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Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

When Satoshi Nakamoto unveiled the Bitcoin protocol in January 2009, he had created

the first internationally sustainable cryptocurrency. In cryptocurrency, the term "crypto" refers to

a special method of encrypting and decrypting data known as cryptography, which is used to

protect all transactions between users. Cryptocurrency is a comparatively new type of money that

operates in a completely different manner than the traditional currency that we all use on a daily

basis. Nowadays, crypto currencies offer a new way of secure trading and exchanging and have

become increasingly important in our financial system, especially in our new normal w orld. A

crypto currency is a digital currency that functions similarly to physical currency in that it serves

as a medium of exchange. Cryptocurrency can be used to pay for goods and services, but it is

more commonly known as a speculative investment. Cryptocurrency has been a popular topic of

discussion for several years. The majority of people are currently dealing with a variety of issues,

including massive unemployment as a result of a failing economy. Non -employed people and

students are having difficulty finding stable employment because the pandemic has caused many

setbacks for employed people, particularly students. One of the primary reasons that

cryptocurrency is so highly valued around the world is that it has profit potential and is not

linked to global governments, which means that cryptocurrencies can remain stable even when a

country is in a state of crisis. Participating in the play-to-earn economy is clearly becoming a

viable option for players who want to earn money from their favorite video games. Furthermore,
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it is subject to the overall stability of the cryptocurrency economy, but it is safe to say that things

are looking up for the game's participants.

Global economic growth has been hindered by the widespread disruption caused by

COVID-19 (Coronavirus). This pandemic has affected thousands of people. People nowadays

are losing their jobs due to the pandemic. They find it hard to make a living and provide the

things they need because they have lost their jobs and struggle to find a new on e since COVID-

19 is still taking over the place. People are on the verge of sliding into abject poverty. However,

some of those people took the risk of investing their money in this money-earning game called

"Axie Infinity." The "play to earn" movement is a new trend in gaming, in which players in NFT

games earn incentives that can subsequently be converted to real money. Players looking f or a

new source of income have been drawn to Play to Earn. Axie Infinity is one of the most popular

and divisive of the new games that allow players to collect tradable crypto currencies. It is a

blockchain-based play-to-earn game that has burst in popularity in poor countries like the

Philippines after COVID-19 decimated jobs and caused many people to stay at home. It is t he

source of most people's income. Some people choose to play this game instead of having a

business because it is a lot easier to earn money than going to work in an office. They could stay

at home, safe from the infection, and earn money by playing a fun game. The pandemic provided

the ideal setting for this game to draw in players from all walks of life.

However, there are some issues and problems that Axie Infinity players face. One of

these is the decreasing value of the SLP over time. As a result, more players choose to cash out

their SLP rather than use it. Because of the impending decrease in value, there is a chance that

the player will be discouraged from continuing to play Axie Infinity. This reason may also hinder
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potential new players from trying the game. Axie Infinity also has an impact on the health of

some players because it is addictive and some of them play too much, causing them to skip meals

and have constant sleep deprivation. Because some players use it as a part-time source of

income, they are more active in playing Axie Infinity than in doing their schoolwork, resulting in

poor grades. You can become a scholar with Axie Infinity. In this case, a manager will purchase

three Axies on your behalf, which you can use to win battles and earn SLP. However, not

everyone is fortunate enough to find a scholarship. So, if they want to play the game, they will

have to invest money to get started. Unfortunately, not everyone is willing to risk such a large

amount of money, so they no longer pursue playing the game.

Another issue for Axie Infinity players is that the game is constantly being updated,

which results in some gameplay changes with each update. As a result of the ongoing Axie

Infinity update, some players are having difficulty making gameplay adjustments, resulting in a

loss of winnings. One of the most common problems that players encounter in playing Axie

Infinity is losing streaks, which cause them to get lower ranks in Axie Infinity. In Axie Infinity, a

player's ranking, or MMR, can be maintained or increased when they win a lot of times. The SLP

they'll gain in one game will be determined by their MMR. If the player is a scholar, one of the

problems that can be encountered is the difficulty of reaching the quota required by their

managers. Also, some of the problems can be caused by the percentage of share agreement being

too low, which can cause the player to lose interest in playing Axie Infinity under certain

management.

