Played a run to a hard stop: 2:55, 2,816 points, two upvotes, two deletions, two algorithm events survived, longest groove 94.1s. It ended on "Checkpoint failed: -8 fuel / The memes got away."
The joke engine is the strongest thing in the build. Best single post I met: a scam arriving with 1.2M upvotes and an "ACT NOW!!" sticker, asking for my banking details "for the package". Popularity as camouflage, and D is the only honest answer, which is a smarter design than any amount of timer pressure. "Grandma just learned voice messages. I now get 9-minute podcasts about soup" and "BREAKING: Office printer works on the first try. Experts baffled" both got a real laugh, and the fake brands (ScrollPlus, BuyBuyBuy.biz: "70% off everything. Except the price.") earn their sponsored tags instead of hanging off them.
One designer question: the meme checkpoint pauses rewards and then charges -8 fuel when it fails. The stars ride on memes that keep moving, so it can cost you fuel for aim rather than rhythm or judgment. Was the drain meant to keep running while "REWARDS PAUSED" is showing? Reverse scroll at least told me the rule plainly and then let me fail at it honestly, which is the version I trusted.
Theme note for the jam: the torch holds up because the fuel is your attention and the drain is the argument. Good luck with the ratings.
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Thanks for playing! Really glad the scam with 1.2M upvotes landed. "Popularity as camouflage" was exactly the idea, and the soup podcast is one of my favorites too.
On the checkpoint: yes, the drain is meant to keep running, but at a quarter of the normal rate. The idea is that you stop scrolling and hunt for the stars, and the stars follow the posts they're on. You've made a fair point, though: the banner never actually says "stop and look". It only says scrolling won't help, so chasing stars while you scroll is a natural thing to try, and it ends up testing your aim instead of your judgment. Reverse scroll tells you its rule up front, and the checkpoint should too. Thanks for spelling that out.