MixMob marks its presence in the blockchain gaming domain, offering a mix of racing gameplay, DeFi and NFT elements, and the chance for players to make money while playing and watching. One of the spearheads of the project is Pavel Bainsexecutive producer at MixMob, who has a diverse background including roles at Disney Interactive, EA, Xbox and Nintendo. In this detailed interview, Bains discusses the game’s concept and core technologies, Web3 gaming as a new category, the recently launched MXM token, key future developments and more.
Can you describe the main concept behind MixMob and its approach to Web3 gaming?
Pavel Bains: For blockchain games, you need to create a game that appeals to the crypto native. They want to have fun, make money and speculate. It’s not about AAA games or adding blockchain to a title. MixMob is Mario Kart with real money gaming and a dash of DeFi. It’s easy to pick up and play, but hard to master. This is because it contains a card strategy element.
Our players are gamers, gamblers and swordsmen. It could be one, two or all three. You can choose to race against others and earn prize money. You can view and bet on racers. And if you’re into DeFi, we’ve turned our racing arenas into liquidity pools to optimize returns on.
How does MixMob plan to change your mind and reimagine traditional gaming in your strategy for ‘Flip Web2’?
Pavel Bains: We have no plans to change their minds. Gaming now has different segments: console gaming, mobile gaming, AAA, mid-core, casual. To me, Web 3 gaming is not about ending traditional gaming, but about creating a new category, similar to what mobile did over 10 years ago.
Web 3 gaming is a new category where players want to make money, speculate, own their assets and have fun. While this is a niche for now, the average spend per player is high and the numbers will only grow.
With a development team experienced in AAA titles, how does this expertise translate into MixMob’s game design and user experience?
Pavel Bains: AAA experience means you have the skills to work with different personalities, build on different types of technology, and develop games of all sizes. This allows us to make MixMob more efficient and effective for the target group.
Can you tell us more about the expected impact of the newly launched MXM token on the MixMob gaming ecosystem, such as revenue sharing, DeFi and governance?
Pavel Bains: Our goal is to create one full game economy where MXM is the center. We’re launching the MXM Esports League and we want MXM holders to have a say in it. I look at NBA, FIFA and F1 and I would like to have a say in how they grow. We want our community to have the same. MXM is a true governance token that allows you to govern the league and decide on things like where to hold live championships, the number of divisions, teams per division, and more.
As MXM holders, you can bet in the racing arenas you like and participate in the rewards you earn in that arena, similar to the DeFi product GMX.
Where and how can players get MXM tokens?
Pavel Bains: Right now there are three ways to earn the upcoming MXM launch:
1. Participate in the community challenges. Come join us Disagreement and learn how and when to do it. You will earn our in-game token SUD$, which will later be exchanged for MXM.
2. Play in our current incentivized beta. Our game is at the same stage as Tier 1’s previously boosted testnets. Play MixMob: Racer 1 and perform the features like racing, betting, referrals and earn more SUD$. Trade this in for MXM later.
3. Buy our upcoming MixBot NFTs. These are Mario Kart-like characters that not only have special cosmetic properties, but also racing properties. By owning one of the first generation MixBots you can receive an MXM airdrop.
What are some of the core technologies behind MixMob, and how do they improve the experience for gamers?
Solana Blockchain: Solana’s transaction speed and low fees provide the experience gamers are looking for.
The MixMob wallet: We’ve created our own gasless wallet solution, which is more secure, private and much easier to use. Users can purchase our in-game tokens and NFTs via credit card.
Play on multiple platforms: MixMob enables multiplayer cross-play between iOS, Android and web browser users. This increases player reach because people can play against each other from any device.
Soulbound Tokens: MixMob has created its in-game token, SUD$, as a Soulbound token, meaning players cannot transfer SUD$ to each other. It can only be redeemed using the MixMob wallet. The advantage is that it prevents market forces, that is, exchanges, from influencing the token economy.
NFT editing: MixMob has created a crafting system that allows multiple NFTs to be delivered as one, where players can burn them and discover other NFTs, which can then be merged to create a final desired NFT.
Protection against deception: We have implemented an anti-cheat mechanism that disables changing game results by running a game simulation in Photon Quantum simultaneously with the player’s games.
Some major investors support MixMob. How will their influence and investments drive the game’s success post-launch?
Pavel Bains: Our investors have been very helpful and patient over the past two years. They’re all excited that a game is coming out that could be Solana’s Axie. Once we launch, I’m sure they’ll be excited to tell everyone about MixMob and connect us with partners who can increase distribution and awareness to attract more players.
With MixMob currently in beta, can you share the biggest wins the game has had since development began in 2022?
Pavel Bains: In April 2022, we launched our first Alpha: a complete single-player racing arena, just three months after launch. We added multiplayer in September 2022.
In January 2023, we added another racing arena, along with spectator and betting modes. This was the biggest feature request when we released the game live three months earlier.
In April 2023, we went to GDC and received an excellent reception from game developers who loved how we combined racing and card strategy – creating a new genre.
October 2023 saw acceptance of our beta build into both iOS and Android test modes. Our game is designed for mobile, and while our alpha and beta desktop versions are getting good numbers, we know mobile will blow them away.
Looking ahead, can you tell us about the full game launch and some key future developments planned for MixMob?
Pavel Bains: Moving forward, MixMob is moving towards a full commercial release, which will include the following and more:
Altcoins – Allow other cryptocurrencies to enter the Arenas. These bring in more communities who can then launch Turbo Arenas for their own currency.
Racing teams – Teams created around specific game items and player-defined criteria. Players stake MXM to build a Crew and work together to win rewards, which are then distributed proportionally based on each player’s stake.
Theme tracks and boosts – These are launched during holidays or special events and come with unique rewards and gameplay mechanics and can increase player participation.
Turbo Arenas as NFTs – Stakers can create and vote on the parameters of fees, wins, losses, rewards, etc. to influence the economy of Turbo Arenas, which can then be sold/moved to other players.
User Generated Content – players can remix their NFTs and upload their own assets to sell as accessories and add-ons with their own characters or with other players.
The success of MXM and the MixMob economy through the first game, MixMob: Racer 1, lays the foundation for the development of the next game, MixMob: Uprising – a multiplayer battle arena, similar to Fortnite, that uses all resources and IP of the first title.