Due to the emerging reported cases of Axie Infinity players, it captivates the interest of

the researcher to conduct a thorough study regarding the Axie Infinity players' experiences of
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playing while making a living. The objective of this research is to gain a more in -depth

understanding of the factors that bring money, causing them to play this game, as well as the

changes that occur in their daily lives when they choose to play Axie Infinity as a substitute f or

physical work.

Theoretical Framework

This research applied Schlossberg's (1981) Transition Theory, which provides a

framework for understanding the transformation that occurs in a person's life and how it changes

several aspects of their life, particularly their role in society. A transition, according to

Schlossberg, is an occurrence that may or may not occur and modifies relationships, daily

routines, assumptions, and obligations. The Transition Theory is based on the transitions that

people go through in their lives and how they deal with and adjust to them (Schlossberg et al.,

1995). When a person goes through a transition, he or she goes through a process of integrating

changes into their daily lives. It has both beneficial and undesirable effects, and it may increase

pressure, making adjustment difficult. There are four distinct transitions that have an impact on

how effectively people deal with change. Some of these factors include situation, self, support,

and strategies (Schlossberg et al.).

The pandemic situation is a life event that changes most people's lives. The majority of

individuals have lost their occupations and sources of income. Schlossberg’s Theory of

Transition can be utilized. Because of the situation they are in, it is difficult for those who have

lost their jobs to find new ones. The transition from physical jobs to online work to make a

living, such as "play to earn," is a good solution, although it has a massive impact on those who

go through it. Many people's adjustment to this situation, particularly those who have lost their
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careers, might result in pressure and frustration rather than satisfaction if they do not meet their

daily quota. Thus, transition theory is concerned with the factors that drive a person's capability

to adjust to change.

Operational Framework

In transition theory, which indicates the transitions of a particular individual as important

in several aspects and kinds of changes that may provide opportunities in their daily lives,

According to Roy and Andrews (1999), an anticipated transition is a change in the learning

environment, notably changing two items. Humans must adapt in order to respond favorably to

environmental changes. As a result, people who are experiencing the phenomenon make various

adjustments. Roy (2011) suggests that individuals’ cognitive and emotional efforts help them

establish mastery over their lives, retain their sense of self, and improve their well -being. Even

though cryptocurrency returns are proven to be considerably affected by negative attitudes

related to the pandemic, Corbet et al. (2020) reported that the 22 major digital currencies might

be used as a safe haven. As can be seen, most of the literature on cryptocurrencies has focused on

(i) Bitcoin or a small group of cryptocurrencies, and (ii) has analyzed different cryptocurrency

properties in relation to other markets, without taking into account the internal dynamical

evolution of the cryptocurrency market as a whole. In contrast to the existing studies, we

contribute to the cryptocurrency literature by examining market transitions using a network

approach. This analysis lets us look at how the cryptocurrency system has evolved in response to

the pandemic.

Participants recognize stress and pleasure are regarded as underlying assumptions or

schemas for the transition from having a real job to earning money throu gh games. People are
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starting to realize that playing video games for a living is respectable work. Virtual goods with

real-world value have been a staple of gaming for years. Axie is unlike most other huge in -game

markets in that it encourages players to cash out and gives them the tools and openness they

need. Axie players can take their SLP and AXS to a huge crypto exchange and sell them for

whatever the market will bear, rather than using an unauthorized third-party marketplace f or a

semi-sanctioned peer-to-peer trade. In order for the research to be done effectively, the

researchers must have an idea to make the study effective, participants or interviewers to make

this study prove because their answers are very much needed in this study, and documents are

helpful as they will become the basis of some points in this study. If these were collected, then

the research could possibly be completed with less difficulty.

Statement of the Problem

This research aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences and

challenges faced by the Axie Infinity players while making a living. Specifically, this study

sought to answer the three central questions:

1. What are the positive experiences of the Axie Infinity players?

2. What are the challenges faced by Axie Infinity players?

3. Do the participants see Axie Infinity as a source of stress or pleasure because of the

income they receive?

Assumptions of the Study

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The following assumptions are made regarding this study:

1. While Axie Infinity is beneficial to the players because they earn as they play, they

also face challenges while making a living.

2. Challenges that the adult players experience may affect their lifestyle.

3. The difficulties that the student players face may have an impact on their academic

performance.

4. The participants are honest in answering the interview questions.

Scope and Delimitation

This study will mainly dwell on understanding and describing the lived experiences of

the participants in playing Axie Infinity as their source of living. The researchers will also show

the challenges they face and what their coping mechanisms are for those challenges.

