Komkov Alexey, ZKcandy — Interview Series

In case you missed out on the initial announcement, ZKcandy, a Layer 2 ZK Chain, is currently gearing up to launch a fresh selection of games for its network—a network that is ultimately working to implement “high performance, verifiable, modular rollups and validiums powered by ZKsync.” To learn a bit more about these upcoming features, we decided to reach out to the marketing team at ZKcandy.

Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. Before we dip our toes into the world of blockchain gaming, please could you tell us a bit about yourself? Who are you, and what brought you to ZKcandy?

Alexey: Hi, I’m Alexey, part of the marketing team at ZKcandy. I started my crypto journey back in 2013 and experienced many market cycles since then. I’ve always been passionate about gaming and Web3, so being at ZKcandy allows me to blend these two worlds as they come together.

Let’s shift our focus over to ZKcandy. Could you tell us a bit about the chain, as well as some of the goals that you’re aiming to accomplish as a team?

Alexey: ZKcandy, a Layer 2 ZK Chain, emerged from an award-winning game studio, iCandy Interactive. It’s the first ZK Chain for gaming in the ZKsync Elastic Chain ecosystem. We are aiming to enhance gaming experience with high performance, verifiable, modular rollups and validiums powered by ZKsync with a strong market-driven gaming ecosystem where developers can easily build and launch games. Additionally, native interoperability will connect gamers across the entire ZKsync ecosystem.

Let’s talk about ZKcandy Voyage. What is it, and what brought this idea into existence?

Alexey: ZKcandy Voyage is a campaign focused on engaging the crypto community in testing ZKcandy’s gaming platform before it goes live on the mainnet. This public testnet phase is a crucial step where users can jump in, play games, perform on-chain tasks, and farm points. By participating, players will help the ZKcandy team stress-test the system and
identify any bugs or issues before the mainnet launch.

The campaign taps into the power of ZKsync, making the games fast, secure, and efficient. As you interact with the testnet, you can earn rewards like the Voyager Pass NFTs, which will give you benefits down the road when the mainnet goes live.

ZKcandy Voyage isn’t just about testing; it’s about building a community of early adopters who help shape the future of the platform. Your participation and feedback are key to making sure ZKcandy is ready for mass adoption when the mainnet launches.

🔥 Exciting Partnership Announcement: ZKCandy and Holdstation

As a part of the Elastic Chain ecosystem, Holdstation is set to be at the forefront as the premier wallet infrastructure, leading the way in technology and innovation! Our first milestone? Integrating with major… pic.twitter.com/BX4bNS4mzO

— Holdstation – Account Abstraction Wallet (∎, ∆) (@HoldstationW) July 30, 2024

Of course, there are also several games that we’d like to hear more about, too, including the likes of Sugar Rush, Choo Choo Spirits, and EVM Warfare. Could you tell us a bit more about each of these titles, as well as some of the rewards that’ll feature in their respective catalogs?

Alexey: Sure! For the public testnet, we have four games lined up, each offering unique experiences and rewards for different types of players: Sugar Rush is an NFT minting game where players collect rare Candy NFTs from a mysterious vending machine. L Each mint recharges the machine’s battery, and players race to gather all eight candies before the battery dies, earning a special Master Candy NFT as a reward.

Choo-Choo Spirits is a competitive game where players control snake-like spirits, collecting food to grow longer and outmaneuver rivals. The goal is to reach the top of the leaderboard, with rewards given to the highest scorers.

EVM Warfare is a third-person shooter set in a dystopian future, offering intense multiplayer deathmatches and seamless blockchain integration. Players earn rewards based on their performance, with special items for leaderboard leaders.

Lastly, BTFD.WTF is a social arcade platform that has partnered with ZKcandy to bring engaging games like Dinosaur Crash and CT Crash to the Testnet. Players can earn “Chips” through daily check-ins or by purchasing them, with a no-loss gaming experience that emphasizes timing and strategy.

So, what’s next for Voyage? Are we likely to see any other games or features implemented in the future?

Alexey: Absolutely! We have another 15 games in the pipeline, including several Telegram-based mini-games. You can expect more games, memes, giveaways, and partnerships as more developers start building on our chain.

And how’s the fourth quarter looking for you? Aside from the launch of Voyage, do you have your eyes set on any other projects? If so, please could you tell us a bit more about what it is that you’re working on?

Alexey: The Voyager campaign will run for a limited time, followed by our mainnet launch in Q4. We’re moving fast and efficiently. Additionally, we’re focusing on expanding our presence in key regional markets, aiming to build a trusted brand among local gamers and game developers.

Alpha testing for EVM Warfare on Android is NOW OPEN! 🎮
We're thrilled to announce that our highly anticipated web3-based shooter game is now ready for Alpha Testing on Android!

Join the action and be one of the first to experience our web3 shooter game before we go live on the… pic.twitter.com/D4HfiRPfHh

— EVM Warfare (@evmwarfare) July 31, 2024

We’d love to be able to stay up to date with ZKcandy. Are there any social channels, streams, or upcoming events that we can share with our readers?

Alexey: You can follow us on our official X account: ZKcandyHQ and visit our website at zkcandy.io. We also invite everyone to join our events during Korea Blockchain Week and Token2049 to meet our team in person.

Before we close the book, is there anything else you would like to add? A final note for our readers, perhaps?

Alexey: ZKcandy isn’t just another Web3 gaming platform. It’s an ecosystem where top-tier blockchain technology meets the expertise of building AAA games like Spider-Man, The Last of Us, and Overwatch. The Voyage campaign is just the first step towards something big. It’s just inevitable.

Thank you so much for your time, and best of luck with Voyage!

For more information on ZKcandy Voyage, be sure to check in with the team over on their official social handle here. Alternatively, you can visit the website for additional details here.