A similar phenomenon happened here in Venezuela as well, but back in the day it did not have anything to do with cryptocurrency, at all. People here started farming gold on Runescape classic, since the big inflationary crisis we have had in 2016. When Bitcoin and cryptocurrency games become well known and kind of a big market back two years ago, it was usual to see young people investing into Axie Infinity and playing the game using rented axies and equipment, I don't think the market here was as big as it was in the Philippines, but it took the play to earn concept to the main stream media.
Whether it is gambling or not, I believe it depends whom one asks. Some would claim play-to-earn is not sustainable in the long term.
Good thing you had mentioned this.
Many of these players had a launching pad into the online video game community from somewhere.
And many of those started from Runescape.
Heck, even the owner of Stake has mentioned he began his online identity from that gaming platform and learned his financial economy basics from this game. He farmed gold and actually met many of his business partners from joining it early on and even had streamed a session on their weekend races.
But with all of these genre type games it did lose it's value so he only does it for fun on occasion instead of on a daily basis so to level up resulting in more experience and riches.
Filipinos Playing crypto games for a living - Developer even says it is gambling well based on your story this developer just implement the good old days of play to earn so for me this is not gambling and you just play to earn money.
Well if all categories as gambling then playing online game is gambling now, why most of the online game has in game currency that some of it you need to buy using real fiat and thoose in game currency used for an gacha sistem for rare reward you can consider this gambling right haha, heck basically life is a gambling hehe
As mentioned before, it is gambling because anytime a player needs to put any sort of investment into one of these platforms then it is just that-
taking a risk.
And what is gambling but
Risk taking.And you are obviously investing one's time into the game.
Are you not?