The participants of this study will consist of Axie Infinity players, whose ages range from

18–30 years old, in the municipality of Malasiqui, Pangasinan, Philippines. These players started

playing Axie Infinity in 2021, and they consist of students, unemployed people, and employed

people who are looking for an extra income.

Significance of the Study

This research could benefit game developers because they will be aware of what features

are in the application that they could improve in order to increase the number of Axie Infinity

players.
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This research benefits Axie Infinity players by allowing them to express their opinions

about the game. It also shows the players whether Axie Infinity is truly worth their time or if it is

simply interfering with their ability to focus on the things that need to be prioritized.

The research will help Axie Infinity players' families understand the game's mechanics,

how their family member earns money and understands his or her experiences, and how

cryptocurrency works.

This will most probably benefit potential investors because it will serve as a guide for

deciding whether or not to invest in this game.

This research will also benefit Filipino citizens because they will learn about Axie

players' experiences and may be inspired to invest in the game as a result.

This research will also benefit future researchers because they will be able to further

study the experiences and the possible effects on the player's mental health and academics, and

they will be able to use this study in conducting similar studies relating to the experiences of

online gamers.

This benefited the researchers as well, as they acquired intellectual gains, moving

insights, and character empowerment as a result of this action. Their perspectives were

broadened, their personalities were strengthened, and their perseverance was tested during the

research process.
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Definition of Terms

The following terms used in this study are defined conceptually and operationally:

Axies are digital pets that can be battled, collected, and even used to earn cryptocurrencies with

real value. They have classes such as aquatic animals, beasts, birds, insects, plants , reptiles,

dawn, dusk, and mech, and they have different skills and abilities. In this study, these are the

digita pets that the participants use to gain SLP.

Axie Infinity is a virtual world full of fierce, adorable pets called Axies. In this study, it refers to

the game that became a livelihood for the participants.

Axie players are the people who play the Axie Infinity game. In this study, they were the

participants who experienced challenges in playing and making a living.

A scholarship is a grant or payment made to support a student's education, awarded on the basis

of academic or other achievements. In this research, it is given to the participants by the investors

who pay for Axies and provide all of the funding and resources that scholars need to ge t started.

These scholars can then play the game for free with no initial investment, and the investors

receive a percentage of the SLP earned by the players.

Transition is any event or non-event that results in changed relationships, routines, assumptions,

and roles (Goodman et al., 2006). In this research, it refers to the shift from having a real job to

earning money through games.

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Arena is a PVP (Player Versus Player) mode in Axie Infinity in which players battle each other

until only one of them remains standing at the end of battles. In this research, it is one of the

factors that challenges the participants when on a losing streak in this game mode.

Adventure is a Players Versus Environment (PVE) in Axie Infinity in which the players are

competing in programs rather than actual players. In this research, it is the game mode that helps

participants rank up their Axies and gain more SLP.

Energy is a resource in Axie Infinity that is needed to earn, battle, win, and receive certain

rewards in the game. In this research, it is also one of the factors that challenges the participants

when they lack this when in Arena mode.

Match Making Ratings (MMR) is an individual value designated to each player, a parameter of

matchmaking to match a player that is similar to your skills when playing in PVP mode. In this

study, it refers to the basis of how many SLP you gain per win in Arena mode, and the higher

your MMR, the higher the SLP you receive when you win a game.

A qouta is a necessary number, amount, or share assigned to each person in a division or to each

member of a body. In this study, it refers to the maximum value of SLP the participants should

gain in one day, as required by their managers.

Sleep deprivation is when someone is not getting enough sleep. In this study, it is what the

players experience in playing Axie Infinity with the goal of reaching the quota.

Lived experiences refer to a particular kind of experience of mental health issues. In this

research, it was the participants’ experiences and challenges faced by the Axie Infinity players

that were interviewed.

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A phenomenon is an occurrence that can be observed. In this research, it refers to the

environmental changes that make various adjustments to the participants’ lives.

Challenges are viewed as problems or difficulties faced by one individual. In this study, it refers

to the difficulties faced by the players in playing Axie Infinity.

SLP, also known as Smooth Love Potion, is a digital currency of the Axie Infinity. It ref ers to

the digital money earned by Axie players in play that can be transferred into real cash.

Play to Earn is a business model where users get to play a game and earn cryptocurrency while

doing it. In this research, it is a movement that refers to the concept of gaming where a platform

provides players with the opportunity to earn digital currency, like the Axie Infinity.

