Introduction

Upland is a simulation and strategy game set in a virtual world mirroring real-world cities, utilizing EOS and Ethereum blockchains for property trading and tokenized rewards.

It is free-to-play with a player-driven economy, blending MMO and cooperative gameplay. Players act as digital entrepreneurs, buying and developing virtual properties, guided by a light narrative of community collaboration and innovation.

Lore

Upland’s narrative centers on players as entrepreneurs shaping a digital frontier inspired by Monopoly’s property-trading ethos.

Set in a virtual world mapped to real-world locations, the lore emphasizes community-driven creativity and ownership, with no deep fictional world-building. Players build a virtual economy through collaboration, crafting cities and businesses in a shared, persistent environment. The themes of innovation and collective progress define the experience, offering a grounded story of player agency.

Gameplay

In Upland, players aim to acquire, develop, and trade virtual properties mapped to real-world cities, progressing by building wealth and influence. Gameplay involves navigating with a Block Explorer, minting properties, and engaging in activities like treasure hunts, car races, and city tours, with travel mechanics (sends, flights) simulating logistics. The game blends PvE (events, hunts) and light PvP (SPARKLET Warz), with cooperative features like community events and Dev Shop content creation. Customization includes building structures and designing assets, fostering creativity.

• Travel Mechanics: Sends and flights mimic real-world property access.
• Dev Shops: Create and sell third-party content, boosting community engagement.
• SPARKLET Warz: Competitive team-based mode adds strategic depth.

Minigames: XStacks

Upland extends its ecosystem with XStacks, a 3D block puzzle minigame launched in February 2025, playable on X. Players stack blocks to earn points for city-based teams,  it offers SPARKLET rewards for top teams, with premium access via SPARKLET holdings or passes.

Economy

Upland’s economy revolves around UPX (in-game currency), SPARKLET (ERC-20 token on Ethereum), and NFTs (properties, Legits, Block Explorers on EOS), enabling a play-to-earn model within a metaverse-like virtual economy. NFTs, representing virtual real estate and collectibles like NFLPA Legits, are tradable on an open marketplace, with properties convertible to USD via Tilia Pay ($1.8M earned).

SPARKLET enables transactions, staking for UPX, and bridging to Ethereum, while UPX handles in-game purchases. Players earn through trading, events, hunts, and XStacks competitions, with KYC-verified marketplaces ensuring security. Unique features include asset ownership, fiat conversion, and community-driven value creation.

• NFT-to-USD Program: Convert property NFTs to USD, with $1.8M earned.
• SPARKLET Staking: Stake tokens for UPX, enhancing in-game rewards.
• Open in-game Marketplace: Trade NFTs freely, with prices driven by player demand.