This project delivers the architecture using Next.js framework for frontend, Express.js framework for the API, and the Solana blockchain as the backed ecosystem (refer to the GitHub repo for detailed implementation, user manuals, and functional specifications).
The frontend application functions as the primary interface for gamers, facilitating a range of interactive activities. Upon integrating their keys with the Phantom wallet, gamers connect to the frontend where they can manage and view their owned assets. This platform also enables them to actively participate in the marketplace: they can browse available assets, and depending on the type of asset, engage in trading. For fungible in-game assets, gamers can list a bid or ask price in the market book, effectively setting their buying or selling price. For non-fungible game assets, the application supports auction-based trading[1], allowing gamers to place bids. These real-time market data is processed in a centralized database[2], i.e., using DynamoDB and Lambda functions with AWS. This comprehensive interface is designed to be user-friendly, promoting an engaging and efficient trading experience that enhances the overall gaming experience.
The API serves as a crucial endpoint for game providers, integrating seamlessly with their gaming applications. This integration allows game providers to conduct primary sales directly to gamers by minting the required fungible or non-fungible assets and distributing them according to the gamer’s public key. Additionally, the API provides functionalities for game providers to query and ascertain which game tokens each gamer possesses. This capability enables providers to tailor the in-game utilities they offer, ensuring that gamers receive the appropriate assets and experiences based on their holdings.
[1] This project adopts second-price seal-bid auction to maximize revenues. Second-price auction suggests selling the item to the highest-price bidder with the second-highest bid as the price in a sealed-bid auction in a game-theoretic approach [41].
[2] An architectural concept like Binance – the trades are being matched in a centralized ecosystem market book first before executed in the network.
