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
9. Score Basics = 50 points = 1/4 star power fill = 2x points
10. Score Basics • Sustains = points per second • Whammy + sustain • NOTHING • Whammy + star notes • Star power!
11. Score Basics • Every 10 notes increases multiplier • Max multiplier = 4 • Combines with star power
12. Don’t miss notes Tip #1
13. Use star power wisely Tip #2
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
21. Squeeze Tip #3
27. Drum Squeezing
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
30. State tracks… • Star power • Activation • Points • Whammy • …And other tiny details
31. For each tick… • Activate? • Whammy? • Play note? • Do nothing?
32. Star Power Activated Max Score 0 TRUE 2000 1 TRUE 1500 0 FALSE 1600 1 FALSE 3000
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
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
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
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
37. Catching Cheaters
41. Math! • 9 *1 *50 = 450 • 10 * 2 * 50 = 1,000 • 10 * 3 * 50 = 1,500 • 450 + 1,000 + 1,500 = 2,950
42. Math! • Every note afterwards must be multiple of 4 • (Score - (first 29 notes)) % 4 = 0 • Aka, mod4
43. • 200,402 - 2,950 = 197,452 • 197,452 % 4 == 0
44. • 200,345 - 2,950 = 197,395 • 197,395 % 4 == 3
45. Suggested Reading • Optimizer: https://github.com/jasharpe/apathtoofar • gameinternals.com • gamesdonequick.com
46. it’s over! @danlew42