NFTs and gaming

pixelburp · 05-07-2022 11:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119292358#Comment_119292358

But that's the flaw with the whole concept; there's almost zero traction with this "democratisation" idea, increasingly it has been dominated by the same Tech Bros that inform much of Big Tech as it exists. If Peter Thiel is involved, I question the bona fides in the first instance. And as Retr0 points out, Ad Blockers are the easiest, simplest way to battle advertising. Legislation is retroactively trying to give users back control of their data via GDPR et al; flawed ideas but that's another matter. More technology isn't the solution - better oversight is.

Meanwhile, there's also the very valid conversation to be had about whether the world wants this idea at all. That just because something's very complex mathematically, doesn't mean it's better by default. A world where everybody's private data, tax records, health info, etc, is entirely decentralised and locked behind a private key? Sounds like a libertarian pipedream, prone to dozens of flaws and disasters waiting to happen. I think the world would reject this.

johnny_ultimate · 05-07-2022 12:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119292569#Comment_119292569

When I hear Edward Snowden talking about his views on cryptocurrency, I agree with some of where he's coming from (and don't agree with other parts) - especially his comments about 'use crypto, but don't invest in it'. People who are hyper-concerned with privacy - and Snowden has given us good reasons to be hyper-concerned about privacy! - certainly have a reason to be distrustful of big tech and government-controlled systems and to back alternatives to the status quo. In the activist and dissident space, I can genuinely see the ideological basis for crypto over alternatives.

https://www.coindesk.com/business/2022/06/11/edward-snowden-says-use-crypto-dont-invest-in-it/

But the vast majority of the chatter about crypto and NFTs isn't about that: it's about the investment and financialisation of the space. We'd have a very different thread than this one if the idealist version of cryptocurrency had taken hold rather than the hyper-capitalist one. It has been completely hijacked and distorted by bad ideas.

Grumpypants · 05-07-2022 1:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119292411#Comment_119292411

Brave browser is just a privacy-focused browser that blocks ads and other trackers, but it also has "Brave rewards" built-in. If you opt-in to see ads you get paid for viewing them in BAT. Which is their crypto token.

That BAT is then available in your Brave wallet and any site you visit, if they have signed up, you can then use the BAT to give them a "tip". So if there is a Youtube channel or website that you like to visit regularly. You can click a button and have it automatically send them tip once a month.

Retr0gamer · 05-07-2022 1:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119293035#Comment_119293035

So basically stealing ad revenue from sites to shill their dump coin.

Not illegal probably but morally reprehensible and helps to further the decline of good website journism.

Christy42 · 05-07-2022 2:05pm

Shows how consumer focused we have become. Blockchain will eventually find a problem to solve but now it just being forced everywhere for the sake of it. People need to be more honest about somethings use and capabilities. Maybe it needs to be left as an academic curiosity for now.

Who knows about hacking capabilities on future computers etc. Etc.

These days matrices are pretty vital to how we view large data but were heavily studied centuries before we had computers to manipulate these matrices.

Retr0gamer · 05-07-2022 2:20pm

You can always just increase the level of encryption or algorithm to match.

Grumpypants · 05-07-2022 3:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119293082#Comment_119293082

The ads you opt in to see (and earn from) are served by the browser not the site. Generally if I have Brave on my phone I get a small add on the lock screen. Barely noticable but I "earn" about 2 BAT a month. That is worth around €1:50-€1:60. I can't cash that out for myself. It's used to pay content creators that I enjoy.

So for example Eurogamer/Digital Foundry are verified content creators on Brave. I have an automated tip set up for them that is worth about €0.50. It just runs in the background. Every month they get 50cent I see some ads but I get to support good content.

It is vast multiples of what they get from the ad revenue, even though I see those ads too. I'd have to visit 500-600 times a month to even come close.

So, it's not stealing ad revenue. They can earn from the normal ads, this just gives them an income stream that is actually helping. I know of loads of sites that were on their knees due to dwindling ad revenue that were kept going by Brave tips.

coinsrider · 05-07-2022 3:10pm

The NFT and DiFi space are going down can anyone explain why..? good affordable hardwallet for storing BTC and ETH..?

marcbrophy · 05-07-2022 3:13pm

Oh the robots are here!

johnny_ultimate · 05-07-2022 3:24pm

'Supporting creators' is another of those supposed blockchains benefits that already has solutions without the need for the blockchain (and with more benefits for the user):

https://www.patreon.com/digitalfoundry

Retr0gamer · 05-07-2022 3:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119293819#Comment_119293819

Blockchain: There's always a simpler, easier, grift free way.

awec · 05-07-2022 3:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119290467#Comment_119290467

This is an absurdly hilarious revision of history.

