(Cross-posted from blog.link2x.us.)

Imagine a basic browser-based game. Mafia Wars and the like come to mind quite instantly. Games that have emphasis more on building your own empire and less on being sociable multiplayer games.

But take that basic idea of the browser-based game, and refine the multiplayer aspects, and you could have a fun game right there. But even still, these games can be too heavily distracting, or forgettable, or even just plain not fun. Many have tick-based systems, where you can only do so much at once, then must wait to do more. This makes for a system that's meant to be forgotten or left alone. There's some resource gain in this time, therefore adding a little more reason to wait and come back later to do more, but this creates a relatively inactive gameplay experience.

Over the past few months, I've been thinking of a slightly different approach to these styles of games. They can be made small, sociable, and able to be left alone but not required to be.

Some points to the idea are:

Constant or controlled resource gathering, rather than tick-based gameplay. (Slower gathering if not currently being accessed.)

Evolving worlds rather than static, pre-planned ones.

Random generation of items and/or events, possibly even NPCs.

Emphasis on player contact and action.

Grouping of players.

Elements from strategic games. (Specifically; Searching for and mining resources, Building, Research buildings. Troops.)

Transferable troops and resources.

Share-able territories.

Self- or Combined- governments.

Multiple, interchangeable player types.

The game would be played in multiple ways (ie. different player types), depending on the desired footprint;

Players desiring the smallest footprint could offer mining operations to other players, helping maintain a network of resources.

The next level up could be base-and-army-building.

Above that could be taking command of troops to transport resources and protect miners.

The highest level would be controlling a full army, be it for conquests or for protection.

The player would be able to do any and all of these things at any time. They are not frozen into their first choice, nor is this how the game presents it. Players may start with all of these duties, but fall into specific roles as they network with other players and join alliances and groups. Playing these roles could be as simple as merely having an ultra-small window open to keep track of resources and upgrade/repair things as needed, or as advanced as a full-tactical strategy game. (Think; C&C or Starcraft, but remove most buildings and resources.)

In note of the fighting/strategy elements; Players could group up for any and all parts of the game, as can alliances. Two alliances could have five army-controlling players altogether, and attempt a siege on a single alliance with eight army-controlling players. Five alliances can have twenty resource gatherers producing for all of them. Two alliances can share research materials. (Speeding up research for both, but they wouldn't share buildings.)

What you end up with, is a streamlined system in which multiple parts make up a whole, essentially breaking down a strategy game into basic parts and dividing them at the player's discretion.

Alliances and groups can easily wage war on each other, and adequate communication environments would be supplied. Main bases could have slow-but-upgradeable messaging systems for inter-territorial communication, while alliances and groups could have more standard fast messaging. Using this, players can keep in contact throughout any situation, and make sure all parts of the whole are working as necessary.

Admin controlled territories could amass super-large armies and propel full-game (ie. all-player) wars as they attempt to take over the lands.

Overall this is an idea I plan on taking further, beyond just being an idea. Some aspects would be more suited to stand-alone programs rather than websites, and on that end players may be forced to do download/install said programs in order to play. (Or suffer limitations, namely the warfare level of gameplay.) To keep to the base idea, that is an online game that overall doesn't heavily need to be looked over except for during warfare, the game would be able to be sent to tray (and checked on and played without it ever being pulled back up, even).