A blockchain is an immutable, shared ledger that facilitates transactions. In this study, it ref ers

to the process of recording transactions and tracking assets within a corporate network.

Bitcoin is a decentralized virtual or electronic currency that does not have a central bank or a

single administrator and can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network

without the use of intermediaries. In this study, it refers to the digital money that created the

emerging cryptocurrency, which offers a new way of trading.

Managers are the people who are responsible for managing and giving instructions to an

administration. In this study, it refers to the investors who provide scholarships to aspiring Axie

Infinity players.
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Chapter 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter reviews the related literature and studies that support and validate the

findings of this study. The researcher anchored this comprehensive analysis to various

viewpoints and perspectives in order to present a thorough treatment of the problem. Concepts,

findings, theories, and ideas from scholarly research and articles related to online games and

online gamers' lived experiences are discussed in order to provide a comprehensive background

to the study and to support the researchers' purpose in conducting it. This study also provides a

synthesis of related literature and studies, which may later be confirmed, refuted, or improved by

the new knowledge provided by this study.

According to Gill (2021), the incorporation of cryptocurrency and online gaming was an

unpopular way of earning a living. With the end of the world approaching, businesses were

brought to a halt, resulting in massive retrenchment and a lack of supplies. Income in the middle

and lower classes In the Philippines, this was a dire situation that compelled Filipinos to look for

alternative sources of income. With the crisis came the rise of play-to-earn games like Axie

Infinity. Gill (2021) also stated that this paved the way for Filipinos to find a new source of

alternate income. Axie Infinity has become a popular investment option for Filipinos, as well as

a significant source of alternative income. Despite the fact that the integrated cryptocurrency

market for online gaming has grown in recent years, it remains an enigma in the Philippines due

to a lack of research and public awareness about its benefits and drawbacks.

Economic difficulties in the Philippines contributed to an expansion in the gambling

sector (Wang, Qin, Li, Wang, Qi, Chen, 2021). As a result, NFT games have practically blended
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with the Philippine games industry (Manila Times, 2021). According to a Finder.com survey, the

Philippines ranked first out of twenty countries in terms of NFT ownership. Axie Infinity has

become famous amongst Filipino families. Many Filipinos found out about this funding

possibility due to the NFT video games' Play-to-earn model, which additionally attracted game

enthusiasts to sign up for the industry. Due to the sales earned, Axie Infinity turns into the focal

point of numerous country-wide information memories in 2021. Gabby is a fantastic leader when

it comes to selling Axie in Southeast Asia, particularly from the Philippines. Gabby has an

extensive record in the online gaming industry. In 2003, Axie Infinity became the first game to

be released in the Philippines.Altitude Games changed bases in 2014 with the purpose of

growing cellular video games. When Axie Infinity first heard about clever contracts in 2017, he

determined that this changed the destiny of a generation and commenced discovering NFTs an d

blockchain video games (Axie Infinity, 2020). Gabby first found out about Axie when he invited

his buddy to a dialogue in Manila in late 2018. He obtained three (3) axies from his buddy and

commenced the recreational activity. It actually modified Gabby’s life. When Gabby began

playing video games, he became active in the network, amassing a sizable number of

cryptocurrencies in the process as well as making a few great friends.

The Philippines has emerged as a hub for Axie activity, and Gabby (Axie Infinity, 2020)

believes the Philippines faces many problems, consisting of huge unemployment and a disaster

financial system because of COVID. Gabby hopes that this fashion will hold and assist in

constructing a treasured financial system inside Axie Infinity in which human beings all around

the arena can participate, specifically in underprivileged countries (Axie Infinity, 2020). Gabby

may be very enthusiastic about Axie’s destiny, especially his land gameplay. He was concerned
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about Axie’s destiny while gamers should most effectively combat and produce, but land video

games became his right into a huge meta-financial system, and those labored collectively to

become recreation gamers. He stated blockchain-primarily based video games will be "video

games" for the next 12 years, Axie will exceed the GDP of the smallest country, and said "my

youngsters will no longer want a university diploma for the subsequent 12 years”.

