Opportunity
The Flow Blockchain presented a unique opportunity to revolutionize user experiences by leveraging composable building blocks for enhanced transparency and scalability. With the burgeoning gaming market representing a significant avenue for blockchain integration, enabling Flow games on Unity was paramount to tap into the $184 billion gaming industry.
My Role
As a Director of Product leading the Developer Experience team, I was accountable for the success and quality of developer tools we provided to Flow developers. I supported the gaming team as a product manager and was responsible for the definition of key features, go-to-market efforts, and program management efforts to ensure several times work in tandem towards the same goals without blockers.
Hard Things
We were presented with several challenges to achieve our goals:
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Bridging the Gap: Integrating blockchain principles into the workflow of a gaming development studio required a collaborative effort to align Flow’s capabilities with the established practices of game developers. Ramping up on gaming and blockchain fundamentals was essential to ensure seamless integration and adoption.
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Upstream Dependencies: Developing a Unity SDK in C# necessitated collaboration with the maintainers of an open-source Flow SDK for .NET. Addressing critical feature gaps and aligning development efforts with our Unity SDK roadmap were paramount to ensuring its efficacy and functionality.
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End-User UX: Enhancing the user experience within games posed unique challenges, particularly in mobile-centric environments. Enabling seamless interactions while preserving in-game immersion demanded innovative solutions to streamline wallet integrations and transaction processes.
Approach
To tackle these challenges head-on, I initiated a collaborative working group comprising gaming development experts, protocol developers, and our tooling team. By understanding the nuances of gaming development workflows and identifying key requirements, I crafted a roadmap for the Unity SDK implementation, ensuring seamless integration with existing practices.
Next, I collaborated closely with the maintainers of the .NET SDK. I delineated critical features required for the Unity SDK’s initial release. Through grant programs and ongoing communication, I facilitated the development of essential capabilities, aligning with our roadmap and ensuring timely delivery.
Finally, implementing native iOS and Android wallet support and introducing App Custody mechanisms were pivotal in enhancing in-game experiences. By leveraging Wallet Connect integrations and innovative account linking concepts, we provided users with seamless transaction experiences without disrupting gameplay.
Impact
Our efforts resulted in the release of the FCL .NET SDK with essential features. This paved the way for the Unity SDK launch, enabling seamless integration of Flow blockchain capabilities into Unity games.
We orchestrated a timely launch during the Gaming Developer Conference. This launch featured a listing on the Unity Store to enhance visibility and accessibility, driving adoption among developers seeking blockchain integration solutions.
The launch campaign also included comprehensive tutorials and samples to empower developers leveraging the Unity SDK effectively, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of Flow-powered games and applications.
What Others Said
SuuriKat, a participant in the Flow Hackathon, shared their positive experience:
I have been using FlowSDK on Flow Hackathon, and I must say even with the lack of documentation back than, it was really powerful and good solution, I found it very easy to execute script, get and send information to and from blockchain, I love it. Also many thanks to DapperLabs for helping in understanding all of this <3
Key Highlights
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SDK Development: Spearheaded the development of essential SDK features, enabling seamless integration of Flow blockchain capabilities into Unity games.
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User Experience Improvement: Implemented innovative solutions to streamline wallet integrations and transaction processes, enhancing in-game experiences for users without disrupting gameplay.
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Open Source Collaboration: Orchestrated collaborative efforts with maintainers to align feature development with our roadmap, ensuring timely delivery and functionality alignment.