Hamster Kombat, a wildly popular clicker game on Telegram linked to an upcoming cryptocurrency token launch, is facing criticism for its heavy reliance on social pressure tactics to drive user engagement.
Viral Success and Social Pressure
The game’s meteoric rise in popularity has drawn significant attention, but its mechanics, which drive user engagement, are beginning to show signs of overreach. This concern was notably highlighted by Andrew Hayward, the Culture Editor and Hub Operations Lead at Decrypt, who expressed that the game’s approach might soon become a problem for the hundreds of millions of daily players unless they continuously recruit new friends.
The Recruitment Twist
Hamster Kombat follows a model similar to the original viral Telegram crypto game, Notcoin, where players tap the screen to collect in-game coins. However, it introduces a unique element by allowing players to invest these coins into a fictional hamster-operated crypto exchange and encouraging them to invite friends to join the game. This recruitment aspect has drawn comparisons to multi-level marketing schemes.
Exchange Upgrade Cards and Daily Combos
The game frequently rolls out new exchange upgrade cards that promise higher earnings. These cards are often tied to the game’s “daily combo,” which rewards players with a hefty 5 million in-game coins for using specific cards. The catch? Many of these cards can only be unlocked if players successfully persuade another friend to join the game via their referral link.
This mechanic creates a significant disadvantage for players unable to recruit new participants, potentially hampering their progress in the game. Hayward pointed out that this strategy highlights the limitations of an engagement-driven model like Hamster Kombat, emphasizing the difficulty of sustaining continuous growth without offering new and compelling incentives.
The Risk of Overreach
Hayward warned that the game’s developers might be pushing too hard to maintain its hype, especially with a planned token drop in July. “At some point, the hype is bound to cool, and the developers may be pushing a little too hard to make sure that doesn’t happen before July’s planned token drop,” he said.
Hamster Kombat’s Popularity in Iran
Despite the criticism, Hamster Kombat has seen a massive surge in popularity in Iran. The game’s developers recently announced that it has attracted 200 million players, a significant portion of Telegram’s 900 million users. This represents a notable increase from the 150 million players reported on June 14.
Upcoming Token Launch on The Open Network (TON)
Hamster Kombat’s developers are gearing up to launch a token on The Open Network (TON) in July. This move follows the success of Notcoin, a similar clicker game that launched earlier this year and amassed 35 million players before releasing its NOT token on TON in May. Notcoin’s market capitalization peaked at over $2 billion in the weeks following its token launch.
TON Blockchain Outperforms Ethereum
Interestingly, The Open Network (TON) blockchain has been consistently outperforming Ethereum in terms of daily active addresses throughout June, largely due to the Hamster Kombat craze.
Conclusion
While Hamster Kombat continues to enjoy viral success, the game’s heavy reliance on social pressure tactics for user engagement is raising concerns about its sustainability and ethical implications. As the July token launch approaches, it remains to be seen whether the game can maintain its momentum without alienating its player base.
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