Understanding Game Channels
To comprehend the role of game channels, it is necessary to grasp the functioning of blockchain games.
Generally, blockchain games operate within fully decentralized and trustless environments.
While this eliminates the need for centralized authorities and ensures fair play through provability, blockchain games encounter typical “technical difficulties.”
Exploring Game Channels for Off-Chain Transactions
Game channels solve this problem while providing additional features for blockchain games.
Essentially, game channels are protocols that enable secure off-chain transactions between players.
They can create private channels that run parallel to the main chain but in their own space (off-chain), operating in near-real-time.
Any blockchain network can use game channels to enhance scalability to support numerous games and decentralized applications (dApps) without compromising transaction speeds.
Furthermore, game channels facilitate decentralized and trustless dispute resolution without the need for third parties or central authorities.
In a sense, game channels can be individual payment channels for specific games.
How Game Channels Work
The primary objective of game channels is to enable real-time gameplay between players.
Since most blockchain games involve adding transactions for every move, which need to be mined into blocks before they become “active,” there is a noticeable delay that players must contend with before making another move.
Game channels allow players to conduct their gameplay on a secure off-chain network.
This significantly reduces the time between moves, enabling players to enjoy the game in near-real-time.