“You don’t have the cards!” This week we deep dive the cyberpunk productivity app roguelike deckbuilder hybrid that our very own co-host Will has been developing since 2018! A unique spin on gamification apps, Hard Reset asks the ever-important question of: “what if we made the game part actually fun?” The capitalist oligarchs have taken over and you must stop them by upgrading your cybernetics as provided by a mysterious benefactor. Fight through mutant-filled cyber slums with the help of rocket arms, irradiation blasters, and a helpful hand or two. But don’t skimp on those tasks to practice your cello or take out the garbage! Being consistent rewards gameplay with bonuses, and missing days will add consequences to your deck.

Find Will’s app at:

https://hardreset.app/

https://discord.com/invite/VdqP5AWBnz

https://bsky.app/profile/hardresetapp.bsky.social

https://www.youtube.com/@HardResetApp

Hard Reset has already been getting some coverage by other outlets that you can find below:

ParadoxPort - Hard Reset: When To-Do Lists Meet a Dystopian Cyberpunk Game

Sam Liberty - Hard Reset Is the Gamified Productivity App I’ve Been Waiting For

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Transcript

1:13 - Game stats

2:28 - One sentence description

5:09 - Origin Story: Behavioral Therapy Work & Contingency Management

9:18 - Hard Reset’s Purpose vs. Previous Therapy App

12:07 - Habitica Comparison & Fun-as-Reward Design Philosophy

15:25 - Vesper-5 & Checklist-Game Symbiosis Discussion

23:52 - Boot Sequence, Node Map & Game Structure Walkthrough

24:34 - Hardware & Wetware System vs. Slay the Spire Relics

35:10 - Card Codex Stats: 71 Cards, 15 Hacks & Unique Mechanics

43:41 - Combat Animations, Eye-Opening Intro & Protagonist Identity

46:01 - Portrait Mode Innovation & One-Handed Mobile Design

59:50 - AI Art Ethics: Solo Dev Cost Reality & Moral Debate

1:09:43 - Story & Theme: Cyberpunk Anti-Oligarch Revolution Narrative

1:33:43 - Player Build Strategies & Community Discoveries

1:53:00 - Rankings & final thoughts

2:01:13 - Fan Write-Ins

2:05:10 - Similar games & show wind down

Next episode: Summer music fest interview with Caves of Qud composer Craig Hamilton!

Contact us at [email protected]!

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: GROGPOD Theme 2 by Balatro composer LouisF - https://louisfmusic.com/

Outro music: Hard Reset trailer theme