This past December, EverdreamSoft unveiled its blockchain-based digital trading card game, Spells of Genesis, on iOS and Android in Canada and Switzerland. The soft launch was made possible through an innovative partnership with All 4 Games, the video game publishing arm of U.K.-based Channel 4 TV Corporation.

Spells of Genesis follows a storyline that features concepts, characters and projects alluding to real life events in the digital-currency ecosystem. Blockchain technology not only powers the game, but fuels the plot of the story. Players obtain access to Counterparty assets, blockchain-based trading cards, which can be issued in differing amounts.

Each asset is issued and locked to ensure authenticity and rarity. Players can sell, trade and exchange the online cards. Players can also use BitCrystals (BCY) tokens to buy game assets or trade cards. The tokens can be cashed out for Bitcoin and from there users can exchange Bitcoin for fiat currency. BitCrystals are currently listed at exchanges Poloniex, Bittrex and Counterparty’s decentralized exchange, DEX.

We had an opportunity to talk with Shaban Shaame, EverdreamSoft’s chief executive officer, about the Spells of Genesis soft launch, his goals and the future of gaming.

When did you first learn about blockchain technology?

Shaban Shaame: I got interested in 2013 when the price of Bitcoin started to rise to around $100 and some tech media covered the news. I wanted to buy some without really knowing how to go about it. I found it difficult because it required a bank transfer. For a little while I forgot about it. Bitcoin started to rise again in 2014 and I felt sorry I didn’t take the time to buy it previously. I finally got my first bitcoin. I started to try to understand it better and the more I digged into the technology the more fascinated I was. At that point, I thought “this is the future.”

Who is your target user group for Spells of Genesis?

Shaban Shaame: Blockchain technology can be beneficial to a lot of things. Having a game using blockchain in 2017 is like having an online game in the 1990s. The first immediate target groups are people interested in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, but this game and its concepts can benefit everyone. Spells of Genesis itself targets mid-core players. The game is like a casual mobile game, but also has an in-depth universe and requires users to develop a strategy when playing the game. Our target is people who like in-depth games, but have little time to play. Mobile is a perfect platform to play strategic games with short play sessions.

What markets and countries are you hoping to expand into next?

Shaban Shaame: We’re aiming for a global launch in the near future. After soft launching in Canada and Switzerland, we’re also going to focus on the Asian markets like Japan, China and South Korea.

Can you share more about your vision for users to generate content for Spells of Genesis, which in turn can be used in other games?

Shaban Shaame: Our game assets are blockchain-based. The trading cards are Counterparty tokens built on Bitcoin, with each one representing a different character. Many of our cards also represent Bitcoin-related events in blockchain-related companies. Because of the nature of our assets they can potentially be used in other games. We’re very open to that and already have several collaborative efforts underway with other games allowing our assets into their game ecosystems. Additionally, Spells of Genesis players can use tokens from other games. Once a token is created it will last as long as the Bitcoin blockchain lasts. We would love to see our assets being used many years from now in as many games as possible.

You’ve discussed the creation of a decentralized gaming ecosystem with more ownership granted to players. How do you envision the gaming ecosystem to evolve over the next few years?

Shaban Shaame: We pioneered the concept of “true ownership” in gaming. Thanks to the blockchain, players can own Spells of Genesis assets and are free to trade, exchange or gift them as they please. This is the beauty of it and other game studios have already followed in our footsteps. We’ve also helped several teams kickstart their own games using our “Project Orb,” a joint-venture with Japan-based IndieSquare.

A mobile app, Book of Orbs, makes it a breeze for players and collectors to track, exchange, trade and complete their game-item collections with the built-in marketplace. There is also a database and we provide other tools for easy game-asset creation, management and distribution. We expect 2017 and beyond to be an exciting and innovative time for the ecosystem with several new titles coming to market, so stay tuned.

Do you see other online games following Spells of Genesis’s path of decentralization via blockchain technology?

Shaban Shaame: We cannot predict the future. However, from the interest we’ve generated so far we do have a feeling that more companies will start considering decentralized systems over closed, centralized game economies. We’re aware that right now most of the interest comes from “Bitcoiners.” For that reason, we’ve partnered with British broadcaster Channel 4’s gaming division, All 4 Games, to help produce Spells of Genesis and to attract mainstream players thanks to the reach of their network. All 4 Games is very excited by what we’re doing with our game economy and are looking forward as much as we are to launching our title globally.

Do you have other games in the works that will leverage blockchain technology in a way similar to Spells of Genesis?

Shaban Shaame: We’re a small team and are working on several projects at once, but we don’t have a new game lined up at the moment. Spells of Genesis is our second title. Our first trading card game, Moonga, launched in 2009 and was relatively successful with more than 250,000 downloads. Right now our efforts are going into making Spells of Genesis a great success with several exciting new features to be added for the final release. And we’re always on the lookout for new ideas and ways to improve the status quo.

Through Spells of Genesis Shaame and his team hope to promote open decentralized gaming systems and the opportunity for players to take true ownership of gaming assets which can in turn be held within the game’s ecosystem, transferred to other game ecosystems, or even cashed out for fiat currency.

Such innovation could be just the start of opportunities for profitable mobile games and current developers of closed gaming ecosystems might take note. Certainly, the success of EverdreamSoft’s digital trading card game may also be the definitive proof-of-concept necessary to demonstrate viability. Either way, decentralization through use of digital currency and related technologies will be fascinating to follow throughout the year and beyond.