Bloch (2021) said that losing a significant amount of money can be stressful for people,

especially if the loss affects important life milestones such as retiring, paying for a child's school,

or purchasing a home, and as a result, people may engage in activities that exacerbate the

situation. One of the most recent topics of discussion has been the possibility of bitcoin investors

losing money. Cryptocurrencies "have no intrinsic value," and those who invest in them should

expect to lose all of their money (Bailey, 2021). Barone (2021), claims that if you're thinking

about investing in cryptocurrency, you should definitely regard it like any other highly

speculative venture. Accept the chance of losing the majority, if not all, of your investment, in

other words.

In a recent study, Stefanie Yeo (2021) said that Axie Infinity must address certain issues

in order to avoid conceding the goal. Stefanie, a Tech-Asia employee, has spilled a lot of digital

ink talking about Axie Infinity. The blockchain-based, play-to-earn game has not only gained

popularity in the last year, but it has also become a source of income for many gamers, especially

those whose livelihoods have been impacted by the outbreak. It has also been called into

question, with some claiming that the game is a scam. While not all of the criticisms leveled at

Axie Infinity are accurate, the game does have significant flaws that its creators must address.
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When cryptocurrency was first introduced in 2009, it was used for virtual trade, resulting

in the creation of over 1,000 altcoins and crypto-tokens (Chuen, Guo, and Wang, 2017). If the

player chooses, those awards can be used in-game or traded on the open market. In 2017,

Bitcoin, the world's first decentralized cryptocurrency, gained popularity in the Philippines

(England, 2021), and for that, they discovered Axie Infinity. Axie Infinity is the most popular

and rapidly growing play-to-earn platform, in which gamers gather tradable cryptocurrency.

Crypto natives have long understood the value of crypto gaming. According to the study

by Benjamin Hor, Research Analyst et al. (2021), people may not grasp how cryptocurrency

works, but many have been gamers since childhood. Although most people play games for fun,

there is a subset of gamers that play to make money (P2E). Play-to-Earn (P2E) is a concept that

involves gamers earning money while playing a game. There are numerous ways, including

techniques and approaches, to develop a solid revenue stream depending on the game. The

problem is that P2E is not a brand-new occurrence. Axie Infinity was created by gaming studio

Sky Mavis in 2018 and has proven immensely popular in many poor nations because of its P2E

components. Axie Infinity launched a mini-documentary on its growing adoption rate in the

Philippines in May 2021. Players of all ages have been affected by the pandemic and are turning

to Axie Infinity as a source of money. Axie Infinity's revenue streams are based on player

participation. Simultaneously, participants are primarily playing to gain SLP. As more people

play the game, more SLP is generated.

In Axie Infinity's virtual environment of Lunacia, players control colorful, blob-like

creatures known as Axies to acquire two forms of currency. Smooth Love Potions (SLP) are

given out when you win a battle and can be used to buy or breed more Axies in the game.
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Participating in seasonal tournaments and selling Axies on the game's marketplace can earn you

Axie Infinity Shards (AXS). Despite the fact that AXS are supposed to function as shares, like

other governance tokens, they can be redeemed.

Until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, the incorporation of cryptocurrency and

online gaming was an unpopular form of income. Businesses were forced to close as the

economy came to a halt, resulting in massive retrenchment and a lack of income amon g the

middle and lower classes. Axie Infinity has become a popular investment option for Filipinos, as

well as one of the top sources of alternative income. It also became a lifeline for many Filipinos

who were able to replace their lost salaries through gaming. Several participants, according to

Bonheur (2021), have earned sufficient capital as a result of their participation in this game.

Numerous success stories have been featured in the media in several rural areas of the

Philippines, for example. These range from a player who was able to provide for his family's

basic necessities during the pandemic to another who was able to purchase a house and land.

Another benefit of Axie is that it enables typical people to understand how blockchains and

cryptocurrencies work, particularly how the blockchain economy works. Axies can also be

traded for cryptocurrency, and sponsored players can earn allowances from NFT owners because

they are NFTs.

The pandemic provides the ideal environment for the game to attract players from all

walks of life. They can sit down at home, safe from infection, and play a fun sport while earning

a little cash from it, according to a blockchain expert, Leah Callon-Butler, who is based in the

Philippines.
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According to Ian Enanoria (2020), two of Axie players are Kael and John. He reached out

to Kael first to learn how he started playing. Before the pandemic, he had a simple food business

located in San Francisco Village, Muzon, Taytay, Rizal. He had to close it down due to the

worsening pandemic and lost three months' worth of profit, leaving only a minimal budget. On

Facebook, Kael came across a post about Axie Infinity. He gave it a shot by buying Php3.5k

worth of Axies ($73 as of writing) in the official marketplace without having any idea about

cryptocurrencies and blockchain in the first place. He was able to reclaim his initial capital, pay

his expenses, and buy food for his family within a few weeks. While playing the game, he was

also able to make new friends and maximize his profits by selling his SLP and breeding Axies.

