Summary

In this conversation, Paul Thomas, co-founder of Somnia Blockchain, shares insights into the inception and development of Somnia, a high-performance layer one blockchain designed to support the metaverse and gaming industries. He discusses his journey into the crypto space, the unique naming of Somnia, and the technical innovations that enable it to achieve a million transactions per second. The conversation also explores the current landscape of gaming, the challenges of integrating Web3 technologies, and the potential for new business models in the gaming industry. In this conversation, Paul Thomas discusses the potential of Web3 in the gaming industry, focusing on how to attract both AAA and indie developers to build on the Somnia blockchain. He emphasizes the importance of community engagement, go-to-market strategies, and geographic considerations in game development. The conversation also touches on the need for real-time blockchain applications and the challenges of distribution in the gaming space. Thomas advocates for a shift in how developers approach gas fees and highlights the ongoing development of Somnia's test net as a platform for innovation.

Takeaways

Paul Thomas's background in computer science and finance led him to the blockchain space.

Somnia was created to solve performance issues in the metaverse and gaming.

The name 'Somnia' reflects both Greek mythology and the concept of dreams.

Building a layer one was necessary due to performance requirements for real-time applications.

Somnia achieves high throughput through a complete rewrite of blockchain technology.

The gaming industry remains skeptical of Web3, but attitudes are slowly changing.

Web 2.5 games will be a significant focus for Somnia.

Cost efficiency is a major advantage of using Somnia for game developers.

Fully on-chain games can leverage Somnia's high throughput for innovative business models.

The future of gaming on Somnia includes composable video games that can build off each other. Bringing major IPs to Web3 can unlock player bases.

Targeting indie developers can expand the gaming ecosystem.

Community engagement is crucial for attracting developers.

Distribution challenges are significant in game development.

Geographic strategies vary based on game mechanics.

Real-time blockchain applications can enhance user experience.

Developers should focus on seamless user experiences.

Gas fees should be covered by protocols, not consumers.

Somnia is currently in test net for developers to explore.

Innovative applications can emerge from the test net experience.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Somnia Blockchain
(04:15) The Genesis of Somnia: Naming and Purpose
(07:09) Building a Layer One: The Need for Performance
(12:31) Technical Innovations Behind Somnia
(14:52) Gaming Focus: Bridging Web2 and Web3
(22:15) The Future of Gaming on Somnia
(28:22) Exploring Web3 Opportunities for Gaming
(30:18) Target Audiences: AAA vs. Indie Developers
(31:31) Positioning Somnia for Web2 Developers
(34:31) Building a Community and Go-to-Market Strategy
(37:33) Geographic Strategies in Game Development
(41:29) Community Engagement and Leaderboard Impact
(45:27) Real-Time Blockchain Applications and Future Prospects
(50:36) Growing the Web3 Pie: Attracting New Developers and Users

Follow me @shmula on X for upcoming episodes and to get in touch with me.