Interview: Unbox PH Founder on Web3 Game Parallel’s Appeal to Pinoys
Carlo Ople, the Founder of UNBOX, joined BitPinas Contributor Michael Lance Domagas to discuss why he proudly supports the upcoming biggest online esports trading card game by game studio Parallel and crypto gaming guild protocol Yield Guild Games.
- The interview happened at Parallel’s exhibit at UNBOX Greenhills.
In Focus: UNBOX (Facebook page) is a one-stop shop for cards, toys, watches, sneakers, and other collectible items. Tagged by the Philippine Star as “the ultimate collector’s paradise,” UNBOX is the known largest collectibles shop in the country.
- Recent news: On September 26, 2024, UNBOX, together with Parallel and YGG Pilipinas, will host a launch party with ₱25,000 worth of prizes plus some exciting alpha about the main event.
- The main event is about the upcoming biggest online esports trading card game that will happen at the YGG Play Summit in Manila. The tournament has a prize pool of $100,000.
The following interview, edited for clarity, highlights Ople’s insights on why the tournament is worth supporting, whether crypto-based trading card games can attract players, and if free-to-play games are more effective for onboarding.
Interview: Unbox PH Founder on Parallel Web3 TCG
Michael Lance Domagas, Contributor, BitPinas: Why does your platform support Parallel TCG?
Carlo Ople, Founder, UNBOX: It’s a great platform for Filipinos to compete at a global level. Anytime there is a game that opens up opportunities for Filipino TCG players or esports athletes to compete and show that they are really good, that is obviously something you’d want to support.
Secondly, this is the best application of web3 for a gaming archetype. In other TCGs, especially app-based ones, you don’t have ownership of the cards. But with this, because of blockchain, it makes sense to use web3 as a solution—it actually solves a problem. The combination of those two things makes it worth supporting.
Domagas: Do you think the combination of those factors makes it worth supporting, even though the gameplay is similar to other TCGs?
Ople: Yeah, there are similar mechanics, but the sci-fi (science fiction) flavor makes it interesting and unique. Most TCGs today are either medieval or cutesy, so this one offers a really nice combination.
Domagas: Do you think games like Parallel will be “patok” to Filipinos?
*“Maging patok” in Filipino means to be supported by the community or to be patronized.
Ople: Ultimately, it depends if they can solve the onboarding process. Right now, it’s limited to PC. If they can eventually make it easier and release a mobile application, then it becomes much easier for Filipinos to play.
Here in the Philippines, most internet users and gamers are mobile users, not PCs or laptops. If they can cross over to mobile, then there’s potential for it to be successful.
Domagas: So yes, it would be better if this could be played on mobile.
Ople: Right now it’s strictly for Windows or if you have a version to run Windows on your Mac. But if they make it mobile-friendly, it would gain massive adoption—like Axie Infinity during its heyday, when you could just download it on your phone—that’s the user journey you want.
Domagas: That’s a good insight. But this sci-fi theme—do you think it will also appeal to Filipinos?
Ople: Oo, because it’s something different. If games have the same flavor, like cutesy or medieval, the excitement becomes monotonous. Now, people who like this type of archetype and theme will have something to enjoy.
Domagas: We’re so used to physical trading card games like Magic and Pokémon. Do you think this has an edge compared to something PC-based like Hearthstone? What are the pros and cons?
Ople: One big advantage is that it’s free to play is that if you play Magic, Pokémon, or other games, you need to buy the cards. Here, with just an internet connection, you can open packs, build decks, and play. So it’s more accessible to Filipinos than buying physical cards. The easier it is to download and play, the more people will play, especially since it’s free.
Domagas: So there’s an advantage because the software is more adaptable. If it’s enabled on mobile, more Filipinos will be able to play.
Anything else you want to share about Parallel Trading Card?
Ople: I just want to encourage everyone to give it a shot. It’s very interesting and unique. Plus, with their $100,000 tournament in November and other planned tournaments next year, it’s a great platform to compete globally for big prizes. So if you’re a TCG competitive player, you really want to check this out.
Keep reading BitPinas for interviews with the people who move the crypto industry in the Philippines forward. (Check out more interviews here.)
This article is published on BitPinas: Unbox PH Founder on Web3 Game Parallel’s Appeal to Pinoys
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