Another player that Ian talked with is John from Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. He recently

graduated from a Business Administration course. However, due to the pandemic, he was unable

to find work and was forced to stay at home. He learned about the game while conversing with

his cousin and decided to save some money to purchase Axies. As the days passed, he

understood that assembling a decent team would take some time, so John enrolled in a

scholarship program run by Kookoo. Ever since he started playing during the 1st week of

October, he has begun to be able to support his family financially, especially now that his mother

recently gave birth, Enanoria (2020).

Even though there are numerous advantages to playing Axie Infinity and earning money

through cryptocurrency trades, there are some limitations and issues. At some point, all Axie

Infinity players will encounter a situation that makes gaming appear to be a stressor. These are

the most common issues that every gamer has encountered: Over time, gaming has merged with
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the internet world. As a result, players can now play online. Gaming is no longer enjoyable due

to the other horrible things that occur when playing games.

According to a study by Penttinen, Halme, Malo, Saarinen, and Vilen (2017), there are

two categories of online gamers: (1) those who are primarily motivated by external factors, and

(2) those who are primarily motivated by internal factors. Intrinsically motivated users enjoy

completing tasks or missions without feeling compelled to compete. This means that elements

like in-game communication, easy-to-learn mechanisms, and usability are important to this type

of player. Extrinsically motivated users, on the other hand, are goal-oriented. They are

competitively motivated to achieve a goal or meet an externally imposed constraint on a

consistent basis (Hennessey, Moran, Altringer, and Amabile, 2015). This has a significant impact

on how an online gamer performs when playing online games. There is relatively little difference

between the two user groups, regardless of their intentions. The joy that an online gamer can get

from playing is governed by their desire to complete activities and missions.

Pentinnen et al. (2018) pointed out the difference in a user's performance based on

motivation. Some may wonder if playing online games can also be profitable. Intrinsically

motivated players are those who simply enjoy the game regardless of whether it is profitable or

not. Meanwhile, extrinsically motivated players are those who have a competitive mindset and

will not fail a single day to complete certain tasks and missions to earn in -game currency. In this

study, we will also know that the mindset of the players will affect their gameplay. This will also

determine if they really see Axie Infinity as a stressor or if this is to lessen the stress of the

players because of the income they receive.

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Many people in today's generation are interested in play-to-earn games because they see

it as an opportunity in this time of pandemic. In each play-to-earn game, players can earn

rewards in a variety of ways. Most games will pay out in non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and in-

game cryptocurrency, which can be traded and sold to other players or external traders (Cortez,

2022). Excessive internet gaming, on the other hand, can be harmful to their mental health.

According to Alagerelkey's research, people have a tendency to play online games for long

periods of time, which can be damaging in many parts of life. It has also been connected to

anxiety, low self-esteem, demotivation, emotional difficulties, and stress, among other mental

health problems.

According to Bonheur (2021), one of the disadvantages of playing Axie Infinity is the

game's specific earning limitations. Players who complete in-game missions or other in-game

activities earn AXSs or SLPs. The amount of money a player can earn by completing daily

missions, participating in arena events, and completing specific objectives within the in -game

adventures, however, has been set by the creators. Earning cryptocurrency also necessitates a

substantial amount of time and effort. More will be earned by spending more time in adventure

mode and completing more levels. The aforementioned prerequisites must be met. The preceding

requirements take a long time to complete. As a result, wealthy players are more likely than

others to lend their Axie NFTs. It's also worth noting that, due to a variety of factors, generating

consistent and consistent revenue streams can be difficult, especially for people who work full-

time or have other commitments.

As stated by the findings, the majority of players spend 1–4 hours per day playing Axie

Infinity. In general, the game's return on investment will take between 1 and 3 months. The study
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aims to address the concerns about this new venture that has entered the Philippine investment

market. It will compile the experiences and perspectives of the players on the average number of

hours played to earn a decent income.

