction is an issue that all project parties need to consider. Now that NFT liquidity is close to drying up, it may be a good time to experiment.

In-depth analysis of the consumption logic behind the blind box gameplay

Why are these game methods like collecting Water Margin cards, drawing SSR, unboxing, and blind boxes so successful? In fact, they are all variations of forms of gambling and can be seen as typical representatives of legalized gambling in modern society.

Whether they are game designers or blind box merchants, they all deeply understand an important principle - using random rewards to attract players to participate and cultivate an addictive mentality, which is one of the most effective strategies.

Human beings are inherently wired to pursue uncertain rewards. The more uncertain they are about what rewards they will receive, the more likely they are to arouse people’s desires and make them unable to extricate themselves.

This psychological phenomenon can be traced back to the hunting days of ancient humans. In the process of chasing prey, people always hope to catch larger and more precious prey, because this means more abundant food and better living conditions. This instinct to pursue uncertain rewards is deeply rooted in our genes, making us full of curiosity and desire for unknown results.

Game designers and blind box merchants take full advantage of this psychological characteristic. By setting up rare and valuable props or rewards, they stimulate players’ desire and competitive psychology. The process of unboxing and drawing is itself a kind of excitement and anticipation, and every attempt may bring unexpected surprises. This uncertain reward mechanism traps people in a cycle of chasing, exploring, and anticipating, constantly investing time and money.

Principle of scarcity: core elements of blind box value empowerment

Things are more valuable when they are scarce. If the blind box material itself has no value, then we will create value through scarcity.

Blind boxes usually contain some rare or limited edition items, and this scarcity increases the appeal of blind boxes to consumers. People tend to believe that rare items have higher value and uniqueness, so they will be inspired to purchase blind boxes in the hope of obtaining the rare items within them.

On the other hand, time limits or quantity limits are often set in blind box mechanisms to create a sense of urgency and restriction. This restriction increases the scarcity of blind boxes, prompting consumers to act immediately to avoid missing out on the opportunity to purchase. During the sales process, the setting of limited time and limited quantities can arouse consumers’ sense of urgency and competitiveness, further promoting sales.

As for how to carry out the implementation at the practical level, this article will not extend the discussion. You can read more about the common game numerical treasure books on the market, which almost include a series of system tutorials from the number of blind boxes to the probability of lottery.

Social Identity: Use membership system and blind box mechanism to strengthen consensus

Scarce items are usually regarded as a symbol of social identity. Owning rare items can increase an individual’s status and sense of identity in a social group. However, in the end our goal is not to create scarce products, but to create a sense of status and identity for consumers. .

The consumption pattern of blind boxes is closely related to social recognition and social sharing. By opening the blind box and sharing the results, consumers can show their consumption experience and the items they obtain in their social circles, thereby gaining approval and recognition from others. This kind of social interaction can bring a sense of satisfaction and belonging, while also promoting the spread and popularity of blind boxes.

As you can see, almost all leading blind box trendy IPs at home and abroad have their own blind box social ecology. Two years ago, there were countless cutting-edge platforms claiming to “create a recyclable trendy play ecosystem.” ”, and uses an extremely complex community ecology to create a “value consensus” of its own IP.

NFT blind box, narrative is the first priority

For blind box NFT projects, narrative is a crucial core element. It is not just to provide a background story or a framework for the virtual world, but also to create an immersive experience for users. Through cleverly constructed storylines, character settings and world views, the NFT blind box project can arouse emotional resonance among users and stimulate their imagination and participation.

The narrative design makes each blind box a miniature story, and every time it is opened, it is an adventure full of expectations and surprises. The narrative clues and secrets behind it, as well as the special elements and interactions hidden in NFT, provide users with a sense of exploration and discovery. Users can gradually unravel the mysteries of the narrative, collect and exchange NFTs of different characters or items, and further understand the development of the story and the worldview behind it.

The importance of narrative is also reflected in the long-term sustainability of the project. An engaging and engaging narrative world attracts more user engagement and keeps users focused and engaged. At the same time, by continuously launching new narrative chapters, activities and characters, the project can continuously expand and extend the depth and breadth of the story, providing users with more opportunities for participation and interaction.

