The Rise of GameFi and the Rebirth of a Racing Classic
According to leading blockchain media outlets, the GameFi concept, initially defined as “Game Finance,” has exploded onto the scene since its inception in 2019. GameFi refers to blockchain games that incorporate financial elements. The trend gained momentum in September 2020 when Andre Cronje, the founder of Yearn.Finance, tweeted about the future of DeFi leaning towards gamification, moving beyond the then-dominant “traDeFi” (trading-focused DeFi). 2021 was hailed as the “Year One” of blockchain, with significant capital flowing into Game Finance, attracting the attention of numerous global corporations. As the metaverse concept gained traction, companies with extensive copyright resources began venturing into Game Finance. The metaverse reached a fever pitch when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced the company’s rebranding to Meta.
EuropaCorp: From Silver Screen to Blockchain
EuropaCorp, founded in September 2000 by French director Luc Besson and Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, is a French production company dedicated to creating and distributing feature films. With a capital of €5,236,000, EuropaCorp’s offices are located in Saint-Denis, a suburb north of Paris in the Seine-Saint-Denis department.
The Taxi film series, a signature work of EuropaCorp, achieved international success and box office records. Written and produced by Luc Besson, these action films are known for their high-octane car chases, blending elements of video games and cartoons. Embracing the Web3 era, EuropaCorp is reviving this racing classic through a combination of metaverse, GameFi, DeFi, and NFT technologies.
Crazy Taxi: A Web3 Racing Game
Crazy Taxi is a play-to-earn blockchain racing game inspired by the Taxi movies and backed by EuropaCorp. Players and participants own a piece of the game and can earn rewards by competing in races. Crazy Taxi is the first AI/ML-integrated blockchain racing game on the BSC (Binance Smart Chain) ecosystem. Within the Crazy Taxi metaverse, players can indulge their need for speed while enjoying various game modes, or profit by controlling in-game assets and interacting with other players.
Game Modes
The game features two primary modes: PvP and PvE. In PvE mode, players directly drive and control their cars. In PvP mode, five cars (numbered 1-5) compete on five tracks in each event. Before each race, players pay a fee corresponding to their chosen car. All five cars start simultaneously, and the winner receives a reward equal to twice the value of the car’s entry fee in tokens.
Future Battle Features
Future updates will introduce battle features, requiring players to upgrade their cars and equip them with weapons. With no time limit or finish line, players will compete and attack each other until only one survivor remains, who will be crowned the victor and receive substantial token rewards.
98#: The Fuel of the Game
The Crazy Taxi game’s native platform token, 98#, is used for all in-game activities. Players can participate in multiple races daily, depending on the race level. They can also organize their own events and invite friends to compete. To enter a race, players must stake the token associated with their car. The staked tokens form the reward pool. The first-place winner receives a prize pool worth twice the value of their stake, paid in 98# tokens.
Upon entering a race, players will see the race conditions. Considering this, players choose from several options that make up their racing strategy to participate in the race. Then the race will run automatically according to the blockchain algorithm. The outcome of the race depends primarily on the performance of each racer’s racing strategy, followed by a weighted random algorithm. Cars with higher XP and upgrades have an advantage in the race.
Ownable assets within the game include cars, gas stations, garages, racetrack land, analytics centers, and billboard land. Blockchain games are making the ideal work state of playing and earning a reality, allowing more ordinary people to achieve spiritual and financial freedom. Just like the spirit of the protagonist of Crazy Taxi, ordinary work can also be very exciting.