Thanks for this. I'm hoping it'll help me become competent. Improvement in this game seems hard-earned but well worth it.
I now, with most of the programs unlocked, can clear the 8 sectors about 50% of the time but that is just getting through without any points. Playing for score is taking this game at a whole new level.
nobodyweknow is on a roll. currently the only person still running in the streak charts and at #1! the latest update is also now live with friend high score viewing. thanks MB!
Really interesting interview with the developer concerning price point and sales: http://indiestatik.com/2013/09/11/868-hack-sales/ Long story short it's selling really well relative to his previous games despite the "high" price. Can I also give the whole TA community a group high five for the fact that this thread has focused almost entirely on the greatness that is 868-HACK and the price has barely been mentioned?
I think Michael, and a select few other developers, are in the unique position where this can work for them. And yes, it is interesting.
I think there is some psychological brilliance, beyond just the game itself, but in the obscurely high pricing! At $5.99 the user is really invested in the game from the get go. I mean, imagine if this game were FREE. If a typical player based their opinion of the game on their first impressions trying to just wing their way through the game without taking the tutorial, I'm willing to bet many would just see it as too confusing, leave a scathing, "grafix sux" review, and move onto their next game. At $5.99 you're already moving your game into the realm of us goofy older elite board gaming idjots that will spend a couple of extra dollars to avoid a bunch of freemium shoot AND, at the same time, will darn well take the time to really figure this game out as we don't want to believe we just wasted $6 on nothing!
Well said, that's exactly my thinking when buying games that cost a little more, If its free ill probably play it for a few seconds and if it doesn't instantly grab my attention ill delete it, but if I've paid for it especially a few pound then ill play to convince myself I'm getting my money's worth.
Dumb question that I'm sure has already been addressed and/or is really obvious: How are new programs unlocked? Thanks in advance for any info.
Every time you beat all 8 sectors you unlock another program (you can also unlock them from the menu if you don't enjoy earning stuff ).
WHA!?!? While I love the game I've made dozens of runs JUST to unlock the programs, down to all but the final 4 or so and now I see this was purely optional, and unlike some freemium game, not some additional charge to do! Although, I would hope if I ever decided to "re-lock", they'd unlock in a random order from my successful runs, just to keep stuff fresh (i.e. not that set order they initially unlocked in).
I new to this and in the dark about what most of the program's do. I see you can read what they do in the unlock/lock menu. I switched it off quick because I was trying to work out what they do from playing. Should I read what they do or is finding out through gameplay part of the fun ?
You can go ahead and read them is say. The descriptions still leave you many details and nuances to discover.
I've found once I understood the game's basic mechanics most of the program's 2-4 word descriptions explained what was going on well enough, and if not, once I used them in a game, I had a decent grip on their function. I would think, when first learning the game, DO NOT unlock all of the programs at once as it can be a bit overwhelming.
