CryptoBots - battling blockchain bots!
Cryptobots is a blockchain-based app inspired by CryptoKitties, with clever new repackaging and graphics that seem to have been inspired by Homestar Runner.
The battle of Ethereum ERC-721 based token creatures continues with the beginnings of a cambrian explosion in crypto-whatevers. Today's topic is the blockchain app called Cryptobots, where you can buy bots, manufacture your own bots, and battle your bots against others.
Buy a bot from the Cryptobots marketplace to get started, then battle it against others and get a free cryptobot if you win. You probably won't, so try to manufacture a new bot instead, or just sell the damn thing and try again. Let's take a closer look at doing all of these.
This is based on an Ethereum-based token, so you'll want the Metamask browser extension to make it easier. This is by far the easiest way to allow these websites to interact with you, so do it, just don't risk much money on it.
This browser plugin/extension injects your Ethereum address as a javascript variable into the website which interacts with the blockchain on your behalf. It also allows you to sign messages locally, to let that sharing of info happen or to approve sending your bot into a four-way battle that will likely end badly.
Click on the main menu option "My Bots" to see your collection. Here you can sort by various means in case your robot horde has grown too large.
So you bought a bot in the marketplace and you're ready to fight? Click on the image of your cryptobot to go to the detail page. This page shows the details like generation number, what modules this robot has and more - along with buttons to fight or sell this bot in an auction.
The power metric of your bot, along with the presence of damage-inflicting modules determines how well your bot fights. Every 15 minutes, a new Generation zero bot is auctioned off, with the fastest manufacturing and best ability to battle.
All this takes some time to learn about, then more time to buy and breed good fighting bots. We'll just forego the patience and begin fighting ok?
Click on the fight button and you should see your metamask wallet open for approval - fighting costs 0.01 ETH. The battles are currently a two round contest, so you'll need to win two fights in a row to win. After the fight has gone badly for you, check the detail to see how it all went down. Prolly got beat in the first tround amirite?
Well since that didn't go so well, I suggest manufacturing a newer, badder bot. If you haz bots, then try to breed some - otherwise you can look around the auction marketplace where many have chosen to sire their bots in exchange for a little ETH. Only do this if you're going to choose something that will improve your position.
Manufacturing costs 0.008 ETH and takes a little time, depending on the bots being used. These bots have no gender, so mix and match based on their attributes. When a new bot is made, it inherits attributes from the 256-bit DNA of each parent. The exact algorithm is not clear but there seems to be an element of randomness to it as well.
You can choose to simply let someone else have the new manufactured bot too, in exchange for a fee. You set the terms on the public manufacturing page as seen below.
Now you probably understand how someone can get stuck with lots of bots that are relatively unused. If they're not the best for fighting or manufacturing then why keep them? Well one option is to simply sell them.
Click on Sell Bot to load the sales page. Here we have options to set a starting and ending price along with a duration for our auction.
I should mention here that the whitepaper mentions recycling bots, and there is a link in the footer. However it seems that this feature, scheduled for February on the roadmap, has been delayed. Presumably the mobile compatibility that was slated for March will be pushed back as well, although this game was created by a Russian company that seems to specialize in mobile apps, so perhaps that is coming sooner.
This is an app that uses some of the same basic functions like createSaleAuction() from CryptoKitties, but adds some new wrinkles and some fresh graphics. They're off to a great start, but like all games players will need to see new features rolled out and perhaps new tournaments. See you in the bot battles!
If youenjoyed this post, you might like a previous post about blockchain game called Bitcorn
original post: click here