Jukebox Hero

All about Guitar Hero mechanics and how to abuse them for maximum score.

This is a lighthearted talk I've given a few times now (shockingly).

Transcript

1. Juke Box Hero
   abusing Guitar Hero to maximize profit
   

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9. Score Basics
   = 50 points
   = 1/4 star power fill
   = 2x points
   

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10. Score Basics
    • Sustains = points per second
    • Whammy + sustain
    • NOTHING
    • Whammy + star notes
    • Star power!
    

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11. Score Basics
    • Every 10 notes increases
    multiplier
    • Max multiplier = 4
    • Combines with star power
    

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12. Don’t miss notes
    Tip #1
    

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13. Use star power wisely
    Tip #2
    

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20. Rock Band Differences
    • Star power -> overdrive
    • Can collect overdrive while in overdrive
    • Collecting fills everyone’s overdrive
    • Each player’s overdrive is multiplicative (up to 16x!)
    • Vocals and drums can only activate at designated
    points
    

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21. Squeeze
    Tip #3
    

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27. Drum Squeezing
    

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29. Star Path Algorithm
    • Dynamic programming!
    • Start at end
    • Move one tick backwards at a time
    • Store every possible state for tick
    • Try every possible action
    • Store max score for each state
    

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30. State tracks…
    • Star power
    • Activation
    • Points
    • Whammy
    • …And other tiny details
    

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31. For each tick…
    • Activate?
    • Whammy?
    • Play note?
    • Do nothing?
    

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32. Star Power Activated Max Score
    0 TRUE 2000
    1 TRUE 1500
    0 FALSE 1600
    1 FALSE 3000
    

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33. Evaluate SP
    SP = 1, Activated = False
    Star Power Activated Max Score With Note
    0 TRUE 2000 2050
    1 TRUE 1500 1550
    0 FALSE 1600 1625
    1 FALSE 3000 3025
    

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34. Evaluate SP
    SP = 1, Activated = False
    Star Power Activated Max Score With Note
    0 TRUE 2000 2050
    1 TRUE 1500 1550
    0 FALSE 1600 1625
    1 FALSE 3000 3025
    

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35. Star Power Activated Max Score
    0 TRUE 2000
    1 TRUE 1500
    0 FALSE 1600
    1 FALSE 3000
    Star Power Activated Max Score
    0 TRUE
    1 TRUE
    0 FALSE
    1 FALSE
    N + 1
    N
    

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36. Star Power Activated Max Score
    0 TRUE 2000
    1 TRUE 1500
    0 FALSE 1600
    1 FALSE 3000
    Star Power Activated Max Score
    0 TRUE 1650
    1 TRUE 2050
    0 FALSE 1625
    1 FALSE 3025
    N + 1
    N
    

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37. Catching Cheaters
    

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41. Math!
    • 9 *1 *50 = 450
    • 10 * 2 * 50 = 1,000
    • 10 * 3 * 50 = 1,500
    • 450 + 1,000 + 1,500 = 2,950
    

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42. Math!
    • Every note afterwards must be multiple of 4
    • (Score - (first 29 notes)) % 4 = 0
    • Aka, mod4
    

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43. • 200,402 - 2,950 = 197,452
    • 197,452 % 4 == 0
    

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44. • 200,345 - 2,950 = 197,395
    • 197,395 % 4 == 3
    

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45. Suggested Reading
    • Optimizer: https://github.com/jasharpe/apathtoofar
    • gameinternals.com
    • gamesdonequick.com
    

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46. it’s over!
    @danlew42
    

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