Staff Writer • 2024-12-27
Streaming from South Africa, the Stonks Go Moon Podcast hosted Josh Gier, Chief Marketing Officer of Coliseum, for an exciting dive into the world of competitive gaming and how Coliseum is reshaping the esports landscape. From leveraging Telegram as its core platform to ensuring fair play with cutting-edge tech, Gier shared insights into what makes Coliseum a standout player in the fast-evolving world of gaming. Gladiators of the Digital Era The name “Coliseum” evokes images of ancient Roman arenas where gladiators battled for glory. Gier sees modern gaming in a similar light. “Gaming is a constant challenge,” he explained. “Whether you’re up against other players or battling stereotypes about gaming itself, it’s a fight for recognition and mastery. That’s why our motto is ‘challenge everything.’” At its core, Coliseum is a competitive gaming platform, but it distinguishes itself by embedding directly into apps like Telegram and Discord rather than relying on traditional standalone websites or apps. This approach aligns with the modern trend of creating seamless user experiences within platforms where communities already exist. Why Telegram? While many gaming platforms opt for static websites or standalone apps, Coliseum chose Telegram as its launchpad. Gier explained, “Telegram is fast, intuitive, and already home to millions of users. Why fight to pull people out of an app they’re comfortable with when you can meet them where they are?” This strategy mirrors innovations seen in platforms like WeChat and Elon Musk’s vision for X, integrating multiple functionalities into a single ecosystem. “Telegram allows us to offer tournaments, payouts, and community engagement all within one click,” Gier said. “It’s the perfect environment for fast-paced, modern gaming.” Fighting Cheating with the Guardian Network Cheating has long plagued competitive gaming, and Coliseum is taking a multi-faceted approach to combat it. “Cheating is rampant, especially in lower-stakes games where oversight is minimal,” Gier noted. To address this, Coliseum has developed the Guardian Network, a hybrid system combining AI, proprietary tools, and human oversight to ensure fairness in its tournaments. “While AI plays a crucial role, human monitors—the guardians—are the backbone of our anti-cheat efforts,” Gier explained. The platform also uses blockchain as a transparent ledger to track player activity and reward community members who help maintain fairness. Blockchain Beyond the Buzz Unlike many gaming platforms that flaunt their blockchain credentials, Coliseum adopts a more subtle approach. “We don’t talk about blockchain—we let it work quietly in the background,” Gier said. The technology underpins Coliseum’s reward system, enabling transparent payouts, staking, and decentralized finance (DeFi) elements. This approach helps bridge the gap between traditional web2 gamers and the web3 world, avoiding the skepticism that often accompanies blockchain discussions. “Our focus is on creating a fun, rewarding experience for players,” Gier emphasized. “Blockchain is just the technology that makes it happen.” Building a Global Community With 2.5 million community members and counting, Coliseum’s growth trajectory is impressive. “We started in the traditional gaming space, where communities are tight-knit and word-of-mouth spreads quickly,” Gier said. The platform’s integration with Telegram has accelerated its reach, particularly among casual and competitive gamers seeking seamless tournament experiences. Coliseum is also leveraging player feedback to refine its offerings. “We listen carefully to what our community says, but we also try to anticipate their needs,” Gier explained. “They might ask for faster horses, but we’re working on building cars.” What’s Next for Coliseum in 2025 Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be a transformative year for Coliseum. The platform will exit its beta phase, introducing new features like GameFi for in-app predictions and a native token to underpin its ecosystem. “Our token launch in Q1 will be a game-changer,” Gier said. “It will serve as the backbone for rewards, staking, and other functionalities.” Coliseum also aims to grow its active user base from 100,000 to 2 million while expanding its tournament offerings and community engagement initiatives. Join the Arena As Coliseum continues to redefine competitive gaming, it invites players and developers alike to join the movement. “We’re creating a space where gamers can compete, earn rewards, and engage with their communities—all within a single, seamless platform,” Gier concluded. To learn more, visit coliseum.org or follow @ColiseumOrg on X. Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore competitor, Coliseum offers a place to challenge everything and emerge victorious.
@NFT Today Magazine