ZenHak - Fair Warning I am the Developer

[Zenfar]

If you have always wanted to mix the casino game Craps and cyberpunk then ZenHak is for you

Review
------
Fair warning I am the developer of the game...

ZenHak is an RPG the contains two mini-games that are its focus. The Haking mini game is complex and figuring out how to hak it is a major part of the experience. The music, gameplay, and graphics are all excellent for a community game in my not so humble opinion. And I hope the mystery of the game is appreciated.

You start the game in your MegaCondo with a broken Cyro healing chamber, your TransVidia computer, and virtual map of the city you call home. From there you must find a way to earn enough credits to repair your Cyro, get some protection, and get a ride. Can you use your haking skills to get some data and then how do you turn that into credits?

Another highlight is the conversation minigame inspired by blackjack but with extra "cards" available based on your avatars skills.

The trail starts here Haks... But the Hak ain't always easy g... Think shooting them bones, is it Hazard... Bet the Black Ice to protect your Avatar... Hak the Firewall and raid the OptiCache...

Hints
-----
Well you are a haker stuck in your apartment (at least you are stuck in the demo). So you use your computer (move the cursor over it and press A or use the left button to cycle through your choices and right button to choose it). Now you are in the haking game, it is inspired by the casino game Craps. Place bots (bets) using the A button put a couple on the firewall and a couple on the Black Ice and then press the Hak button (lower right, use the Y button to get there quick)..

If you Hak the Firewall your bots will be placed in a data vault. If you fail place more bots on the Firewall. Once the Firewall is down you can place center bots and OptiCache bots.

The lower left part of the screen shows your progress.

For combat use the d-pad to scroll through selection, if you don't have a gun you will need to advance and then do unarmed combat. Use the Y button to make you menu selections.

 

[hamster mk 4]

I appreciate your position as a developer trying to bring some attention to the fruit of your labors. Thank you for being honest about your relationship to the game, I know many a sleazy marketing guru who thinks "Guerilla Marketing" is the wave of the future.

As for your review:
Since I have never heard of this game (and most likely neither has most of your audience) a summery of how the game plays would be appropriate. A screen shot or two would be even better. People who read reviews are looking for an idea of what using a product will be like before actually buying it. Some of the reviews on this site can get away with assuming the user has some for knowledge of the game they are reviewing due to the hype machine inevitably surrounding these games. However as a small developer you can not afford to make such assumptions.

Here is a list of questions you should have answered in your review:
What platforms does this run on?
What kind of interface does the user interact with?
What well known games is this like?
How does this game set itself apart from those well known games?

All these things should be pretty obvious to you since you were making it, but how are the rest of us to know if this game is something we might like?

 

[Zenfar]

Thanks Hamster it must have been a late night, wait I may not be able to use that excuse if these post are time stamped. Oh well good points you have made sir.

ZenHak is an XNA Community Game for the XBox 360. You control the game through shortcut keys or a cursor using the XBox controller. I don't think there are any games like it (at least I don't know of any that have a mini game inspired by craps, but using hexadecimal math and 2d10 (two dice ten sided numbered 0-9 actually)). It has cyberpunk elements but is not a typical RPG as it is mostly focused on the Haking game, figuring out the mini games is a big part of the game actually.

Check out: www.zenfar.com for screenshots, videos, and more.

 

[Zenfar]

Look for Version 2.0 it is up!

The description has Version 2.0 in it. Also the file size is 48 megs. You have to delete your old version and download the new one. Let me know what you think and what you want in V 3.0.