According to a study conducted by De Jesus et al. (2022), playing Axie Infinity is not as

simple as it appears. Most Axie Infinity players are students, and it takes a lot of their time to

play Axie Infinity, so they spend most of their time playing instead of resting and studying just to

meet their quota for the day. So, for them, Axie Infinity is both a boon and a curse. The Axie

Infinity play-to-earn game is described as a blessing because it became the participants' primary

source of income despite the pandemic. It was also a source of stress for them because it added

pressure, tension, and strain to their lives as players and students.

Synthesis of Reviewed Related Literature

As the researchers conceptualize this study, the relevant literature and studies have been

thoroughly collected and presented as support for validating the findings of this study. According

to Gill (2021), the combination of bitcoin and online gaming was an unpopular method of

earning a living, but it paved the opportunity for Filipinos to discover a new source of alternative

income. Despite the fact that the integrated cryptocurrency market for online gaming has

developed in recent years, the Philippines remains a mystery due to a lack of study and public

understanding about its benefits and limitations.

Axie Infinity was discovered in 2017 when Bitcoin, the world's first decentralized

cryptocurrency, gained popularity in the Philippines (England, 2021). The blockchain -based,

play-to-earn game has not only grown in popularity over the last year, but it has also turned into
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a source of income for many gamers, particularly those whose livelihoods have been affected by

the outbreak. It also became a lifeline for many Filipinos who were able to replace their lost

salaries through gaming. Online gaming is one of the pleasures that they like, particularly among

youths and adults. Teenagers that engage in internet gaming are simply having a fun time (Kuss

and Griffiths). Furthermore, due to variables such as a lack of social support, loneliness, and

avoidance behavior inside the cosmos, recent research has found that people prefer online games

played on the internet (Melodia et al., 2020; Tham et al., 2020).

The drawbacks of playing online games have become a popular issue across the globe.

Addiction to online gaming is on the increase, placing players at risk of physical and

psychological harm. Despite the numerous benefits of playing Axie Infinity and earning money

through cryptocurrency transactions, there are certain concerns and disadvantages. Excessive

internet gaming can be hazardous to their mental health. According to Alagerelkey's research,

this can be harmful in a variety of situations. Axie Infinity gamers will face a situation where

gaming appears to be a stressor at some point. This will also influence whether they consider

Axie Infinity to be a stressor or whether it is simply a way to relieve the players' stress and bring

satisfaction in exchange for the money they earn.

Gaps Bridged by the Present Study

From the review of the related literature and studies previously presented in this chapter,

it was found that despite the emergence of this integrated cryptocurrency market in online

gaming in the Philippines, it remains a mysterious undertaking due to a lack of study and public

understanding about its advantages and disadvantages. Most of the related literature and studies

focused on the emergence of the game Axie Infinity and the full economic impact of "crypto
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games" on Filipinos. This study attempts to fill that void by expounding on this new venture that

has made its way into the Philippine investment sector. It will compile the experiences and

perspectives of Axie Infinity players on how many hours they need to play to earn a decent

living and whether playing while making a living is a good idea or just a stress factor because

SLP values are highly volatile. Finally, the study will examine the risks and rewards of crypto

gaming from the perspective of gamers, as well as the level of trust users have in

cryptocurrencies.
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Chapter 3
METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the method of research to be utilized in this study, the participants,

the selection of participants, as well as the instrumentation and validation, data gathering

procedures, and treatment and analysis of data.

Research Design

The qualitative phenomenological research design was used in this study, which allows

us to recognize and comprehend the meanings of people's lived experiences. A

phenomenological investigation looks at what people experience and how they discover a

phenomenon. We used Psychological Phenomenology, which is also known as Empirical or

Transcendental Phenomenology. According to Moustakas (1994), as cited by Creswell (2005),

this approach focuses less on the researcher's interpretations and more on the description of the

participants' experiences.

The researchers used this research design because there was a strong consensus that it

was the most suitable for the study. This approach was thought to be capable of effectively

capturing all of the key elements of this research study.

Sources of Data

In this study, the primary source of data will be the Axie Infinity players in Malasiqui,

Pangasinan, who have spent at least 6 months or more playing Axie Infinity in their daily

lives. We also reviewed related literature and studies, specifically by consulting and citing books,

articles, published theses and dissertations, and online journals to provide an in -depth
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background and meaningful answers to the research problems. The researchers will conduct an

interview with each participant to fully understand their own personal experiences with playing

the game. To capture players’ perspectives on Axie Infinity, we will be conducting a series of

interviews over 15–60 minutes.

