One thing that I like much about the changes made in Splinterlands is the new overlay from the "Seeking opponent..." page that I feel it fully emerges the players into the battle. The different backgrounds are like telling a story of their own and on top of that they simply look fantastic. When I see them it is like magic happens and good feelings are rushing while the mind teleports to a different realm. And the waiting time while seeking for an opponent, is much pleasurable now as we can admire the artistic images and relax before the battle horns get sounded. The silence before the storm...
The overlay is a great touch and it makes players one to stay more in the game and go through more battles in order to be surprised by the next wallpaper. I wish just to have a great number of them in order not to rotate too soon. And starting from here my mind got some ideas at doing even more starting from here. So let's see what I've come up with in the following bullet points.
Add capability to download overlays
I would love to have the option to download these beautiful overlays and use them as wallpapers for my desktop or even phone. The artwork is quite great and being able to keep a piece of Splinterlands outside the game would be an awesome way to stay connected. If this feature were added, I believe many players, including myself, would gladly showcase them and even spread awareness about the game. Until that happens, I am doing screenshots (like the one I included in this article), but these do not capture the entire image alone.
Improve some overlays with dynamic movement
Imagine if some overlays had subtle animations, like a flickering torch, drifting fog, or waves gently rolling in the background. This would take immersion to the next level, making each battle feel even more alive. A moving background would make the transition into battle even more thrilling, giving us that extra rush before the first attack lands. I know that there are already such 2.5D animations, so it would be a good use case in this situation as well.
Corelate overlays with different music tracks
Pairing specific overlays with unique background music would add another layer of depth to the experience. A dark, foggy battlefield could have haunting melodies, while a bright, magical setting could come with uplifting orchestral tunes. It would make every match feel different and keep players engaged for longer, just to see (and hear) what comes next. And to take this further, these battle soundtracks could be exported also as ringtones.
Use as overlay the art from Splinterlands art contests
The Splinterlands community has some incredibly talented artists, and integrating their work as in-game overlays would be a fantastic way to celebrate them. Seeing art created by the community as featured in the game would give a sense of belonging and appreciation. Plus, it would keep the overlays fresh and diverse, with new artwork rolling in over time. Just need to ensure a good digital quality.
Generate art NFTs on demand from overlays
A really exciting idea would be to allow players to mint the overlays as NFTs and own a piece of the Splinterlands universe. This could be done as limited-edition collectibles or even customizable versions where players can add their own touch. It would blend art, gaming, and blockchain technology in a way that truly makes sense for the ecosystem. And grouped together, these NFTs could tell a story, how amazing would that be?
I was pleasantly surprised by the new Splinterlands overlay and I think there is more untapped potential to take it even further. That could be through dynamic elements, music integration, community art, NFTs and probably more. I believe that enhancing this feature would keep players more engaged, create a more immersive experience and even act as an organic marketing tool. And as an OG Splinterlands player, I can’t wait to see what’s next! What about you?