Bitcoin Forum

I am working on Arcane Arcade (http://staging.arcanearcade.io/), an online store where you can buy video games with Bitcoin (or Monero). For developers, they get their payment directly to their coin wallets. They provide Steam keys or direct download of their installers.

It's a distribution platform for game developers/publisher to sell their games for cryptocurrency (Bitcoin & Monero). Here's a write-up I did a while back: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nlxGuzeSAoivt96pvmfbYkeQrIafWwoCfjgHvn6uo84/edit?usp=sharing.

We're early-stage, about two weeks into development. I've got freelancers helping me out, looking for a Halloween launch (worst case, Thanksgiving).

As the breakdown states, we have a Node API handling all BTC/XMR address generation and payment broadcasting. I've repurposed the code behind coinb.in to generate BTC addresses. For Monero, I'm running a node and utilizing it's RPC (which is way faster than Bitcoin's). It uses bull queues and Redis to scan for any unspentTxs and sends payments to sellers' destination addresses.

We use Rails as an API, where most of the CRUD and front-end data is stored. Lastly, a React front-end, which can be seen in action on the staging link.

I'm looking for partners, fellow gamers and crypto engineers. I'm happy with the work my freelancers have done, but I really would love a team doing it for a stake in the future success.

Even if you aren't a Ruby or JS engineer, I could use a hand on the marketing side of things, as well. Buyer adoption should happen organically, but it's the indie/mid-size game developers with good games to sell that I want on the platform.

In any case, advice or feedback on the current state of things is welcome!

Steam will let you take away their revenue like that?

Steam actually allows devs to use their Steam keys to sell on other platforms, yes.

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/keys

"Steam keys are meant to be a convenient tool for game developers to sell their game on other stores and at retail. Steam keys are free and can be activated by customers on Steam to grant a license to a product."

EDIT: Steam actually used to support Bitcoin payments, but stopped citing large transactions fees and volatility. Personally, I'd integrate with Binance and allow immediate sell orders on any seller whom doesn't wish to keep their crypto.

It's an interesting platform even though there were a few workarounds already.

I've seen you mentioned Coinbase a few times in there and I would suggest going with an alternative that gives more control/security over those funds and also choose one that doesn't limit buyers/sellers.

Good idea for game store accepting crypto, but does it mean you will not be accepting cash but only Bitcoin and Monero?
Let's say I am a game maker and want to sell my game for Bitcoin, you will review my application, I set USD value, and I get my profit in Bitcoin.
Do you earn anything here and what is your percentage?

I've tried visiting your website. It seems that it really is just on development, as the main platform's browser tab seems to be titled "React App". It is a good choice that you've used React Framework so you can easily turn it into mobile app or onto any platform you want. Just don't rush your official release. You don't really need to launch on or before the Halloween. Better launch whenever your system is finalized and your marketing is already on the run.


I'd like to suggest on your UI/UX developers to make the UI appropriate in the device a user would use. For example, I've using Browser but the UI seems to be so minimal and have no further details

https://i.imgur.com/13VXPxw.png

Here's the list of my suggestions:

• The color of the button seemed to be unreadable. At first I thought it wasn't a button, but yeah, I'd really can't see that well the text, so you might change its color. Preferably not white button/background.
• Consistency is important. If your UI would be having round edges, as much as possible, do it to everything, so we couldn't have the feeling that each and every hover feels different from the main UI.
• Desktop platforms must contain text or captions on what a button or an image is about. Yes, the simplicity is nice, but such designs fits perfectly only on mobile devices, in which users prefers logos as they already know it upon installing.
• Padding. Have a consistent amount of padding in every element you have. You cannot congest elements just because they are on a same group. Paddings and margins are important, soooo important.
• White space or empty space. It seemed that your platform is too wide yet the elements resides on the middle on a certain dimension. Better make a good use of the spaces so you can have an option that users have many features indicated in a certain page. or just make it simply big but not too much.

Those we're just my cents. I'm not really that onto programming now but I know how to make your app good look, but I'm still busy and not that professional so that's my suggestions. Also, take a look at the UI of your competitors, and use it as an inspiration.  ;D

In the portion of the new release, when I hover the mouse, I have no idea what's the name of the game and how much it cost.

I think you can do the same as when hovering on the promotions portion below.

I remember last time that Steam accepts Bitcoin payments for me to buy Steam game codes. But for now, they disabled it. I would like to try buy some Steam codes in your platform with Bitcoin to see if it’s reliable and efficient. I am planning to buy them because I’m after some bundle packages from my favorite game. 😁

Are you not including Ethereum or USDT as alternative payment gateways for that sometime in the future?

It is strictly for game developers and publishers, no Steam key reselling.

We take 10% on every purchase, that's how we'd be earning. The fee would be on the buyer side. No, we won't accept cash/credit card, only crypto. Mixing the two would be confusing. I have no experience with ETH, but I would aexpand to support more cryptocurrencies, after launch.

As for the UI/UX bugs, we're in the midst of a redesign: https://xd.adobe.com/view/8beb6b82-07a2-4091-81c2-5fbd2c69af8b-deb8/grid

By next week, the UI will be fresher and we'll have a fleshed out mobile version of the site. Don't worry too much about UI, as we won't stop until it's exactly as the design dictates.

But, it's never too early to show a product.

