Launching Cryptid Hunter Web Version on STEEM – A Critical Look at the STEEM Ecosystem
The Web3 game project Cryptid Hunter previously launched on the TON blockchain, successfully expanding to over 30,000 users and building a community of more than 10,000 people. It was one of the more stable Telegram mini-games in operation for a long period, featuring collaborations with KOLs and effective marketing campaigns.
So why did we choose to launch on STEEM?
A New Challenge: STEEM Web Version Launch
To explore STEEM’s potential for scalability and onboarding new users, we released the Web version of Cryptid Hunter. Within just a few days, we attracted over 300 users, most of whom were existing participants from the TON blockchain.
These users:
- Created new STEEM accounts,
- Began using the Steemit platform,
- Engaged by writing posts and joining events.
Our team was selected as an official curator by the STEEM Foundation, and we began running campaigns and onboarding guides in collaboration with Korean KOLs through YouTube and Telegram channels.
Indifference from the STEEM Community
Unfortunately, the response from the existing STEEM community and Witnesses has been underwhelming. Despite the launch of a new dApp, there has been little engagement. The only recurring feedback we received was, “It doesn’t work well on mobile.”
To clarify, Cryptid Hunter’s STEEM version uses Web + Keychain login. While Keychain is a Chrome browser extension not natively available on mobile, some users discovered that using a specific mobile browser such as Mises Browser allows the service to work smoothly. Even after presenting this workaround, interest from the core community remained minimal.
Why STEEM and Its Price Keep Falling
For years, there has been ongoing discussion about why STEEM’s price keeps declining. Everyone seems to agree on the same conclusion: STEEM needs new users and investors. However, concrete solutions have rarely followed.
Now, as Cryptid Hunter is actively onboarding new users into the STEEM ecosystem, the community’s response has been largely passive. Is it realistic to expect newcomers to learn STEEM, invest in it, and contribute, all on their own, without any community support?
Without Support for Newcomers, There Will Be No Growth
I understand that most existing STEEM users are not interested in playing Cryptid Hunter. That’s fine. But if the community also ignores the hundreds of new users joining through the game, how can STEEM expect to grow?
Our team has developed and launched multiple dApps over the years. Despite our active contributions, we were recently pushed out of the Top 20 Witnesses and are now ranked 22nd. If efforts toward expansion and user acquisition are not recognized, what kind of development can this ecosystem hope for?
Can STEEM Succeed as a Social Platform?
The STEEM community often talks about decentralization, ecosystem growth, and price recovery. But from our perspective, it remains one of the most closed and indifferent environments in Web3. Is this really a structure that can succeed as a social platform?
We are still working to bring in new users. But we hope that those who want STEEM to succeed will recognize that growth starts by supporting those who are actually arriving.
If you truly want STEEM and Steemit to grow, please show at least a little interest when new users are coming in.
This post reflects the personal perspective of the Cryptid Hunter development team, written with the sincere hope of helping STEEM move toward a healthier, more welcoming ecosystem.
I haven't got round to trying it out yet. But I did today to give you some feedback.
Logging in with Keychain worked very well. I use it on the desktop. The first thing I noticed was the small game window. It's unusual for the desktop, but I think that's because you've developed the game more for mobile devices.
When I first look at the app after logging in, I don't really know what to do. I'm missing a ‘How to play’. Unfortunately, I'm also not an active player, so I'm not that familiar with apps like this. Maybe that's why. I've read the github.io page but still don't really know what to do.
I've managed to put together a deck with my three free cards and when I click on ‘Game’ the game seems to start. What exactly happens there is not yet clear to me. Anyway, I can see a countdown running. I think that's all I can do at the moment.
If I want to be direct, I would say that this has nothing to do with the game. There have already been numerous discussions about the behaviour and appearance of new users... and the reading behaviour of the most users.
If I were to put it nicely, I'd say that I (and a few other users I know) are happy to help new users get started in the Steem if they contact me.
I/we recommend all new users to have a look around, ask in how-to posts and get to know each other. If the community doesn't know them, nobody can help them.
For example, I still don't know how to recognise the new users you've invited or where they hang out. Perhaps you can give me a tip?
Even before your app, many new users appeared here every day. It is just not possible to know all of them, let alone take care of them. There were too many negative examples of people who used fake accounts to get help from others and then disappeared with the rewards. Or new users who expected double-digit votes as soon as they registered.
There are also positive examples and I am happy to support them. That also motivates me.
With this in mind, I'll now wait for the game countdown to expire and see what happens then...
