The dust has settled. The new neighborhood The digital stables are hushed, except for the whinnies of hope and the echoes of disappointment. Zed Run used to be a poster child of the Web3 revolution, enchanting gamers with its strategic NFT race horse extravaganza. It then faltered and eventually closed down for good. Now, out of its ashes, comes Zed Champions, a phoenix (or maybe a handpicked thoroughbred) that holds the hope and PR promise of a new beginning. Will this new version really be able to avoid the pitfalls of its predecessor? Most importantly, can it lead to a sustainable future for Web3 gaming? I must admit that I’m not committed to this idea yet, but I’m not prepared to dismiss it out of hand either. Let's unpack this.

What Broke the Original Zed Run?

It would be too easy to attribute this blame on the recent cooling of the NFT market. No doubt, the speculative mania of 2021 was never going to go on indefinitely. Pinning Zed Run’s death entirely on the market is a deflection. It doesn’t address the root problems that have burdened the game since its inception. Imagine blaming the shipwreck on a rogue wave when the hull was already full of holes.

  • Tokenomics Trouble: The initial economic model felt… exploitative. Breeding costs were high, and the rewards for racing often didn’t justify the investment. It felt more like a pyramid scheme than a game of skill.
  • Regulatory Gray Area: Let's be real, the SEC has been sniffing around NFTs for a while now. The blurred lines between in-game assets and potential securities created a climate of uncertainty that scared off investors and players alike.
  • Lack of Real Utility: Beyond speculation, what real value did these digital horses offer? Bragging rights? Maybe. But that's hardly a sustainable foundation for a multi-million dollar ecosystem.

Imagine – millions of people invested their lives’ earnings into this new digital assets, convinced by the dream of play-to-earn. When the music stopped, most of these investors were left holding worthless NFTs. That’s not only a market correction—that’s a human tragedy.

Zed Token: A Fix or Further Complication?

Zed Champions also introduces the ZED token, further positioning it as core to the game’s economy. Entry fees, breeding costs, enhancements – all fueled by ZED. And here's the kicker: horse performance directly impacts the ZED token balance within each NFT. VHS are heralding this as a new solution to better reimburse talented players while developing a more sustainable model.

I have questions. Will this new system actually incentivize skill, or merely make a handful of the already-rich much richer? What safeguards is the agency implementing to avoid speculation and market volatility? How does VHS plan to prevent the ZED token from becoming “just another speculative asset”? We’re interested in ensuring that players aren’t left holding the bag when the hype runs its course.

  • The Promise: Skill-based rewards, a functioning economy, and a reason to play beyond speculation.
  • The Risk: Potential for manipulation, market volatility, and another wave of financial heartbreak.

VHS’s ultimate goal is to develop a closed-loop system. In this arrangement, the success of the game directly affects the value of the ZED token. And yes, while that’s a laudable ideal, it’s a staggering weight to carry. So, they should be open, forward-thinking and as sharp as a blade in doing whatever it takes to keep their players safe. Anything less is unacceptable.

Can Zed Champions Inspire Web3 Gaming?

Here’s where I think the glimmer of hope comes in. We believe that Zed Champions can be a real inflection point for the entire Web3 gaming space. But it's not a guaranteed success. And that takes a whole new way of thinking, from the get-rich-quick schemes to long-term, player-focused models.

Now picture a world where Web3 games are designed with long-term value in mind. In this new world, it’s the players that are skillful, dedicated and rewarded, while assets have real, tangible utility outside of the speculative facets. That’s the promise of Web3 gaming—that’s a promise Zed Champions could go a long way to fulfilling.

Zed Champions has an opportunity to change the story. At the same time, it can show that Web3 gaming doesn’t have to be a tragicomic speculative bubble. It serves as a hub for culture, amusement, friendship, and more recently, economic potential. Only if it heeds the lessons of the past, opens its doors to transparency, and puts the best interests of its players first. The starting gun has fired. Time will tell whether Zed Champions can run circles around its ghosts and bring about a positive change to the Web3 gaming landscape. The entire industry is watching.

  • Regulatory Clarity Now: We need clear guidelines from regulators on how NFTs and Web3 games are classified. This will give developers the confidence to innovate and investors the assurance to participate.
  • Community Governance Encouraged: Empower players to have a say in the direction of the game. A DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) could be a powerful tool for fostering community ownership and ensuring that the game's incentives are aligned with the players' best interests.
  • Transparency is King: VHS needs to be completely transparent about its operations, its tokenomics, and its plans for the future. This will build trust with players and help prevent the same mistakes that plagued the original Zed Run.

Zed Champions has a chance to rewrite the narrative. It can demonstrate that Web3 gaming can be more than just a speculative bubble. It can be a source of entertainment, community, and even economic opportunity. But only if it learns from the past, embraces transparency, and prioritizes the well-being of its players. The starting gun has fired. Let's see if Zed Champions can outrun its demons and usher in a new era for Web3 gaming. The entire industry is watching.