READ BEFORE PURCHASE: 

the paid version gives you access to a new prototype version based on the original idea of ElkOS, this is just a paywall to avoid free access to the new prototype because it is still a work in progress, this purchase does not give you access to the future paid version of the game. I don't even have payments set up on my account, feel free to buy if you want to try the new prototype and support Itch.io.

Spread the computer virus you just created throughout the vast world of the Internet

Infect all computer devices in the network, "arrow keys" to move, "1" to infect the current tile, and "2" to spread the virus to nearby tiles.

move consumes -1 HP, sometimes there are 1 or more move directions that cost 0 HP
infect has a chance of failure, so be careful
spread requires a fully charged "SER" stat to work

visit the cyan icons (file, hood, question mark) to upgrade your malware, and find some mysteries

press H for more info about stats and mechanics
press S to control the music
press R to restart the game

Requirements 

Minimal screen size 1024 x 768

Recommended screen size 1280 x 960

Play the Windows build for a better experience.

Credits:

Music: 

funkyphases by @xelanic https://soundcloud.com/xeranic/funkyphases

Font:

Clarity by @gossamore https://gossamore.itch.io/clarity

Itch.io page edition and playtesting:

@thedarkfox778 https://www.instagram.com/overlookertdf/

Design, Art, Programming: @aaronclaros

Purchase

Buy Now$10.00 USD or more

In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $10 USD. You will get access to the following files:

ElkOS-Remake-Win64-v0.1.zip 31 MB
ElkOS Remake - user manual.pdf 403 kB

Comments

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Found you in the Sudaka Games discord, really liked the game. As someone who has made games that aren’t super easy to understand right off the bat, I think a good, deep tutorial would go a long way. Once I got most of it, I found it to be very interesting, it combines the puzzle of moving and picking the right spots to hack really well with the goal of getting everything. I think making the “main log” screen (lower left) either a bit bigger or less cluttered would also go a long way. Great job, keep it up!

I like it! Playtest, at least as far as I got: https://youtu.be/My5CPMMFWOo .

Feels incredibly niche but the attention to details for viruses and networks is pretty cool, feels similar to mine sweeper 

(+1)

This type of game isn't usually in my wheelhouse so my feedback might not provide all that much helpful. I think this game is really cool and has the right kind of player journey to really make people FEEL like they are spiderman hacking

I love your aesthetic a lot, and the music is groovy. I think the game is a bit dark, which lowers the contrast a bit, making it a tiny bit harder to read.  After playing for several minutes even though I *know* I should pay more attention to the main panel in the bottom left corrner, My mind tends to focus on the flashing iconography in the world area, this game rewards an ability to focus on many details at once. Maybe it would help if some of the panel flashed as well. Like when you take damage.

I think most users will do as I did, and not check the help menu items you have carefully curated on each stat and action info, and just learn from trial and error, and only check that after reaching a tipping point of frustration. It might help to force the user to go through a few steps that are the common core loop of your game, so they feel comfortable before starting their challenge.

When I started out, I would sometimes land on a node that was awaiting user input and I didn't know it, and I felt like my keyboard was bugging out (which it often does)

I think the music doesn't loop?

I love the game over screen.  so good.
I think you might need a playtester with more focus than me to potentially catch any minor or hard to catch bugs. What I played was cool and when I turned my brain off a bit and just jammed on the controls, I had some fun and made it through pretty far before ending up dead. This game definitely has replay value considering I learned a lot in one playthrough that I would apply to another.

(+1)

thanks for the feedback, for sure there is a lot to improve and your comment will help me to understand what to prioritize, the first thing I plan to work on after jam ends is to balance the stats and give the game a proper tutorial. yes, the music should loop so i need to fix this and other bugs i found.

Cool. Yeah definitely get some feedback from hardcore strategy game players!