I've played a few games so far with Environmental Testing and I would say it has exceeded my expectations. The reason is simply that one for 6 is very strong. Almost no other economy cards come close to this exchange rate, except for a really big Bravado or drip cards like Rezeki that pay out over many turns.

This is of course the best case scenario for ET, but is pretty easy if you get the timing right. Self-modifying Code, Simulchip, Rezeki and Misdirection earns you your four programs/hardware. As does SMC, Simulchip, search for an icebreaker then reinstall SMC.

It really is not that difficult to hit this point, so it is possible to get explosive amounts of money pretty quickly, all for a down payment of 3. ET has been compared to Technical Writer, which while having much less overhead (0 install cost) it builds up much more slowly, and requires a second click to use.

I think this card may be strong enough to be worth importing into Az or other hardware-heavy Crims that install a lot of Boomerangs. If your typical rig uses >4 hardware/programs, consider it!

Environmental Testing’s “install four programs/hardware” mini-game is kinda/sorta halfway between time-based econ (like Daily Casts) and clicked-based econ (like Telework Contract):

• While you need clicks to install programs, you don't need to waste a click on just taking credits (same as good run-based econ).

• While you only have about four clicks per turn, you can easily "cash out" quickly (like triple-clicking a Liberated Account).

Design:

• It's econ that's non-generic (& non-neutral): You don't just “wait for credits” or “click for credits”, you build your deck around the two card-types it cares about, and you play your games to speedrun it or not. (Even if it were neutral/0inf, IDs can't just drag-n-drop it in for some extra econ.)

• It counts up (not down) to be charge-able.

Synergies:

• Program-“Fetching” Programs/Hardware (since they double-trigger ET): Self-modifying Code, Muse (e.g. Muse–Coalescence gets you two triggers for zero credits off one card in grip), Simulchip, Gachapon, etc.

• Clickless Program-Installs: esp. in Arissana Rocha Nahu.

• Self-“Bouncing” Programs & Program-Bouncers (once you re-install): Pichação, Urban Art Vernissage, etc.

• Other “Program-/Hardware-fall” triggers, Program-Cheapeners, Program-only Hosted-Credits, or so on (every program becomes cheaper to install and/or better upon being installed): LilyPAD, DZMZ Optimizer, etc; even Az McCaffrey and Prognostic Q-Loop in Crim.

• Cheap Programs/Hardware (just sleeving up a lot in your deck, duh).

For example, with DZMZ+ET+Lily, installing a program a turn will save you $1, get you “$1.5” closer, and draw you 1 card (see “The Metric Octopus - 11th at Worlds 2023” ).

You can accelerate it easily, ET–I–I’ing one turn then I–I’ing the very next turn (as long as you already had them in grip, or could draw into them, or have been re-installing cards, or so on); though you will be spending credits (on installations) after having sunk three (into installing it itself). You can “compress” it too: install a SMC or Simulchip the same turn (as ET), but crack it on the Corp's turn (double-triggering a LilyPAD; then, on your next turn, install Muse–for–Coalescence*, popping ET (while setting up your rig at the same time).

PS. An ID like Hayley Kaplan, which triggers on either turns (Runner and Corp alike), could have popped ET by manually installing only a single program (on R-turn) and then cracking SMC (on C-turn).

As @dnddmdb says in their review, "one click for six credits is simply very strong".

This card is practically a must-have in any Arissana deck. The economy potential from this card is extremely high - six credits for one click is already two more than Sure Gamble, and the only issue has been getting those credits off in a reliable and efficient manner. Arissana answers that question with her signature card: Urban Art Vernissage. If you're building a deck around her and her vernissage, you're already going to be uninstalling and reinstalling programs - sometimes multiple times per turn, and often clicklessly with her ID ability. Environmental Testing allows you to turn something that you're already doing into free money, and a lot of it, making you a profit practically every step of the way. Slot three of these into every Arissana deck you make - you won't regret it.