Research System & Tech Tree
Unlock powerful new technologies to advance your system.
Research System
The research system is used to unlock powerful new technologies.
- The Research Node allows files (like text files) to be converted into research points.
- The Data Refiner is used to refine files to increase their research value.
- The Research Tree contains important unlocks such as Parallelism, Checksum Validation, and the Network Exchanger.
Detailed Breakdown: The Research Tree/Queue
In Upload Labs, Research is a critical core system, and the Research Tree/Queue is the player's path to unlocking and acquiring powerful new technologies.
I. Purpose and Basics of the Research System
The research system is a key mechanic for player progression, with the primary goal of unlocking powerful new technologies by scanning and processing files.
- Acquiring Research Points: Players accumulate Science/Research Points by processing files in specific ways. For example, a Research Node allows files (like text files) to be converted into research points. To improve efficiency, players can unlock the Data Refiner, a node that refines files to increase their research value.
- Research Speed: Accumulating research points is a time-consuming process, sometimes requiring hours of waiting. If a player purchases the optional Permanent Boosts Pack, the research speed is permanently doubled.
- Unlocking Research: Enabling the research function itself costs a significant amount of in-game currency; players need to accumulate 1 Billion currency to unlock it and get the research icon in the bottom bar.
- Ultimate Goal: The total accumulated research points are crucial for the game's prestige mechanic. Players need to reach millions or even hundreds of millions of total research points (e.g., 10 million for the first prestige, or 1 billion for further upgrades) to enter the Portal, which resets the game and provides system-level permanent bonuses.
II. Structure and Content of the Research Tree/Queue
The Research Tree is an interface containing game-changing nodes, innovative systems, and scientific milestones. It not only defines what players can build but also determines the availability of complex late-game systems like Hacking and AI.
A. Key Technological Unlocks
Unlockable items in the research tree cover efficiency improvements, new file format processing, and access to entirely new subsystems:
| Research Item | Cost/Requirement | Function/Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Parallelism | 20 Research | Unlocks the Synchronizer Node, allowing CPU and GPU cores to work in sync. |
| Checksum Validation | 80 Research | The Checksum Verifier validates file integrity, increasing its value by 4x. |
| Network Exchanger | 300 Research | Converts incoming download speed to upload speed, or vice versa. |
| Antivirus Pro | 300 Research | Scans and removes viruses from files. |
| Redownloader | 3K Research | Fixes corrupted files and increases their value, but consumes download bandwidth. |
| Data Refinement | (Cost not specified) | Unlocks the Data Refiner for refining files to increase research value. |
| Bitcoin Mining | 10,000 Research | Unlocks the ability to mine Bitcoin. |
| Hacking | 50,000 Research | Unlocks the hacking system, including Corporation Breaching (requires 25,000 Science). |
B. Dependencies
Some items in the research tree have strict unlock orders or prerequisites:
- Enrichment Chamber: Players cannot start building it until its prerequisite, Advanced Plates, is unlocked.
- Warp Drives: Manufacturing Warp Drives requires Warp Fuel, whose production, in turn, requires the Enrichment Chamber.
C. Late-Game Research and AI
In the late game, research is crucial for advanced systems like AI development:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Unlocking the AI system requires a large amount of science points.
- Data Distillation: Unlocks the Distillator, used to distill file data to improve neuron production.
- AI Training Optimization: Optimization points can be used to reduce the clock cycles required by the AI Trainer.
D. Research vs. Currency Unlocks
It is important to note that the research system (using research/science points) is primarily for unlocking technologies and nodes, whereas new downloaders (like Sound Downloader or Video Downloader) typically require a huge amount of in-game currency to purchase and unlock. For example, unlocking the Sound Downloader costs 4 Billion currency, while the Video Downloader costs 30 Trillion.