USB Hero

by de_von
Overall★★★★★★★★★★2.95
Fun★★★★★★★★★★2.60
Innovation★★★★★★★★★★3.06
Theme★★★★★★★★★★3.05
Graphics★★★★★★★★★★3.57
Humor★★★★★★★★★★2.09
Mood★★★★★★★★★★3.21
Coolness★★★★★★★★★★100%
So, we haven't got much time to put all of our assets and mechanics together in spite of their readiness. But still, we decided to publish this not so perfect prototype of our ludicrous idea...

You are a hacker, whose unconventional weapon is a USB flash drive (which is not included in the jam version due to time limitations=).

- You have to hack the three computers in the office by using your LMB on them and then typing correct symbols in. (Hint: search for the blue screens).

- You have 3 attempts at successfully hacking each computer, but 7 in total.
- Each failed attempt reduces time you have for the mission.

- Beware of the searchlight, and try to avoid it.

- If you are playing with the sound turn on, you may sometimes hear coming footsteps, make sure to stay still (don't even move your head) until they pass through.

Controls:
Movement - WASD, arrows
Look - mouse
Use - LMB (near specific computers)

During input:
Erase symbol - Backspase
Cancel input - Esc
Submit password - Enter

This was our first try on a LudumDare Jam, and it seems we underestimated ourselves, but well, at least we had great times ;)

Our team members:
Yotsuki
Kirill Medvedev
Daria Paramonova
Anna Sviridenko
Vladimir Gaidenko

Updated version (with USB stick, sounds, new levels, enhanced UI and more bugs =):
PC: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxazkrkfjPFBbTVFdkUtSC01eEk/view?usp=sharingusp=sharing
Web: http://de-von.itch.io/usb-hero

Comments27

Clavus
Clavus21 Apr 2015, 16:07
Too bad you couldn't properly finish it. I sort of see where you wanted to go. The fail states aren't too clear though, I keep randomly losing and I don't hear footsteps until I'm already in the game over screen. The hacking mechanic is nice but a bit simple. Graphically speaking the assets are quite nice but the environment is too dark. Good work :)
43iscoding
43iscoding21 Apr 2015, 16:22
Very moody environment, and nice models.

but I have shitted bricks when I heard footsteps o_o
DesignerNap
DesignerNap21 Apr 2015, 16:28
Had fun with this :) couldn't complete it though, kept getting heard or spotted and I am not sure by what. Good entry though.
steboots21 Apr 2015, 23:10
Was very excited to see, would love to see it finished.
novadream21 Apr 2015, 23:11
It was a pretty interesting idea, but would've been better if you could see what it was that was looking for you (unless I missed it). At any rate, I'd like to see more games with this kind of theme! :)
popcorn89721 Apr 2015, 23:35
This game has so much potential. I liked the darkness and the feeling that you were creeping around trying not to get caught. The hacking mechanics were not bad once you learn what to do. (I also love the little detail of LD32 on the backs of the monitors :D )

Here are some problems with the game: First of all, it's not overly clear which computers you are supposed to hack. At least for me, only the first one was lit up blue, the others were either too subtle, or not lit up at all. Also if you get caught while mid-hack there is no way to escape or hide. Another problem is the hacking. When I first tried it, I didn't quite understand that the letters I typed went in the center. I thought they were more letters for me to type therefore I messed it up (I'm pretty dumb, yes). Maybe some indicator that your typed letters are there would be nice. Something else minor I noticed is that when ' comes up as a letter to type, I always thought it was a comma. The final problem (which you likely already know) is sound. The game is completely devoid of sound which almost kills the atmosphere. When the footsteps come in, they were unfitting and made me jump from the sudden volume.

Not a bad first entry. Congrats! Hope to see more from you guys in the future! (also, is programmist a word?)
GTA LUDUM V22 Apr 2015, 12:12
Now, i feel like a hacker. :)
Vladimir Gaidenkoauthor22 Apr 2015, 13:39
Thank you for such detailed feedback:)
About too dark environment overall, or in some places, and other problems with light - this was a test lightmapping, and changing it would take some time (real time lightning and shadowing is a bit demanding on resources =).

Concerning computers which you have to hack - it would be too easy, if they were all bright blue (like in the screenshots), wouldn't it? But yes, we definitely will do something with it in the future.

If you have been caught while hacking - you can press the "Esc" button to cancel input, and run away ;)
Also, we will add some indication for input zone and change the list of symbols which you have to type, as it was also confusing for non-English speakers to find special symbols on their keyboard (I myself find it a part of a challenge for such players...)

About sounds in game - they were all prepared for the integration into the game, but we hadn't enough time for that (I was the one responsible for the sound effects, and believe me, they will immerse you more into game's atmoshpere=).

All this changes won't be present in this version, as it's already debugged and final working version for LD#32! (Programmist is a Russian word for programmer:).
popcorn89722 Apr 2015, 23:56
Well cool. I'd like to see a post jam polished up version if you ever make one!
Taldius23 Apr 2015, 15:14
Nice game! However, because I'm not used to QWERTY keyboard, it was hard for me to play.
Anyway, good job!
Tatsu Studio23 Apr 2015, 16:28
Nice game and have potential . Good job!
theflocks23 Apr 2015, 16:53
I liked the idea, but I couldn't insert symbols like ? or _ into the computers :-(
nonetheless23 Apr 2015, 18:28
Pretty nice stealth game, great graphics, well done :)
Dietrich Epp23 Apr 2015, 18:55
Cool concept, For the life of me, I could not figure out which computers to hack. The first one was blue, and I eventually figured that one out, but when I tried one with a gray screen nothing happened... even though it was obviously different from the other computers nearby.
Red_Fan games23 Apr 2015, 22:51
Bapto-bismol! Prepare to play with power! 40/50 -IGN
snapman_GT24 Apr 2015, 05:20
The first screen was blue, but the second two weren't? Managed to win after I started checking every single screen. Interesting idea, reminds me a lot of Quadrilateral Cowboy.
kabutakogames
kabutakogames24 Apr 2015, 05:41
It was a cool environment, though I think it needed a tutorial
HellBlazer24 Apr 2015, 22:02
Interesting idea, though a bit underdeveloped in a game jam context (understandable). It's rather tedious to approach each computer to find out which ones are hackable, and it would be good to see what is actually looking for you. Good atmosphere and graphics though; a nice effort overall.
Dejvo
Dejvo25 Apr 2015, 07:54
an hacking game that was actually good. well done
boateye25 Apr 2015, 21:16
The Hacking was pretty fun, actually. some of the characters were tough to decipher initially, though. maybe try to avoid using symbols like the apostrophe, and the letter O and such as they tend to look similar to other symbols/letters
waveformmodulations27 Apr 2015, 23:20
Liked the office space setting, since my game also too place in an office setting but from a different era. liked the computer consoles
Techblogogy
Techblogogy28 Apr 2015, 19:52
This is quite a nice concept, with a little more time this could be a great game. Good job!
MaesK
MaesK1 May 2015, 23:23
Nice hacking mechanics. It might improve with some tutorial or a first stage to let players learn with ease, then get things more complex with bigger rooms and more complex hacking. Good job!
0110110111 May 2015, 12:56
No sfx no music ... it would be a great thing to add more mood ! Despite this is a good concept and pretty well done ... :)
piegames26 Aug 2015, 19:19
Funny game, but when I type "=" it writes "0"

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