Progression & Prestige

Introduction

The game Upload Labs utilizes a layered progression system built upon five primary currencies and resources, culminating in the Prestige system (the Portal) which resets progress while granting permanent bonuses.

I. Core Progression Currencies

II. Specialized Progression Systems

A. Hacking Progression

The Hacking System functions as a dedicated progression track:

1. Unlocks: Hacking is unlocked for 50,000 Science. Specific targets require additional research, such as Corporation Breaching (25,000 Science) and Government Breaching (50,000 Science, plus 400,000 Science in the queue per observation).
2. Skill Points: Every time the Hacker levels up by receiving Hacker XP, a skill point is earned to spend on:
   • Payload Damage.
   • Breach Speed (e.g., by 4%).
   • Breach Time Limit (e.g., by 1 second).
   • Breach Rewards (e.g., by 100%).
   • Infection Damage (increases damage by 100%, reduces payload by 40%).
3. Threat Management: Players must increase the Threat Level to maximize XP gains, ensuring the target flashes green (successful breach) rather than red (failure).
4. Bank Breaching: A specialized event where a bank symbol pops up, which the player must click and drag to the Hacker Node to launch a payload for standard tokens.

B. Coding Progression

The Coding system is complex, focused on building, optimizing, and debugging application code.

1. Code Interface: Requires the code interface node, which connects to primitive variable nodes (Bools, Integers, Floats).
2. Contribution Points: The final step involves committing optimized, fixed code, which generates Contribution Points. These points feed back into the Code Interface, increasing the speed at which coding tasks run.
3. Application Point Unlocks: Coding also generates Application Points, which can be spent on various utility perks, such as:
   • Decompile programs into text.
   • Scrap games into videos.
   • Compile text files into programs.
   • Incompressor (enhances and compresses files simultaneously).

C. Server and AI Unlocks

1. Servers: The Server system unlocks once the player hits a certain rate of money earned. Servers allow income to be scaled based on stored file formats. Server revenue is calculated by prioritizing high-value content and small file sizes. Storage nodes associated with servers can handle multiple file formats (Text, Image, Sound, Video, Program, Game).
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI access, including Large Language Models for Text and Image generation, requires significant Science investment. The AI Trainer uses GPU speed and input files to create neurons, which generate optimized files that bypass several progression steps (Checksum, Redownloader, Virus Scanning).

III. The Prestige System (The Portal)

The ultimate progression mechanism is the Portal, which initiates a Prestige cycle (or "new game plus").

1. Access and Requirements: The Portal allows the user to claim queued research and restart the game.
2. Effect: Upon entering the Portal, progress resets. However, the player immediately unlocks two persistent bonuses:
   • Systems 2: Increases network performance globally (e.g., 100% per level).
   • Hacking 1: Increases the power of the hacking system (e.g., 100% more powerful).
3. Retained Progress: Although the setup is gone, the player starts with accumulated Tokens and retains previously unlocked research features, allowing for a much faster restart.

This foundational understanding of progression paths will be key to optimizing your lab. What part of the progression—upgrading files, the hacking mini-game, or preparing for prestige—interests you the most right now?