The Hacker Project - a free online game

Ginjitsu has a point, this update will change the way HPD is gained dramatically. Not to forget that the virus will not be usable from the start, as its requirements are gigantic. Players could make preparations for it, only to discover that it is somehow flawed.

It is understandable that this update shouldn't be rushed, knowing the round could end soon. But testing the update before R3 can prove to be very beneficial.



Something Else, if you are still taking suggestions I would like to add;

Sovereignty Worm or Sovereignty Virus

Sovereignty;
-the status, dominion, power, or authority of a sovereign
Sovereign;
-having supreme rank, power, or authority.

Underlying Thought;
This new virus will be the best money generating virii available, and will undoubtedly be used by everyone. In-line with the Factions Update, it will allow us to steal money from corporations, and use that same money against them.

Thus it has supreme rank and demands power/authority

PlyPencil, the suggestions you made are pretty good.
Using real names is great, people can relate to that. Making the whole HP experience feel more real, giving it a greater addiction factor.
As well as Creating diversity by introducing Operating Systems.

However considering your underlying thought;
Here is where I believe you are wrong.
People are driven by the fact that they, first hand, see the effects of their efforts and investements. General belief; the more time/effort one invests in a certain area, the more superior one becomes to others.

Your thinking will remove the players desire to advance. As it becomes pointless.

This is a great way of balancing farms, as the exponential server costs (aswell as the resources needed) will restrict your growth to some point.
However, this does not prevent players from isolating themselves, gathering funds for the next virus.

I suggest to restrict the amount of worms a player can own on their LAN (Not public servers), this makes way for more strategy.
For example;
Players LAN is restricted to 3 worms(one worm / server), once that limit is reached you can either start installing them on public servers (given resources are met).
Or replace those on your LAN with upgraded versions.

The second option explained;
Replacement would mean that along with the costs of your research(and the resources required to run that research), you also need to increase the available resources on each of the 3 owned (worm) servers.
Once you have an upgraded version availabe one has to realize the effects of the actual updating process;
In order to install the new version, the outdated one first needs to be removed, and the long install time will inevitably lead to a period of income loss.

Factor in the AP cost for the researched versions and you actually have a physical limit of the fixed income one has, once this limit is reached you will have to find other ways to increase your income. Thus preventing players from isolating themselves and, to some degree, forces them to interact with other players.



I agree, it does need a better name. Personally I was thinking of: Happy HP Worm. 
But seriously, it does need a better name.

Haha, good luck with that. Chances are better when you list it as charity -.-

Donate now to support UNICEF's response to DamascuS needs. For only 10 HPD a months you can help him realize his dreams, and make him happy.

Do let us know when you reached the 480mil mark, would be fun to see a virus drain it all away

Do not underestimate the resourcefulness of the human mind. If a person really wants something, they will always find ways to get there.

Pathological Liars for example;
People who have the compulsion (need) to lie about everything, if it makes him look good in the eyes of others. Such person goes through great lengths to remain credible.

They can try, it only proves that those individuals regard online "life" and real life as the same.
Having fun is key, no need to be dishonest.



My current state of mind compels me to discuss everything, think (logically) about every detail and gives me the undeniable need to share my insights.

Belonging to a faction does raise the change of conflict with people from another faction. To some degree it raises certain aspects of the implemented strategy, as you are motivated to explore new ways to resolve such conflict. Faction members could potentially form packs in order to make their life in HP easier (provided; That the Faction Members can look past HP's FFA mentality), thus it stimulates the creation of groups (such as SGP during R1).

However, do realize that the new system does diminish other aspects of the implemented strategy. Due to the new abilities, certain software types will be favored above others (As the reward system makes them more effective). Thus HP's potential will not be used to the fullest extend.

I agree with what you say, although I do not agree with the underlying thought. I will explain below.

The removal (better yet the nullification) of player owned farms is a great loss, in that sense I understand your reasoning. But the usage of farms is more complex then you state. I will explain below.

Yes, this update "forces" people to do mission. Those who enjoy constant micromanagement wont be bothered by it, while those who dread it will be driven way.

As for the player owned farms;
Farms had a great influence on the way people played in HP, they gave the player a fixed income. Allowing them to invest their time and effort into areas they like. This fixed income gave players a sense of freedom.

Back when farms were a brand new concept you could clearly see HP splitting up  in 2 (non-existent)groups, namely; Those that knew how to build farms, but chose not to in favor of mission. These people were driven by the fear of getting caught, the (unavoidable) conflicts, the sense of danger. Challenges which also make life worth living.
The other group never hesitated to set up their own farm, becoming financially independent allowed them to pursue their own goals.
  A sort of symbiosis was in place; Mission Players, which chose mission for the thrill of it, often got targeted by Farm Players, which chose farms to free up time to track/crack/hack other players.