Nobody laughed at streaming. Nobody laughed at Netflix. Everyone recognised the potential there, and people recognised the obstacles in realising that potential. The disagreement came in how quickly the obstacles would be overcome.

The problem with the "web3" rubbish that the crypto bros are spouting is there is no potential. Their problem is not that they can't convince people they can solve the technical problems with their idea, their problem is they have no idea (quite literally in some cases). They cannot say in any semi-articulate way what exactly they are trying to do, it's all buzzwords and bullshit. Something something, blockchain. Something something NFTs. Something something multiple wallets, democratization, decentralization. Waffle waffle, please give me some of your money.

Trying to equate these grifters with actual entrepreneurs of the past who had actual business ideas that were easily explained is exactly why people laugh at this stuff so much.

awec · 05-07-2022 4:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119293727#Comment_119293727

I am willing to bet that the amount of income Digital Foundry earn from traditional ads that pays them actual money is many, many multiples of the amount of "money" they earn by getting your tokens.

Can you enumerate these sites that were kept alive by earning BAT?

05-07-2022 4:19pm

I switch that rubbish off on Brave, way more annoying than ads on a site if you're running it on a desktop. You get nagging notifications demanding attention.

I'd love to know though if any sites have managed to turn that in to cash money.

pixelburp · 05-07-2022 4:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119293727#Comment_119293727

Adverts on your lock screen? That sounds horrendous, unless I'm misunderstanding; the future is having adverts 24/7 no matter where you look? No thanks; as others have pointed out there already exists a way for direct support of creators and it's called Patreon. And by all accounts seems to have been revolutionary for small to medium groupings or individuals to make a living digitally.

Meanwhile, many artists I follow on instagram make use of something smaller like https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ - all perfectly simple, all built with existing technology and concepts. Wrapped in a cute bit of branding such as some sheckels to buy the artist a coffee.

ancapailldorcha · 05-07-2022 4:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119293727#Comment_119293727

Brave is keeping sites going. That's clearly ridiculous for a browser very few people have heard of. Can you name any of these sites?

I see no advantage over the browsers currently on offer to be honest.

Grumpypants · 05-07-2022 6:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119294105#Comment_119294105

The lock screen is black. I press the fingerprint it disappears. If I tip it I see all my notifications and there might be a small ad there between the text from my ma and a Facebook message.

If I open the browser sometimes a small ad appears near the top.

It's not intrusive at all. If it gets in the way I can switch it off.

A few people have pointed out patreon. It can be good for a small set of creators who can get people to register, add their credit card details, and subscribe for a few quid a month.

That is very hard to do. So I'm happy to have multiple options open for people.

Retr0gamer · 05-07-2022 10:25pm

If Eurogamer and digital foundry get so much from brave a quick Google shows they haven't even mentioned the fact they are affiliated.

I did however see an article where brave is basically an opt out system. So they collect BAT that people give to content creators but to get that BAT the content creator has to sign up to brave. They basically make accounts for content creators without their permission and collect the donations. Smells of sleaze. I wonder if Eurogamer really are affiliated.

Grumpypants · 05-07-2022 11:02pm

You have to go back to 2019 for that system. In the initial phase you could tip anyone even if they hadn't signed up. The tips sat in escrow until they signed up and could collect them. It was updated since.

Now it waits in the browser for 90 days and if not claimed goes back to the user.

You have to be verified to get the verified badge, you have to upload a file to your website that brave can ping. If not, you show as an unverified creator and there is a warning message too.

It's like this if the picture uploads.

endacl · 05-07-2022 11:04pm

21st century version of ‘wanna buy a bridge?’

pixelburp · 06-07-2022 8:33am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119294949#Comment_119294949

A few people have pointed out patreon. It can be good for a small set of creators who can get people to register, add their credit card details, and subscribe for a few quid a month.

That is very hard to do. So I'm happy to have multiple options open for people.

