Another media launch, another foreign brand staking its claim in the Philippines. As the country manager for Suzuverse, a Japanese AI and metaverse company, and an active advocate in the local web3 ecosystem, I find myself pondering: are these events mere hype or genuine indicators of industry growth?

The Media Launch Dilemma

Media launches can create massive brand awareness, but when not done right, they often waste significant money for brands and time for attendees. These events are important, but if they are executed without a clear purpose and goal, they devolve into hype-driven spectacles that take more than they give. Companies spend lavishly on these events, which often turn into networking hubs or swag opportunities rather than meaningful engagements that drive investor interest or user adoption.

The Creta Event Experience

On June 27, I attended the Creta media launch, organized by the Philippine Blockchain Week team. With prominent figures like Thomas Vu (League of Legends) and Ray Eiichiro Nakazato (Electronic Arts Japan), the event held high expectations.

The event began with brief introductions and a presentation of the star-studded team behind Creta, evoking trust and nostalgia. The ecosystem sounded groundbreaking but almost too good to be true. My immediate thought was, “Where’s the demo?” Videos are great, but an actual demo would have been more convincing. Announcing the Philippines as the launchpad and first beta testers made me wonder if they were trying to replicate Axie Infinity’s success, though Creta focuses more on gaming and asset ownership than earning.

But Nakazato articulated Creta’s ambitious goal clearly: “There are 3 billion gamers in the world now, but Web3 is very small [in comparison]. So we’re not trying to target Web3 gamers – we are trying to change the entire gaming industry.” This statement underscores Creta’s vision to revolutionize the gaming industry, not just the Web3 space.

Despite this bold vision, the announcement of their native token, $CRETA, listing on Coins.ph on July 8 underscored the need for more tangible demonstrations of their product. When I checked their website, I found sold-out Genesis Passes and NFTs, as well as nearly sold-out land in their first multiverse area. With the token listing imminent, I remain cautious, as the project still feels speculative.

However, a highlight of the event was the surprise unveiling of a gourmet kitchen behind the conference venue. This memorable touch of creativity and attention to detail is what makes media launches stand out.

Overall, the Creta media launch experience was a mix of high expectations and cautious optimism. While the event showcased impressive production values and star power, the lack of a live demo and reliance on videos left some questions unanswered. The attention to detail, such as the gourmet kitchen reveal, added a unique flair, but the project’s speculative nature remains a concern.

Personal Observations

In terms of the media launch, I appreciated how well-organized the event was compared to a previous media launch I attended, where people were noisy and barely anyone listened to the speakers. 

The Creta media conference felt “sulit.” Everyone was seated and focused on the speakers, with significant media presence, including KOLs and community leaders, making the event truly centered on the brand. Networking was saved for the beginning and end of the conference. It was well-structured, felt premium, and cost a fraction of typical events.

However, there were no paper press releases or significant swag given out, only airdropped tokens. While the media received swag, other attendees did not. Going paperless is commendable, but a QR code for accessing the press release during the event would have been handy. The lack of tangible takeaways made it harder to remember the brand and the event.

Final Thoughts

As a founder myself, I appreciated the effort to make the brand the star of the conference and stay within budget through creative solutions. This is how I would love Suzuverse to be launched in the Philippines once we are ready.

However, as a potential gamer and investor, the absence of a live demo and reliance on videos left me unconvinced of Creta’s potential. It made me question whether they are genuinely innovating the modern gaming industry with web3, or just using web3 and blockchain as buzzwords for PR. The team, while impressive, consists mainly of veteran game developers without evident web3 expertise, raising concerns about their ability to innovate in the gaming landscape using blockchain technology. However, upon checking their website, I found that the CTO led the development of the “Locus Chain” for their web3 backend—a crucial detail that should have been highlighted during the team introduction.

While the event had its moments, it felt more like a showcase of nostalgic games and production prowess rather than a glimpse into the future of web3 gaming. For media launches to truly succeed, they need to deliver real, tangible value and not just rely on star power and promises. Don’t get me wrong, I love what Creta is trying to do and am excited about what it has to offer—but only when they deliver on their vision and promises.

As builders and investors in new platforms like Creta, we must prioritize substance over spectacle and ensure every launch is a step forward for the industry, not just another name on a marquee. Vision is great, but execution is where the real magic happens. 

Let’s create real value in web3, beyond mere speculation.

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