by GalaChain | Mar 17, 2024 | GalaChain
Ali Hajighafouri joins the GalaChain Hackathon judges’ panel from the Games Startups Accounts team at Amazon Web Services. Ali and the AWS for Games team work tirelessly to ensure that every game team, from indie to AAA, can take full advantage of world-class cloud infrastructure to build, run, and grow their games. Ali has worked with teams running games ranging from a few hundred to millions of active players spanning all genres and platforms. He and his team are passionate about helping game developers and publishers realize their vision cost-effectively and in full readiness for global scale.
As an enthusiastic gamer and game maker, Ali brings the perspectives of a professional, a hobbyist, and a consumer to his judging duties, and he’s excited to see the Gala community take web3 to new heights during the GalaChain Hackathon and beyond.
While a lifelong gamer, Ali’s journey has taken him through sectors including healthcare, construction, and industrial services before he came home to supporting the gaming space full time. At every stage of his career he has leveraged technology to break down information silos, foster collaboration, and empower end users to own their virtual identities. He’s understandably excited about the transformative possibilities that blockchain brings to all these spaces.
As a hackathon judge, Ali will be on the lookout for projects that make web3 more accessible to game makers and players, minimizing the distance between mainstream gamers and ownership of their investment in play. He’d love to see projects that:
Accelerate game development and help creators de-risk their efforts in an ever more challenging industry landscape.
Immerse game makers and players further in their game worlds and blur the lines between virtual worlds and the real one.
Integrate play between game worlds, allowing players to gain further value from their time and money spent by carrying their loot, levels, and other gains from one game to the next.
Empower game makers, players, and fans to find each other and build welcoming, supportive communities.
Special consideration will be given to any project that somehow helps Ali get his two month-old to sleep through the night.
by GalaChain | Mar 17, 2024 | GalaChain
In the buildup to the much-anticipated GALAthon Hackathon during GDC 2024, we are proud to introduce as one of our judges – Kent Byers of Directive Games!
Kent Byers serves as the Chief Product Officer at Directive Games, where he oversees the development of two major blockchain games: The Machines Arena, powered by the Ronin network, and Civitas, a 4X strategy MMO with cutting-edge advancements in the blockchain gaming industry. With nearly two decades of experience in Games & Film Industry, Kent is a seasoned veteran who has contributed to iconic franchises such as Star Wars, Avatar, Transformers, and Battle Angel Alita. His leadership and expertise drive innovation and excellence, making him a valuable asset in the realm of gaming and entertainment.
Byers’ experience positions him squarely at the crossroads of gaming and blockchain tech. His insight into what makes a project both engaging and commercially successful is invaluable to any developer looking to make an impact in the web3 world.
Kent Byers: A Beacon of Gaming Innovation
Kent Byers earned his reputation being at the forefront of gaming innovation. He’s spearheaded projects that have captured the imagination of gamers around the world while also pushing the boundaries of what’s technically possible in gaming.
Directive Games has developed titles under his guidance that are known for their immersive experiences, cutting-edge graphics and innovative gameplay mechanics. His expertise in blending engaging content with strategic economic models has been setting new standards in the gaming industry.
A Unique Perspective on Blockchain Gaming
As a judge for the GalaChain Hackathon, Byers brings a wealth of knowledge in game design, development and market trends. He is likely to focus on entries that leverage GalaChain to elevate the user experience, offering innovation as well as a compelling hook.
What Kent Byers Might Look for in a Winning Entry
Given his background, Byers is likely to prioritize hackathon projects that:
Innovate in Game Design and User Experience: Entries that present fresh, compelling gameplay mechanics or user experiences that can uniquely benefit from blockchain technology.
Demonstrate Technical Excellence: Projects that showcase exceptional technical execution – including the use of GalaChain to enhance user interaction, monetization and overall appeal.
Exhibit Market Viability: Initiatives that account for current gaming trends but also demonstrate an understanding of their target audience and a plan to excel beyond market standards.
Emphasize Community and Engagement: Projects that build or enhance gaming communities, encouraging sustained engagement through innovative features, multi-title synergy or rewards.
