Hackers (video game)

Android: Hackers iOS: Hackers — Join the Cyberwar!
Developer(s)	Trickster Arts
Publisher(s)	Trickster Arts
Designer(s)	Matouš Ježek
Programmer(s)	Ladislav Týč Martin Hanzl
Composer(s)	Matúš Široký Marek Horváth
Engine	Unity
Platform(s)	Android iOS
Release date(s)	19 September 2016(iOS/Android)
Genre(s)	Strategy
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multi-player[1]

Hackers is an independent video game developed by Trickster Arts. It is a Strategy game for Android and iOS.^[2] Hackers is a cyberwarfare strategy game, and has been likened to the video game Uplink.^[3] On iOS the game has an added suffix: Hackers - Join the Cyberwar^[4]

Gameplay

A screenshot from the game. Players get to design a network of offensive and defensive nodes as they fight for their countries in a futuristic world war.

Players take on the role of a Hacker during a fictional First World Cyberwar.^[5] Players can develop and secure their own virtual 3D network and hack various targets around the world. Players can research programs, hack networks to increase their reputation and resources, and compete against other countries.^[6] The overarching strategy is to build a robust enough network to protect your data, while finding the best tools to use against others.^[7] The game features 70+ story missions with multiple ways to defeat them. There are also player-created networks to be infiltrated, which raise the position of your country on the global leaderboard. ^[8] The game also has a developed ARG, starting from an in-game mission.^[9]

Story

Hackers takes place in an alternate reality, where a piece of software (codenamed Ergo) was designed to make hacking into systems easier. The software has been made available to the public, so that anyone and everyone can get into hacking. But unlike real-world hacking which consists of command line usage and hardcore coding, this alternate reality puts systems and the hacking process into a GUI (Graphical User Interface) to make things easier to try and hack other people.^[10]

The game starts you out performing simple hacks for a recently met acquaintance called "Marty". As the game progresses you are introduced to other characters representing various factions such as The Family, StormCorp and Mirage. During the course of the story you get to experience various security, activist and terrorist missions that test your skills as a hacker.

Development

The game was developed in-house by Trickster Arts. The game was developed in Unity Engine. Development was started in Summer 2014. While working on Hero of Many the developers started working in parallel on another project. This project was cancelled for design reasons and Hackers was created from old gaming design notes, out of the desire to keep the company going. Hackers was announced at Game Access '16 on April 16, 2016^[11]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Matúš Široký.^[12] Sounds were produced by Marek Horváth.

Reception

As of 27th September 2016, Hackers is featured globally by Apple on the front page of "New Games We Love"^[13] and by Google Play on the front page of "Indie Corner."^[14] Hackers is also featured by Google on the front page of "New + Updated Games" as of 12th November 2016.^[15] As of 13th November 2016, Hackers has received 4.5 out of 5 Stars over 28000 ratings on Google Play.^[16]

Mobile Version

Hackers has yet to receive any reviews. When it does, the best, worst and average scores will be detailed here.

References

External links

• Official site
• Trickster Arts's website
• Personal site of Matouš Ježek