Hello @moecki! 👋
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Curated by: mohammadfaisal
Hi @roadofrich!, do not be sad, you have already gain enough support from the Steemit Team as you are allocated a booming account to support the game and on the same time the newcomers who are joining your game.
Moreover there is another special and dedicated booming account which is just to support the newcomers. Motivate the users to be active and ensure their engagement and the community is always willing to help.
Once I was was also a newbie, same thing for many others but we have to make our own way through our potential of work.
Thanks for your message.
We’re really happy to have been selected as a Steemit curator — it’s been a great opportunity to bring more attention to the project and help it grow naturally.
At the same time, we’ve noticed something interesting: even though STEEM is a social platform, there seems to be a lack of real interaction between users. We’d love to see the community become more open and connected, and we hope to be part of that positive change.
As for the game, we’re in this for the long term. We’ll continue building, improving, and listening — so please keep an eye on us and stay involved.
Thanks again for your encouragement and support!
Best wishes and I hope it will be more successful with the combined efforts of the community and development team.
Greetings buddy,
In the past, the community of newcomers was widely active, however, situations of abuse began to occur where users created a lot of fake accounts, with the sole objective of extracting rewards in this community. For that reason, the Steemit team stopped actively supporting newcomers.
For this reason, some communities in recognition of how important it is to support new users, have simply adopted internal measures to recognize and welcome these users.
Regarding the community's lack of interest in new projects, it's something quite real, but maybe it needs a little extra boost. Sometimes it is necessary to write directly to each user and present the project and give them personalized attention, until it can be installed properly. (mainly because most of them are not used to games or this type of service)
Another way to attract the attention of many people in the community is through contests with striking prizes, in this way, users will have an incentive to study and learn the projects to which they are going to be included.
Even with all this, don't expect to get 30,000 users like in TON, because there aren't any here, at least for the moment.
Personally I haven't tried the game, because I haven't had much time, however, I'm looking forward to it. I count on that I will support you a little with the promotion, once I start and study the project a little I will contact you so that we can do some activity to attract users.
Don't be discouraged, at first, the answer is never good, since the community is not used to the unknown, however, with a little dedication you can achieve great things.
Successes
Hello @alejos7ven! 👋
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Curated by: mohammadfaisal
Hello, and thank you for your thoughtful insights.
We fully understand that Steemit reduced its official support for newcomers due to past abuse cases (e.g., fake accounts).
That's why we're also exploring ways to build a trust-based user identification system.
Your suggestions to overcome the community's low engagement —
— are very practical, and we are actively working on both strategies.
Even if you haven’t had a chance to try the game yet, your feedback later would still be a huge help.
We look forward to potentially collaborating with you. Thanks again!
스팀잇 하는 유저들이 이 게임에 관심이 없는 분들에게는 어떻게 이 게임에 참여해야 하는지에 대한 설명이 많이 부족하다고 생각이 들고...
이 게임을 했을 때 어떤 식으로 수익이 나는지도 알아야 사람들이 조금 더 관심을 가지지 않을까 싶네요.
그리고
텔레그램에서 게임했던 분들은 접근이 쉬울 것 같구요.
중요한 건...
스팀잇 내에서 파생된 프로젝트들 중에서 큰 손실과 작은 손실을 본 부분들이 있어서... 스팀잇 유저들은 쉽게 접근하지 않을것 같네요...
길게 보고...
프로젝트를 진행하셔야 유입이 되지 않을까 싶기도 합니다.
Hello @blackeyedm! 👋
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Curated by: mohammadfaisal
안녕하세요. 좋은 피드백 감사드립니다.
확실히 텔레그램 미니게임을 경험해본 분들은 쉽게 적응하시지만, 처음 접하시는 분들은 진입 장벽을 느끼는 경우가 많습니다.
이를 해결하기 위해, 내부적으로 가이드라인을 강화하거나 커뮤니티 내 유익한 글들을 선별해 소개하는 방안을 준비하고 있습니다.
또한, STEEM 블록체인 자체가 dApp 활성화에 제약이 많은 구조라는 점과, 최근 유저 간 소통이 줄어든 상황도 게임 확산에 영향을 주고 있다고 느끼고 있습니다.
이번 프로젝트는 외부 유저의 유입을 중심으로 설계되다 보니, 기존 Steemit 사용자에게는 다소 낯설거나 거리감이 있었을 수 있습니다.
이 부분도 더 잘 맞춰갈 수 있도록 플랫폼 내 적응성과 커뮤니티 연계를 높이는 방향으로 개선해보겠습니다.
감사합니다.
Upvoted! Thank you for supporting witness @jswit.