Take BOXXER as an example for instantiation analysis

About BOXXER

BOXXER is an innovative project based on the Ethereum blockchain that brings together 10,000 unique NFT artworks. These NFTs are called Boxes. Each Box is unique, has unique characteristics and attributes, and therefore has different rarities. Compared with ordinary NFT blind boxes on the market, BOXXER provides each owner with a personalized narrative experience, allowing them to deeply understand the story of each Box through interaction and exploration. Therefore, the rarity of Box is not only in terms of numbers, but also reflected in the story and meaning behind each Box. BOXXER owners no longer just own static digital assets, but can have deeper interactions and emotional connections with artworks.

Project Mechanism

The core mechanism of the BOXXER project is the creation of unique NFT characters, each represented by a Box avatar. These NFT characters are not only visually unique, but also incorporate rich narrative elements. Through a combination of visual design and narrative depth, BOXXER delivers stunning uniqueness to players. Each character has his or her own unique visual characteristics and personality, making them both artistically and emotionally appealing. These NFT characters are designed not only to meet the needs of players, but also to create a world to interact with. This uniqueness and narrative depth make the BOXXER project unique in the NFT space.

Gameplay

The BOXXER project provides players with a unique blind box gameplay that interestingly combines NFT ownership with gaming experience. In this game, players can unlock surprise characters by casting NFT boxes. Each character has its own unique story and attributes, adding excitement to the entire game experience.

For players, casting NFT boxes is a process full of expectations and surprises. Players can choose from different box types, each representing different potential rewards and possibilities. Once players forge the box, they can unlock the surprise character inside. These characters not only have unique appearance characteristics, but also have rich story backgrounds and attributes. Players can gradually understand their stories and backgrounds through interaction and exploration with these characters, adding more fun and depth to the entire game experience.

The blind box-style gameplay of the BOXXER project not only provides players with an exciting and interesting experience, but also brings them real NFT ownership. Each unlocked character becomes a unique asset to the user, which they can display, trade, or interact with other players within the game. This combination of NFT ownership makes every decision and action of the user in the game have greater meaning and value.

Member rights system creation

As an NFT community, BOXXER will also provide benefits and privileges to community members. In the BOXXER community, members can enjoy a series of exclusive benefits, such as access to limited edition NFTs and early casting opportunities. Therefore, members of BOXXER can obtain the latest NFT characters before other players and have the opportunity to own some unique and rare works. At the same time, BOXXER members can also participate in various activities and decisions in the community. They can exchange experiences with other members, share collections, and participate in the operation and development of the community. Members’ voices and opinions will be valued in the community and influence the direction of projects and future development plans. This sense of participation and interactivity allows members to be more immersed in the atmosphere of the BOXXER community and establish closer connections with other collectors.

The casting of the BOXXER project is one of the important ways for players to obtain Box characters. In order to ensure the smooth progress of casting, BOXXER will communicate the casting time and detailed plan through BOXXER’s official website and social media platform (Twitter/Discord). Players can participate in casting by paying attention to official media updates. Before casting begins, BOXXER will announce the casting time and rules in advance to allow players to have sufficient preparation time. Players only need to follow the rules and instructions to complete the casting process, and BOXXER will provide necessary support and assistance. In addition to casting, players can also obtain Box characters through trading and participating in community activities.

Summary

As I write this article, I suddenly remember a passage made by James Fork (Twitter: @0xJamesXXX) at the end of June:

As long as you have a community operation that can be on par with the better domestic private board of directors or communities like Shengcai Youdao, it will be very easy for your NFT price to increase by 1 ETH.

Rough talk but not rough reasoning, NFT, as a track that focuses on operations and narrative, greatly tests the project team’s storytelling ability and subsequent community operation capabilities. Especially in a bear market where the NFT market is illiquid, this is a good opportunity to build and experiment.

Every launch is like sowing a seed, and no one can predict exactly what kind of towering tree this seed will grow into in the future.