MicroVolts

The game is set in the real world where toys have come to life behind closed doors. A secret battle began between nine original figures, code-named MicroVolts. Naomi, Knox, Pandora, C.H.I.P were the names of the original prototypes, but they were soon joined by other modified versions (Kai, Simon, Amelia, Sophitia, and $harkill Khan). The toys battle it out for valuable battery resources and ultimate supremacy of the Micro World.[8]

Unique to MicroVolts is the fact that players have access to all seven types of weapons within a given match, unrestricted by class. The weapons are Melee, Rifle, Shotgun, Sniper Rifle, Gatling Gun, Bazooka and Grenade Launcher.[9] Each player starts out equipped with a basic weapon of each type, and can purchase more weapons through Micro Points from the in-game shop.

New players receive a set of trial weapons for a week. These possess much better stats than the default stock weapons. Unlike weapons bought with RT, these need no repairs. This helps the player to build up an amount of MP before leveling up.

MicroVolts is released under the free-to-play category of games; the game itself is free to download and play, and revenue is generated from micropayments. Players may buy the in-game currency, called Rock Tokens (RT), to purchase exclusive items to customize their characters. Hair, face, top, bottom, hands, shoes and accessories for each character can upgrade the character's abilities, such as faster run speed, additional health points and extra bullets. Additional weapon upgrades can also be obtained.[17]

Customizable options can also be purchased through in-game points called Micro Points (MP).[18] These can be earned by playing the game. The number of Micro Points given to a player is determined by their kill/death ratio, their mission accomplishments, a win or loss and the duration of the match. Micro Points are also given for accomplishing certain objectives in the in-game Achievement System, completing objectives in their Battery Charge system, and leveling up characters.[18] Gaining levels has no impact on gameplay, but serves as a useful indicator of skill. The game keeps track of individual performance with every weapon and character as well.

A comprehensive update of MicroVolts in 2011 introduced a new "Capsule" icon from which players could get items. The capsule machine can currently be used with RT. Rock Hippo Productions introduced MP mode for the capsule machine, but they removed this feature soon after. This was most likely because people exploited it by creating thousands of new accounts, and spinning the machine endlessly until they hit an MP Jackpot, resulting in millions of MP points. Most capsule weapons do not require repairing, and MP weapons are less powerful than RT weapons.

Players level up their characters through gaining experience points within a played match. Experience points are determined by a player's kill/death ratio in a match, a win/loss of a match, mission accomplishments and the duration of the match. When a player levels up, additional customizable options become available.[19]

MicroVolts was awarded Second Place in MMOSite's Reader's Choices for the Most Anticipated MMO of 2010,[6] and was MMOGames' Editor's Choice in April 2011.[7]

The gaming community welcomed this third-person shooter as something new and different, as most shooter MMOs are from the first-person perspective. The ability for characters to carry seven weapons at once, freely switching between each, "makes gameplay feel varied and unique".[18]

Reviews have highlighted the game's larger-than-life environments as giving the game a "different feel and approach to the online-action genre",[20] and having a distinct fast-paced gameplay.

MicroVolts was also noted by some gamers as bearing similarities to Team Fortress 2, as an early trailer for MicroVolts had a comparable graphic style.[18] All the weapons in the game are equivalents of TF2 weapons.

The capsule machine (released November 11, 2011) features "rares" that are unique and generally cannot be won anywhere else in-game. Rares include gold, silver, and bronze forms. All seven weapons have versions of "rares." Rare clothes also exist for each character. Some have since been retired.

The Capsule Machine costs 1,000 RT (roughly $1) a spin, and the user spinning is guaranteed to receive an item. The chances of winning a rare based on an 100k RockToken / Weapon experiment are roughly expressed by a 1 : 75 ratio (or a 1 in 75 chance of winning a rare). Clothes are easier to win, and have a rough 1 : 25 ratio per rare. Whether the clothing won is HP or Speed is completely random and determined on the spot.