Hamster Kombat’s Social Pressure Tactics Under Scrutiny
Hamster Kombat, a popular Telegram-based clicker game tied to an upcoming crypto token launch, is facing criticism for its extensive use of social pressure tactics.
Viral Success and Saturation Point
The game’s viral success has been remarkable. However, its user engagement mechanics may have reached their peak. Andrew Hayward, Culture Editor and Hub Operations Lead at Decrypt, expressed this sentiment in a recent post. He suggested that the saturation might soon affect the hundreds of millions of daily players, especially those without a steady stream of friends to recruit.
Hamster Encourages Users to Invite Friends
Following the example of the original viral Telegram crypto game, Notcoin, Hamster Kombat requires players to tap the screen to gather in-game coins. The game adds a unique element by letting players invest these coins into a fictional hamster-operated crypto exchange. Additionally, it encourages them to invite friends to join.
This approach bears a resemblance to multi-level marketing. New exchange upgrade cards, which promise higher earnings, are frequently introduced. These cards are often linked to the game’s “daily combo,” offering players a substantial 5 million in-game coins for using specific cards. However, many cards can only be unlocked if players convince another friend to start playing through their referral link.
The Disadvantages of Recruitment-Based Progress
While the game is a straightforward “number-go-up” experience, players unable to recruit new participants may struggle to progress. Hayward noted that this shift underscores the limitations of an engagement-driven model like Hamster Kombat. He pointed out the challenges of maintaining continuous growth without providing compelling new incentives and benefits. “At some point, the hype is bound to cool,” he said, “and the developers may be pushing a little too hard to make sure that doesn’t happen before July’s planned token drop.”
Iranians Flock to Hamster Kombat
Hamster Kombat has captivated Iran, attracting a significant number of local users ahead of its token launch. The game’s developers recently announced that it has garnered an impressive 200 million players. This figure is a notable increase from the 150 million reported on June 14. Considering the 900 million users on Telegram, this is substantial.
Upcoming Token Launch
The developers plan to launch a token on The Open Network (TON) in July. This move mirrors Notcoin, a similar clicker game that debuted earlier this year. Notcoin attracted 35 million players before releasing its NOT token on TON in May. Notcoin saw a peak market capitalization exceeding $2 billion in the weeks following its launch.
TON Blockchain Performance
Telegram’s “The Open Network” (TON) blockchain has consistently outperformed Ethereum in terms of daily active addresses this month, driven by the Hamster Kombat craze.
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