Can't get enough of this. I remember really loving the fake DOS mode that Enter the Matrix had. You could unlock cheats for the game or look at little hidden videos and things. It was fairly elaborate for a little gimmick.
Memory unlocked. Though using cheats through that most certainly crash the game, you just didn't know when it would happen. I remember using infinite ammo with the smoke grenade gun like halfway through before the game finally crapped out
It can become tedious quickly if it isnt done absolutely perfect imo.
I remember Fallout computers to be one of the implementations of such a system that I disliked most. Repetitive "hacking", then reading some text snippets that could've easily fit on a note or sth else. While it does add to the atmosphere, it doesnt add anything good to my (personal opinion ofc) gaming experience.
I can only think of two examples right now where I liked it: Deus Ex all parts(because it is just very thematically fitting) and GTA (because of the satire its actually very entertaining).
I'm still holding out for the remake that won't ever happen. I really like the ./hack series but the combat in 1-4 is really clunky, even for something that's pretending to be a tab target MMO. Dual daggers will forever be my favorite character weapon archetype though.
This post and your comment gave me nostalgia overload. I lived in a rural area growing up in the late 90s and early 00s and I was absolutely infatuated with the internet and things like the .hack games that emulated being connected. Played soooo much of that game
Something I continually think about is how Doom 3 showed us a world where you can have a first-person game that seamlessly has you controlling a mouse cursor on in-world computer screens, and it saddens me that nobody picked up that baton.
I haven't played Doom 3, but it sounds very similar to what Prey 2017 has - all the computers in the game have (in-universe) touch input, so you can use them just by pressing the interact key while looking at a display. You can even fire rubber-tipped foam darts at screens to trigger a click in the spot where the dart hit!
I think it has to do with the feature not working as seamlessly with controllers - or at least developers believing so anyway. The original Xbox port of Doom 3 had the camera zoom in to a panel where you were near it and IIRC the BFG edition has the controller slow down a bit in some panels.
There are a couple of FPS games that had similar in-game UIs, though they aren't as big profile as Doom 3. I bought Exodus from the Earth some time recently and the game has a lot of in-game UIs that use a similar seamless control.
nobody believes me because it’s the funny game with the pi pi pi pizza, but hypnospace is my favorite modern example of cyberpunk as a genre. can’t wait for dreamsettler
One of my first interactions with an in-game fantasy computer GUI was Final Fantasy VIII. You had this newsletter you could read on the Balamb Garden's computers, or take the SeeD exams to improve your grade. Was really neato.
both Hacknet and Uplink (unrealistic but fun hacking games) had this, although Hacknet's is more modern by nearly 15 years. I think I liked uplink's more though.
Oh 100% I love this aesthetic. The newer Deus Ex games come to mind immediately, but yeah. The tablets in Hi-Fi Rush are also kinda cool, if less involved.
just love me some rifling through open desktops though 👍
Fun fact, .hack’s Altimit OS was very heavily based on the early previews for Square Enix’s PlayOnline Viewer, with nearly every feature lifted direct from it (Email, News, BBS/Chat, Wallpaper/BGM selection). Also interesting ya mention Front Mission since Front Mission Online ran via PlayOnline Viewer. :)
The textorcist has a PC where you have to use "godle" to kind of Google stuff in order to find out the whereabouts of the bad guys or something like that
Buying items is done through encrypted online store, mini quests are received from the official site of the treasure hunting association you're part off and so on. The game expands this immersive ui further by making your stat screen be a report card and with skill names being curricular subjects.
You don't really interact with it much but Ace Combat 3 UI is Data Swallow, the in universe internet browser of choice. Each faction comes with unique boot up sound that I might or might not use as my ring tune.
Tired of real UI can't wait to go home and look at fake UI.
I like how SHENZEN I/O takes place on a computer, kind of. You get "quests" by checking your email lol.