Prerequisites
Before you can play games, ensure you have:- A SolBid account (logged in)
- A connected Solana wallet
- Sufficient SOL for transaction fees
- USDC tokens for placing bids
All games are played on Solana Devnet using test tokens. No real money is involved.
Understanding game mechanics
Each game has the following properties:- Initial bid amount: The minimum bid to join the game (set by creator)
- Highest bid: The current highest bid in the game
- Prize pool: Total USDC accumulated from all bids
- Total bids: Number of bids placed in this game
- Last bid time: When the most recent bid was placed
- Status: Active or Ended
Viewing active games
After logging in and connecting your wallet, you’ll be redirected to the Games page where you can see all active games.Game list details
The active games table displays:- Initial Bid: The starting bid amount for the game
- Highest Bid: Current highest bid in USDC
- Total Prize: The accumulated prize pool
- Total Bids: Number of bids placed
- Last Bid: Time elapsed since the last bid
- Status: Whether the game is Active or Ended
Review game details
Browse the game list to find a game you want to join. Consider the initial bid amount and current prize pool.
Creating a new game
You can create your own bidding game and set the initial bid amount.Enter initial bid amount
In the dialog that appears, enter your desired initial bid amount in USDC. This is the minimum amount required to join your game.The minimum bid amount is 2 USDC.
Connect wallet if needed
If your wallet isn’t connected, you’ll see an error message. Connect your wallet first before proceeding.
Submit transaction
Click Create Game to submit the transaction. Your wallet will prompt you to approve the transaction.
Approve in wallet
Approve the transaction in your wallet. The transaction will:
- Initialize the game on Solana blockchain
- Create game, player, and bid accounts
- Transfer your initial bid amount plus transaction fees
Wait for confirmation
The system will process your transaction. You’ll see status updates showing:
- Building transaction
- Awaiting confirmation
- Simulating transaction
- Finalizing transaction
Joining and bidding in games
To participate in an existing game, you’ll need to place bids.Review game statistics
On the game page, you’ll see:
- Game ID and status
- Current prize pool
- Highest bid amount
- Total number of bids
- Bid history with all players and their bids
Place your bid
To join the game or place another bid, use the bid interface. Enter your bid amount (must be higher than the current highest bid).
Submit bid transaction
Click the bid button to submit your transaction. Your wallet will prompt you to approve.
Confirm in wallet
Approve the transaction in your wallet. The bid will be processed on the blockchain.
Viewing live games
Games you’re actively participating in can be viewed on the live game page:- Click on any Active game you’re part of
- You’ll be redirected to
/live/[gameId]where you can:- See real-time bid updates
- View all players and their bid amounts
- Place additional bids
- Monitor the prize pool growth
Live games update in real-time using WebSocket connections. You’ll see new bids appear instantly without refreshing the page.
Viewing game history
After a game ends, you can view the complete bid history:- Click on any Ended game from the games list
- You’ll be redirected to
/game/[gameId]where you can see:- Final game statistics
- Complete bid history
- Winner information
- Your total participation and earnings
Game data and blockchain
Each game creates several accounts on the Solana blockchain:- Game PDA: Program Derived Address storing game state
- Player PDA: Your player account for this game
- Bid PDA: Your bid account with bid details
Bid tracking
SolBid tracks several metrics for each player in a game:- Total bid amount: Sum of all your bids in this game
- Bid count: Number of bids you’ve placed
- Royalty earned: Royalties you’ve earned from this game
- Safe status: Whether you’re currently in a safe position
- Role: PLAYER, WINNER, or FINISHER
Real-time updates
SolBid uses WebSocket connections to provide real-time game updates:- New games appear instantly in the games list
- Bid updates show immediately in live games
- Prize pool changes reflect in real-time
- Other players’ bids appear without page refresh
Game completion
Games end based on specific conditions (configured by the platform). When a game ends:- The final bidder is marked as the WINNER
- The prize pool is distributed to the winner
- The game status changes to Ended
- No more bids can be placed
- Results are recorded on the blockchain
Transaction status indicators
When creating games or placing bids, you’ll see transaction status updates:- Building transaction: Constructing the Solana transaction
- Awaiting confirmation: Waiting for your wallet approval
- Simulating transaction: Testing the transaction before submission
- Finalizing transaction: Processing confirmation on blockchain
- Success: Transaction confirmed and game/bid created
Common issues
Cannot create game
- Ensure your wallet is connected
- Check you have sufficient USDC for the initial bid
- Verify you have SOL for transaction fees
- Confirm you’re on Devnet
Bid rejected
- Verify your bid is higher than the current highest bid
- Ensure sufficient USDC balance
- Check your wallet is still connected
- Wait for previous transactions to complete
Transaction pending
If a transaction is stuck:- Wait at least 30 seconds for blockchain confirmation
- Check Solana Devnet status (network may be slow)
- Verify the transaction in your wallet history
- Contact support if pending for more than 2 minutes
Next steps
View your dashboard
Track your game statistics and history
Learn the API
Build integrations with SolBid’s API