Pioneering the Future with Kent Byers
Kent Byers’ involvement in the GalaChain Hackathon brings a professional and experienced perspective to find projects that push the industry forward, without compromising the fundamentals. His expertise offers participants a unique opportunity to gain insights into what it takes to create a successful gaming product in today’s competitive landscape.
Byers represents the bridge between traditional gaming excellence and the potential of blockchain integration. What can you build that’s seriously innovative while also seriously fun?
by GalaChain | Mar 17, 2024 | GalaChain
In the group of judges we’ve assembled for the upcoming GALAthon Hackathon at GDC 2024, Michele Guo stands out for her unique innovation and strategic insight in the web3 gaming realm. Her work in the industry has made major contributions to the blockchain space since 2017. Her journey through this frontier has taken her across multiple major innovations – from co-founding the first U.S. web3 gaming expo focusing on quality B2B gaming industry leaders and game studios, to her advisory roles for early web3 startups. This visionary recognized the early fragmented gaming industry’s need to be united for a more collaborative ecosystem with emphasis on network effects in the space. We’re proud this ecosystem pioneer could join us as a judge!
Michele Guo: A Trailblazer in Crypto and Strategy
Guo co-founded the 3XP Gaming Expo which brought together the largest web3 game developers in the US for an immersive experience of gameplay demos, esports competitions, and panel content, working with industry thought leaders and gaming founders. Michele spearheaded marketing and partnerships, ensuring the conference’s attendance from notable web2 and web3 game studios and content creators for the first web3 gaming conference held in the U.S.
With Alpha Strategy Consulting, Guo’s influence extends through her angel investments and advisory for early-staged web3 startups. She predominantly focuses in the gaming space on go-to-market strategy, marketing, partnerships, growth, and finding product-market fit, whilst facilitating network effects within her web3 gaming ecosystem, especially rooting from 3XP’s funnel.
Prior to starting Alpha Strategy Consulting, Helios Capital further showcased her adeptness in navigating the nuanced landscape of the tech investment world. In her time there, she not only sealed critical deals and partnerships, but also managed high-profile relationships and supported portfolio companies to thrive under the Helios banner.
Starting her crypto career on the operating side at her first startup in 2017, Guo was the first employee and later became Chief Strategy Officer at Axon Trade, where she demonstrated an immediate knack for partnerships, business development, and strategy, proving essential for the startup’s success.
A Judge with an Eye for Strategy and Scalability
Michele Guo’s multifaceted experiences equip her with a unique perspective to evaluate the GalaChain Hackathon entries. Her background suggests she will value projects that exhibit technical innovation and a clear, compelling product-market fit.
Guo understands the crucial interplay between technology, market positioning and strategic partnerships that can boost a project’s success and scalability.
What Might Michele Guo Look for in a Winning Entry?
Given Michele Guo’s experience, her criteria for a winning GalaChain Hackathon project likely include:
Strategic Innovation: Projects that go beyond GalaChain’s technical powers and demonstrate innovative approaches for solving real market needs within the web3 world.
Market Readiness and Scalability: Entries that show a clear path to market adoption, including an actual strategy for implementation and scalability that is potentially attractive to partnerships and funding in the future.
Impact and Viability: Projects that present a sustainable business model with real potential for long-term impact, including how the project plans to maintain relevancy and adapt to evolving web3 space.
Community and Partnership Potential: Initiatives that understand the value of community with a clear path on how to build a strong and sustaining community in the web3 space, whilst being well positioned to leverage strategic partnerships to enhance their reach and go-to-market strategy.
Beyond Technology: Strategy as Key to Success
Michele Guo’s involvement in the GalaChain Hackathon is a testament to the importance of strategic vision in the success of blockchain initiatives. Her perspective will push participants to think beyond the code, considering how their projects fit into the broader web3 landscape. Innovation for the sake of innovation isn’t enough… a project must be practical and have real applications.
As we inch closer to the hackathon, let Michele Guo’s journey through web3 inspire you to blend innovation with strategic acumen. The hackathon presents a unique opportunity to showcase how GalaChain can serve a home for projects that are technologically innovative while also solving practical problems.
Michele Guo’s presence on the judging panel elevates the GalaChain Hackathon, and we’re excited to see what projects stand out to her during judging. Innovative tools need to serve a real purpose if they are going to be adopted. What problem will your project solve?
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