Minethings
Minethings is a browser based massively multiplayer online game in the strategy genre. The game is set in the year 4024. 2000 years after a supervolcano event forced humanity to flee to Mars.
Gameplay
Gameplay is based on four elements. Mining, Trading, Pirating and Hunting. ProgresS is tracked by the number of "Melds" each player acquires. Higher levels of Melds will allow players to change professions, expanding gameplay possibilities. Melds are created in a player's home city by combining specific types of items discovered in their mine or purchased from other players.
Upon registering all players are automatically Miners, and are given a "starter" mine. They remain miners until they reach a minimum of 10 Melds. At that point they may change their profession to "Trader", "Highwayman" or "Guard". Each profession has certain advantages and disadvantages over the others. "Traders" may transport any type of item, and have a +2 bonus to the number of items their vehicle may carry between cities. "Highwayman" have a +25% bonus to their attack however they may transport only weapons between cities. They also are subject to fines (bounties) if they lose a battle to Hunters. "Guards" can battle Pirates and acquire bounties based on the pirate vehicle type. However they are also limited to transporting only weapons.
Upon reaching 15 Melds all players may use "Gadgets", purchased from players with a Gadget mine. There are 12 types of Gadgets, with each type allowing a separate bonus or advantage. In addition there are two quality levels to each gadget which determines the duration of The Effects (from 12 hours up to 120 days).
After a recent update players with 20 melds may acquire and use ships, with the addition of the "Merchant", "Pirate" and "Bounty Hunter" professions.
Business model
Minethings is nominally free-to-play but players may opt to purchase additional mines, rent additional mines and purchase inventory expansions by "credits". Credits are acquired via a Microtransaction system. Or they may use gold acquired in-game to purchase additional mines directly from other players.