Participants of the Study

Many types of sampling are possible when conducting research, though qualitative

researchers typically focus on relatively small samples (Lyell, 1998). In general, research

participants are chosen because they can provide rich descriptions of their experiences and are

willing to articulate their experiences, thereby providing information that is rich and capable of

challenging and enriching the researcher's understanding (Crabtree & Miller, 1992; Hutchinson

& Wilson, 1991).

The participants of the study consisted of ten Axie Infinity players, whose ages ranged

from 18–30 years old, in the municipality of Malasiqui, Pangasinan, Philippines during the year

2021. The respondents were chosen using a strategy known as "homogenous sampling," which

entails identifying and selecting individuals or groups of individuals that have similar or identical

traits. They ranged in age from 18 to 30 years old, were from the same municipality, a nd have all

been engaged in playing Axie Infinity since 2021, and are particularly knowledgeable and

experienced about it. Probabilistic or random sampling is used to ensure the generalizability of

findings by reducing the potential for bias and taking control of the influence of known and

unknown comorbid conditions.

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Instrumentation and Validation

One-on-one semi-structured interviews with ten Axie Infinity players in the municipality

of Malasiqui, Pangasinan, will be conducted for this study. The key questions for the interview

have already been determined, but they are allowed to deviate from them in order for the

researchers to place the variables into their distinct parts that both parties discussed during data

collection.

The researcher will consult professionals such as a business man, an I.T. expert, a

grammarian, and a research adviser to ensure that there will be no errors throughout the

interview. This will assist the researchers in determining whether the questions will adequately

capture the issue under examination. The specialists will make certain that the questions are

defensible by the responses. Researchers can ensure that the questions are well-equipped for the

respondents with the support of professionals.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researchers first identified and selected the participants with the help of the research

adviser, and we also asked some people if they knew someone who plays Axie Infinity in our

municipality. After securing the contact information of the participants, the researchers will

personally message the participants via Messenger and establish a rapport with them, which then

leads to asking for their affirmation of their consent if they would like to be interviewed.

Only then were the interview schedules set. The actual one-on-one interviews will be

conducted at their homes and at Google Meet during their spare time. The one-on-one semi-
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structured interview will allow the researchers to obtain detailed statements about the

participants' preferences, opinions, and experiences. Drever (1997) defined semi-structured

interviews as "a general structure by deciding in advance what ground to cover and what main

questions to ask."

Treatment and Analysis of Data

The researchers, after gathering the data from the subjects of the study, will proceed to

treatment and analysis of the data using Moustakas’ method (1994) as redetailed by Creswell

(2007). After reviewing the data gathered, the researchers will use bracketing, a technique for

mitigating potentially deleterious effects on preconceptions that could taint the research process

(Tufford and Newman, 2010). Based on the central questions of the research, the researchers will

then proceed to horizontalization, wherein significant statements of the subject participants are

highlighted. The researchers will use the significant statements to create clusters of meaning. The

researchers created clusters of meaning themes, which they will use to write the textural

description (what the participants experienced) and the structural description (how the

participants experienced the phenomenon). The researchers will use the textural and structural

descriptions to write a composite description that presents the participants' experience of making

a living through Axie Infinity.

After an analysis of the overall essence of the participants’ experiences, the researchers

will conduct a verification with the participants. The researchers will once again meet the

participants and provide a hard copy of the verbatim transcriptions of their responses and the
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way they were interpreted. This allowed the participants to go over their responses and make a ny

necessary clarifications or modifications.

Ethical Consideration

The present study will seek consent from their research professor for the data collection

technique and devices. Permission will be strictly followed to guarantee that permission would

be granted. Based on the criteria outlined above, participants who were chosen and qualified for

inclusion will be asked to provide express consent through informed consent with the assistance

of the professor. In accordance with the protocol standard for data collection, written informed

consent will also be discussed and nature and objectives of the study will be explained. The

research objectives of the participants will be clarified regarding their voluntary participation,

and the researchers will assure them that they could withdraw their participation at any time.

Furthermore, participants will be assured that all data obtained during the study's development

would be used only for academic and research purposes, and that their identities would be

protected through the use of code names. The language that will be used in the interview will be

made appropriate for the participants' reading level. Furthermore, the program's design and

execution will surely take the participants' availability into account.

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 Perpetual Help College of Pangasinan- JONELTA
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https://www.analyticssteps.com/blogs/what-axie-infinity-and-its-advantages/

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