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Thanks for the good advice. After we launch this, I have another idea for a cryptocurrency payment processor for in-app purchases in games. Example: send $5 in BTC for a game's virtual currency or powerups, etc.

I would suggest that you consider doing some testing before launch and find a way to reduce payment fees as much as you can.
For Bitcoin that would mean accepting Segwit and Native Segwit addresses, and maybe even Lightning Network or some other sidechain.
I think some forum members can help you setting up LN and testing.

Good idea, I'd like some resources on Lightning Network and how it works. It's like running a full Bitcoin node, right? What's the file size of a typical node, I remember Bitcoin being 100GB+

I'm looking through the docs here: https://api.lightning.community/?javascript#v1-newaddress

EDIT: Okay, I'm downloading the blockhchain from bitcoind and giving Ln a shot!

EDIT 2: So which Lightning Network is the "right" one?

https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd
https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning

EDIT 3: Using https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd REST API, testing the waters. If it's fast enough, I'll replace the coinb.in code with the lnd implementation.

EDIT 4: To go off-chain is a concerted and non-trivial process and I am out of my pay grade. I'll integrate SegWit and call it a day. Til we maunch and have resources to get someone smarter and more devOps oriented.

Okay mate thank you for clarifying this to me. I wish you the best of luck in this amazing project of yours. Cheers!

I was thinking about a similar platform but once I realized that I didn't have that free time and resources right now and don't even think that it will be that much profitable, just took my hands off.
I'll tell you my plan:
I was going to create a website similar of IGN, PCGamer but with more features that include a calendar of upcoming games, dedicated video reviews, gameplay on each game. Also I was going to write short review of each game and all the detailed information about publishers, system requirements and others while this would be a marketplace too at the same time. Well, there is a game with detailed reviews and etc and users have an option to buy or sell this game. Then there should be options to choose seller and availability of content type from each seller (digital, steam or a disk) It was like all in one service. My design was be similar of Netflix, idk if it sounds funny but believe me, such templates really suit gaming.

I have ready design but haven't implemented marketplace function. Just visuals... Also thought to add streaming platform and publish popular videos on main page. In my mind, I created great project that will succeed but needs a lot of time and resources, especially huge capital, really the huge one because it's hardest to beat IGN and similar websites right now.

If you are only doing marketplace, then I suggest to add games on website with detailed information and make things ready like it's on amazon, product and information is given when seller types the name of product that he/she sells and then customers can see this information and choose the seller.

Since you are still in the testing phase, you have launched it in the market and asked for the opinion of others. And someone who purchases games online, that's what I've noticed and in the eye of other game buyers that's what we think is important.

We'll wait for the UI/UX redesign and I hope that it's going to be user-friendly just like the large platforms such as Steam, Uplay and Epic games. These are the three gaming platforms where mostly are purchasing games.

Yes, accepting segwit bc1 addresses will reduce fees a lot, and everyone should support those address.
As for Lightning Network, I am not an expert on that subject but here is one guide how LN works with electrum: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5259973.0
And here is the list of other LN wallets:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5252739
More about LN:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5158920.0

I would recommend if you can add a Patreon like page on your project so the supporters of an indie developer have a one stop shop for donations. And hopefully make the UI and UX as user-friendly as much as possible, I believe that it is the number one adversary of any project developer. If you need marketing, a campaign will be a big help for you because this forum will love your crypto related project.

Good thinking.

The UI/UX will be great, it'll come together by Halloween.

About SegWit addreses, I'm having trouble testing them using BTC's testnet. They say it's an invalid testnet address when I use them.... Any advice on testing bech32 addresses in testnet?

Is your Bech32 testnet address starting with bc1 or something else?

You can check if your segwit address is good with this tool:
https://bc-2.jp/tools/bech32demo/index.html

So, coinb.in is really bad with supporting bech32: https://github.com/OutCast3k/coinbin/issues/217

I'll have to launch using normal addresses and rebuild the payment systems later.

The payment system is in good shape, I'll be posting on the forums to get help testing my payment system in BTC testnet. I've been testing myself, and it seems ready for prime time.

EDIT: Our UI/UX on mobile should be getting better! I've personally fixed the homepage and game#show pages. The app is still under mobile redesign.

Just a suggestion. It will be good if you include fiat currencies at the start with the crypto as payment. Its a known fact that many people are not using crypto in this world. Infact they dont even know about it. For customers like that your site will become less attractive. So in the begining add fiat and when your site becomes popular then you can slowly switch to complete crypto payment.

I understand what you mean.

My gut tells me to stick with full crypto payments. The draw of AA is that you can spend with crypto, there's already plenty of places to buy with fiat.

I'm willing to weather a slow start before everyone is ready to pay in crypto.

EDIT: After mulling it over, it can't hurt to have both. Stripe is simple enough to setup.

I also noticed many services are slow to make full Bech32 adoption but it will happen sooner or later, and i games industry I think it is very important to save every satoshi you can, to avoid bunch of complains when network is congested.
I also don't know how are you handling unconfirmed transactions, because they can be canceled very easy now.
You need to have specific amount of confirmed transactions before you send the game to buyer.

You are right on this.
You can't compete with other big players that sell for fiat now, but you can be one of the first to accept Bitcoin and crypto.
Just play it smart and don't rush things.