With Mantle expanding its influence in the GameFi sector through its latest collaboration with Pixelmon, Derek (@0xavarek) hosted the co-founder & CPO of Pixelmon, Chris (@chris_sirise), on Episode 5 of Showcase Radio. The two laid it out as they shared all sorts of alpha regarding PixelPals and MON Protocol. Here is a brief recap of what was discussed.

Can you explain what Pixelmon is?

C: Pixelmon is a gaming studio developing what we believe to be the world's first truly decentralized gaming-native IP. Our universe, called Terra Nova, is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has survived a major disaster and is now tasked with leading tribes across this new landscape. In Terra Nova, there are 68 unique monsters that humans can tame for combat, hunting, and gathering resources.

Our target audience are adults in their 20s to 30s, especially those who have outgrown simpler monster collection games from their childhood and are seeking more complex narratives and gameplay. Currently, we are developing three games within this universe. The first, PixelPals, functions as a pet simulator where players care for and customize their pets' habitats, with plans to introduce PvP battling in the next season.

D: I must say that the game is really addictive. At first, you might not notice it, but the various small mechanics, like caring for the pet, customizing the habitat, and managing the crops, really keep you emotionally engaged. It's not just about the pet itself, but also the aesthetics of the habitat and the crops. Overall, I think the game is very well put together. Unlike other blockchain games I've played, PixelPals runs smoothly, which is a huge selling point.

What sparked the creation of Pixelpals?

C: We wanted to create a game that would help our users become familiar with the characters and environment we've designed. We wanted them to develop a deep connection with the universe we've created. To achieve this, we started with a relatively simple game that would be accessible and easy for all users to participate in and navigate, this is why we chose a pet simulator format. To prevent users from getting bored, we added features that allow players to build and decorate their habitats, making the experience more personal and engaging.

As I mentioned, the next phase of development introduces battling features, which align well with our IP. In this phase, the world is far from peaceful. This PvP feature will introduce competitive elements to intensify the experience.

Overall, the goal of PixelPals was to create an engaging game that is simple yet sufficiently complex to keep users invested and involved.

Will there be any interoperability between the games built on Pixelmon?

C: There is potential for some low-level interoperability among our games. For example, imagine a skin that is interoperable across different games. You could have a skin that is represented by an NFT. Owning the NFT would allow holders to use this skin in our other games. This type of interoperability is not only possible but also quite exciting. What have been some of the challenges with the development of PixelPals?

C: The most challenging aspect of developing PixelPals was managing the timelines. Initially, PixelPals wasn't part of our plan. Our original intention was to launch a game called “Arena” first. However, we realized the importance of establishing brand awareness and educating our audience about Pixelmon, our roadmap, the new token we were launching, and its utility. The best strategy to familiarize our users with all these elements was to create a straightforward game like PixelPals, which also served as an effective marketing tool. As development progressed, we recognized that PixelPals had the potential to evolve into a long-term game. The timeline was incredibly tight — from concept to launch, it took only about two months. The tight schedule added a lot of pressure as we continued to enhance the game by adding features to optimize the user experience.

What exciting developments does PixelPal have in store for its users?

C: Although we don't have an exact timeline yet, one of the main highlights to anticipate is Season Two of Pixelpals. As I mentioned earlier, it will introduce our brand new PvP feature, allowing users to battle against each other. We conducted a focus group exercise with some of our holders who have already tried out the PvP aspect, and the overall response was quite positive. Based on their feedback, we are making some adjustments to the battle mechanics, which will be implemented in the upcoming season.

Other than that, I think most eyes are on our TGE (Token Generation Event) of $MON. What I can share at this point is that the MON Protocol has multiple layers of utility. It's designed as a distribution platform for web3 games. In the process of establishing this platform and collaborating with various games for distribution, we plan to make tokens from other gaming projects available to $MON holders. Essentially, holding $MON will grant access to tokens from these additional gaming projects.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our listeners?

C: The Pixelmon team is looking forward to the release of some really exciting games. We are looking forward to the release of "Arena" and "Hunting Grounds." It's worth mentioning that we are working on more than just these two titles. Hopefully, we'll be able to share more details about our additional projects soon. Make sure you're following our X/Twitter for more information.

As discussed in this AMA, there is so much happening within the Pixelmon universe. To ensure you don’t miss out on any important information about PixelPals and upcoming developments, make sure to catch the entire recording here.