Earlier this spring, self-described internet warlord Derek Smart posted a blog. It’s not about Line of Defense—the last update on that game was last year—nor is it about Alganon; updates on that have also been quiet since last year despite Smart’s promise of a relaunch this year. Instead, the blog focuses on his personal blockchain venture, the ACE Platform. Smart summarizes ACE as an “all chain engagement platform” and a “rewards-driven online virtual world hub” intended to retain users. The aim is to provide rewards for activities such as linking external accounts to the platform, participating in its online social world, and playing ACE-compliant games.

The site describes the platform as a “virtual town hall of engagement opportunities where all technologies are seamlessly integrated and abstracted, ” adding, “Just have fun with your friends and we’ll take care of the rest. ” Notably, the site’s video link button is actually a rickroll, adding a humorous touch. In his blog post, Smart presents ACE as a solution to various issues in Web3 and blockchain gaming—problems he claims to have predicted years before the collapse in the P2E and crypto gaming markets. Despite this, he remains strongly supportive of blockchain technology overall and celebrates a partnership that does not require minting a new token. “I have always felt that the end result of doing a token would put my project right where we are today in Web3 whereby gaming tokens — all of them, no exceptions — were designed to line the pockets of those who benefited the most, while leaving an otherwise engaged community holding the proverbial empty bag and likely with nothing to show for their engagement or funding, ” he writes. Regarding ACE itself, the explainer PDF provided appears targeted largely at investors but also emphasizes that ACE is “a massively multiplayer online world” rather than a game. This distinction is likely intentional, as Smart’s blog closes with a suggestion that this may be his last attempt at the gaming industry. “Those of us in Web3 gaming are well aware that things aren’t working, but few seem to want to buck the status quo trend because the road less traveled isn’t for the faint at heart; it’s for pioneers and those who dare to defy, ” Smart concludes. “And so, here I am, once again at the cusp of one of my greatest challenges, and what I believe to be my last hoorah, if you will. ”