Improvement

After months of refining mechanics and polishing UI, I’m thrilled to release the Improved Version of Virus Idle. This build transforms the original idle/incremental prototype into a richer, more immersive experience — blending incremental gameplay, real-world computer virus lore, and a procedurally generated infection map.

Players now not only generate Infection Points (IP) but can strategically spread their virus across a simulated network, upgrade their malware inspired by real-life worms, and unlock lore about the most infamous cyber incidents.

🔹 Key Improvements

1. Procedurally Generated Infection Map

• Each session generates a unique network of nodes and connections, simulating devices and networks.

• Clicking a node injects IP into your system, while infections can spread across connected nodes.

• The map acts as a visual representation of your growing digital influence.

2. Upgrades Inspired by Real-Life Viruses

• Unlock upgrades like:

  • Morris Worm (1988): +0.5 IP/sec

  • ILOVEYOU (2000): +5% click spread chance

  • Conficker (2008): +5 IP/sec

  • Stuxnet (2010): ×2 IP/sec multiplier

  • WannaCry (2017): +20% prestige fragment yield

  • Emotet (2019): +10% IP/sec scaling

• Each upgrade unlocks lore logs, sharing the history and impact of real-world malware.

• Players choose which historical exploits to invest in, adding a strategic layer to incremental play.

3. Polished UI & UX

• Redesigned splash screen and main menu for smoother onboarding.

• Side panels show IP counters, threat levels, and upgrades.

• Dynamic log panel updates with events, upgrades, and lore entries.

4. Prestige System (Recompile)

• Players can recompile their virus, resetting soft progress but earning Code Fragments that multiply future gains.

• Prestige interacts with upgrades and map generation, rewarding long-term strategy.

5. Gameplay Balancing

• Device tiers, upgrade costs, and IP/sec scaling have been carefully tuned for gradual progression.

• Threat dynamics simulate antivirus detection — overexposure can trigger antivirus actions, temporarily reducing effectiveness.

🔹 Development Notes

• Implemented canvas-based procedural map with nodes representing infected devices.

• Upgrades use one-time real-virus unlocks for authenticity and lore immersion.

• All values (IP/sec, upgrade costs, threat growth) have been playtested to ensure smooth early-to-mid game pacing.

• Autosave and import/export functionality preserved for persistent progression.

🎯 Next Steps

• Add interactive events on the map, such as security patches or network firewalls.

• Implement achievements for unlocking all virus lore upgrades.

• Expand endgame scaling with late-game nodes and multi-tiered network clusters.