Habitat for Humanity to build homes with online game

Habitat for Humanity has unveiled Habitatland, its online community-building game that aims to raise awareness and funds.

Launching on Monday, 5 September, Habitatland is a free-to-play social strategy game that will be accessible on a micro-site via Facebook log-in. In it, you build houses and communities with your friends, spending in-game credits to get building materials and customisation options.

While you start with enough credits to build and perform basic customisations on a house, and can earn free credits by helping out your mates and playing mini-games, credits for more building options will be available via micro-transaction.

All proceeds from the purchased credits will go towards helping Habitat for Humanity's 1000 Homes for Hope initiative to see 1000 homes built for the poorest families across Australia and the Asia Pacific by 2013, and each dollar spent by players will be matched by its sponsor, Domain.com.au.

Players can also complete community tasks to earn "ambassador points" to level up in the game, invite their friends via Facebook and reserve lots for them in-game, play online together, maintain and upgrade homes, build community buildings such as libraries and museums and eventually become mayor.

The game starts by giving 800 credits to each player, and you can purchase credits in amounts from 500 to 12,000, starting at AU$5.00 for 500 credits. As a rough guide as to costs, a premium eco-home will cost you 500 credits, while a pet will cost 100.

From Monday next week, Habitatland will be accessible via www.habitatland.org.au (this URL isn't live at the time of writing, though).

Habitat for Humanity is also offering a free gift to CNET readers; simply enter the code in the voucher below when you begin playing to get an additional 300 free credits.