The global, programmable, peer-to-peer nature of bitcoin makes it a great in-app digital currency for gaming developers that want to quickly gain new users and increase engagement. One of the first mobile developers to integrate bitcoin on iOS is Japan-based mobile developer Christian Moss. Christian recently released an iOS app in the App Store called Game of Birds, which enables users around the world to get paid out bits to their Coinbase wallet within the game.
We did a brief Q&A with Christian to see why he built Game of Birds and what he’s learned from building a bitcoin-based iOS app so far:
Q: Why did you integrate bitcoin into the game?
A: Paying out bits in games is one of the fastest and easiest way to get bitcoin into the hands of new users globally and I thought integrating with Coinbase would be a great way to give more people bitcoin, grow my user base, and drive engagement within the game.
Q: What was the most challenging aspect of getting the app approved by Apple?
A: The most challenging aspect was explaining to Apple how bitcoin works in the app and that it is safe. We had to be clear that bitcoin is not used for in-app purchases. We had to be clear that users would earn bitcoin tips, but would not be guaranteed bitcoin. There was some back and forth but they eventually became comfortable with our approach.
Q: How has the bitcoin community responded to the app thus far?
A: I think the community is really good for gaming devs to tap into because it is generally young, tech savvy, and passionate. The majority of the community sees the potential of bitcoin in gaming and has been very supportive of Game of Birds. A few users seemed unhappy that the app was not available on Android (especially international users), but I am considering building on Android in the future.
Q: What do you see for the future of bitcoin in mobile games?
A: Bitcoin is the first interoperable digital currency that can be used both inside and outside of games. There have been attempts at creating virtual economies inside games but the traditional payment systems weren’t built for that. I imagine a future where bitcoin becomes the in-app currency for thousands of mobile and web games around the world.
We're excited about the potential for bitcoin in games and believe that game developers will continue to build with bitcoin because of the unique behaviors it enables. In different parts of the world, bits earned in mobile games could be one of the first ways people connect to the global economy. To check out Game of Birds alongside many other exciting recently launched Coinbase apps, visit our App Gallery. And if you're a developer interested in building, get started here.
via The Coinbase Blog http://ift.tt/1MM9hSQ
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