However, in time farms start to exponentially increase their owners income. The unequal devision of wealth "forced" every player to use farms. People tried to catch up with the top 10, inevitably this lead to a income race where every minute was spend to increase income/farms/servers and software. Leaving no time to actually enjoy the game.

So you see, farms are both good and bad. Allowing them, or in this case removing them, will not solve the problem. Better yet, it only makes the problem worse as it limits people in the choices they can make.
Choice is what gives us a sense of freedom, limiting them is the same as limiting our freedom. By giving players many choices, you are giving them  the ability to customize their gameplay to match their character (which is why the beginning of R1 is regarded as the pinnacle of HP's existence).


This update provides us with more choices in one area, while taking them away in another.
Depending on your gameplay this update can be viewed as good or bad.
IMHO This is more a trade-off then a update, I would love to have seen farms replaced by a balanced/fair fixed-income system instead of removed.

Along with the above mentioned display bug, I also made a suggestion on how it could be solved.
TargetIP=OwnIP
->StolenHPD - StolenHPD = StolenHPD
*With StolenHPD I meant the amount a virii normally generated before the Faction update. Now in stead of generating, it drains the same amount from a players HPD account.

This suggestion also solves a potential exploit/bug, whereas 2 or more players could contest for the same HPD.
As virii would first remove your own HPD, then puts it back on your own HPD account. This could potentially create a moment where your HPDs are completely gone (Phased out, if you must). Thus another player activating his virii on that very moment would steal no HPD.
This could only happen if above described game mechanics are in place, it also relies heavily on chance(coincidence).

Still it could be possible. Even more so, in theory you can fill your own server with enough virii to stretch out this HPD void to a practical amount of time. Firing off virii's after another to maintain this HPD void.

It sounds far reached, but logic wise it is possible.



~Ten thousand thoughts a minute pulsing through my head and this is what I come up with. Perhaps I am going insane.

I am unsure whether or not this problem is know, but I am going to post it anyway.
The following could be considered a visual bug. I am aware that it does not compromise HP game play, but by definition it is still a bug so I posted it.

I copied this from my Finances page, in total there were 118 Collects(FSV v0.1 and v0.4) made with the same amount.

The virii are all on my own server(Remnant Farm), I know that the Factions update steals HPD instead of generating them. After the Collect All I have HPD 42,849.82, which is correct.

The bug I am referring to is probably caused by the way which HP displays Collect All in the Finance Log.

Remaining shows the Original value + the gained Amount
Original    +  Amount      = Remaining
42,849.82 + 189,806.08  = 232,655.90

Amount is the sum of all gained HPD
Amount = ∑(gain)
Collect All ran on: 142 * v0.4 FSV and 75 * v0.1 FSV |  Amount of Virii; X
Individual Gain is:      1188.20    and  297.03       |  Amount of Gain; Y

Amount = ∑(gain) = (X₁ * Y₁) + (X₂ * Y₂) = (142 * 1188.20) + (75 * 297.03)
Amount = 189,806.08 HPD

Amount does not sum up all the virii leaks, because non-player virii also steal HPD.
Lost HPD by other virii might be covered up by Collect All that way.

Individually it works because there is nothing to sum, so gain=loss
Finance Logs


This can be solved by giving virii a target check (which I have no doubt about that such command already exists, so its easily added).
TargetIP=OwnIP
->StolenHPD - StolenHPD = StolenHPD
That way if it steals from its owner the gained/lossed HPD value always return as 0

Thus, own virii's stealing your own HPD;
Amount = ∑(gain) = (X₁ * Y₁) + (X₂ * Y₂) = (142 * 0) + (75 * 0)
Amount = 0 HPD
Original    +  Amount      = Remaining
42,849.82 +   0  = 42,849.82

Finances Log
Becomes;

You can even add
VirusLeak = 0 (HPD)
->Remove that event
As no harm was done to your HPDs




And yeah I know, I am bored as hell to even bother about it. But at least it was kinda challanging :P

Wasnt UHA Arthur's group??

Why is it that every topic end up turning into this....

I do not understand programming like that, I just saw that e-mail & password. I did not know it is sending data to the game, just found it a bit odd.

Also, I cannot read it again as I do not have it. It is something I remember.

It is for the email.

I did not copy the source-code, and I can't find it on the SI boards anymore.
But is was something like: network blabla, email: mxxxxxxx@gmail.com, password: m1sf1txxxxx, code:

Your source code contains a e-mail adress with the password required for it...

I tried the remote overload option on someones server, but I accidentally copied my own IP into the malware instead of the target IP. Causing it to hit my own server.

Sucks for jimmi, resources used to install it dont pay itself back.