That's overstating a problem. The prevalence of "one click" logins or payment portals like Google, Apple Pay or PayPal are omnipresent; while Revolut and its ilk have obviously shaken up the foundational source of finance for people. I don't doubt the gate-keeping of authentication might put some off throwing a sheckel over the wall, but I'd suspect not anywhere near critical enough to be a problem as it was fadó.

The bulk of Creators' problems, based on what I hear them say, appear based in simply gaining enough visibility on YouTube or Instagram to earn a living - to the extent many Educational Creators have started using a different Video service. The problem isn't user funnelling, or the technology enabling viewers to support the creator financially ... it's the Platform. And that's just Big tech being algorithmic ássholes, not a limitation or ceiling of the core tech underneath it all.

Just on Patreon alone, we have two one-click login options. I don't deny there are useful use-cases for what you speak of - but I don't think it brings enough significant change or benefits that it stands to take over the mainstream. It'll remain the Opera Browser of tech; niche, of interest to many, but never enough to push it into the day-to-day reality.

Screenshot_20220706_063619_com.android.chrome.png

ancapailldorcha · 06-07-2022 8:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119296112#Comment_119296112

What websites have been saved by the Brave browser?

It seems like you're desperately shilling for this thing for some reason. It would be helpful to get a clear image of any actual benefits it allegedly has.

Grumpypants · 06-07-2022 1:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119296808#Comment_119296808

Mine.

ancapailldorcha · 06-07-2022 1:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119298209#Comment_119298209

So you can't actually name any or provide any proof at all? Ok then.

johnny_ultimate · 06-07-2022 1:55pm

TBH I have no problem with the idea of a browser integrated ‘tip jar’ where you could donate to websites or creators if you liked a particular video or article, for example (so long as they were opted in).

But again that’s technology that could be implemented without the blockchain - if anything, I think an obscure, fluctuating crypto token tied to one browser with no way to cash out is a more significant complication and barrier to entry than if it were, say, implemented using PayPal or Google / Apple wallet. Indeed, I’m pretty sure non blockchain versions have existed in the past.

ancapailldorcha · 06-07-2022 1:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119298295#Comment_119298295

Nor do I. Patreon already does this. I just don't get why we need a buzzword-laden browser for allegedly the same thing.

Grumpypants · 06-07-2022 2:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119298233#Comment_119298233

Yeah, I'm not going to go sharing financial information about people and their sites without their permission to prove a point to someone online that is never going to to be open to learning about something new.

I had the same in the Crypto forum where it was claimed there was no use case for Bitcoin. I gave a use case about buying a car in the UK. Buying on a Saturday and had to spend €400 on converting euro to sterling and then another few hundred to get a banker's cheque (which is what the seller wanted). I said that if we used bitcoin I could have text him a wallet address and he could confirm the amount in minutes and it would have had only the cost of the text.

The replies!

Why didn't you transfer the money into the other person's account and then fly over 4 days later?

Why didn't you use transfer-wise?

Why didn't you fly on a weekday?

pixelburp · 06-07-2022 2:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119298330#Comment_119298330

Can't speak to your personal use but the point made by others, and myself, is that this avenue is not something revolutionary that it suddenly puts previous, existing technical stacks in the ha'penny place. This is the problem with crypto in general; it vastly oversells its solutions, and overstates the "problems" it claims to solve.

ancapailldorcha · 06-07-2022 2:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119298330#Comment_119298330

Nonsense. I never asked for confidential information. I just wanted some sign that this was more than crypto-bro drivel. The fact that you have to move the goalposts like this suggests that that's all it is. Your rant about another part of this site doesn't change this.

Grumpypants · 06-07-2022 2:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119296703#Comment_119296703

Youtube putting in place the min 1000 subs rule really hit small creators. Not just that they couldn't make money but you are also not recommended and stuffed down the search results. Even on your own channel, watching your own video, the next one coming up will be some other creator that is Youtube promoted.

If you understand the issue being big tech algorithms then surely you can see the benefit of an open-source browser that can interrupt their tracking.

Also, it is worth noting that with the Brave rewards all you need is the browser. No sign up, no accounts, no bank account, you don't spend your own money.

To get set up on Patreon you need to set up a bank account, earn money and put it in the account, apply for a debit card, sign up to Patreon, and set up your subscription with that card, spend your own money from your bank account.

You have a massive number of users that are unbanked. Something we take for granted in having a debit card to subscribe to is not an option.

NFTs and gaming

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