computer hacking in video games

[Jumpman]

So in bioshock, you basically line up a bunch of pipes. in sly cooper you shoot enemy red ships with your "hacking code" that looks suspiciously like lasers. Fallout 3 has some word based puzzle system that gives me a headache.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised by these games attempts to make computer hacking fun. after all, in reality, hacking a computer is incredibly boring and not something one would do for fun. still, does anyone know of a game that they think did a good job simulating a computer hack?

 

[willard3]

The Splinter Cell games had some interesting techniques, especially Chaos Theory and Double Agent.

 

[Lord Krunk]

I loved hacking in Bioshock. In essence, it was a blast from the past - a childhood memory known as 'Pipe Dream'. With better graphics, too!

What's not to like?

 

[Gitsnik]

The Matrix games (I forget which it was, but you control Niobi or whatever her name was) actually required forms of cracking to get through (and if you over-hacked the game it became impossible).

Before RAK shows up. IT'S CRACKING! STOP CALLING IT HACKING!

 

[Dommyboy]

Problem with hacking in Bioshock is that once you did it so much you got to a point where you didn't have to do it anymore.

 

[GRoXERs]

I actually kinda like the Fallout 3 "hacking." But seriously, no matter how bad a video game cracking system gets, it's gotta be better than in the movies (think swordfish and the italian job). But in answer to the question:

The Splinter Cell games had some interesting techniques, especially Chaos Theory and Double Agent.

This.

 

[Lukeje]

http://www.introversion.co.uk/uplink/index.html

I won't pretend that it's accurate, but it is rather fun.

 

[Antiparticle]

Why didn't anybody mention Uplink? I will, then: Uplink [http://www.introversion.co.uk/uplink/]! It's a very interesting game, I'm sure it's not very realistic but it's the most complex hacking (cracking, smacking, whatever) game I've ever seen. So I recommend you download the demo, and get the DEFCON demo too while you're at their site anyway, that's another very unique game.

Edit: Ok, someone beat me to it by one minute. Well, get Uplink anyway.

 

[Frybird]

Uplink from Introversion (Darwinia, Multiwinia, Defcon) is a game that is just about hacking, but in a stylish, movie like way.

Actually, you did not really do any hacking but instead used programs (A Password Cracker, for example), with the "only" challenge was managing your system resources, Programs and System along with your overall "tactic" (later on, the security measures would become more sophisticated, and so you had to apply different procedures, like sampling the voice out of a telephone call for a voice recognition system), all under a steep time limit since all your hacking attempts were tracked, and if you took too long you would be punished by law.

While still being far from realistic, it was a very stylish and fun game that made hacking interesting and believable without being too boring or complicated. It's worth checking out

EDIT: AWWW, beat by 9 minutes. Damn you, actual work!

 

[Lukeje]

Actually, you did not really do any hacking but instead used programs...

As far as I'm aware, that is hacking. 'Cracking' would be writing the programs, but hacking is just using them (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

 

[Voltano]

The best one I ever found was in the Shadowrun RPG on the Sega Genesis, though that is more or less surfing the matrix then actual cracking. Still loads of fun...

 

[Scorched_Cascade]

Actually, you did not really do any hacking but instead used programs...

As far as I'm aware, that is hacking. 'Cracking' would be writing the programs, but hacking is just using them (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

Coding is writing programs and crackers crack things (as in the name stuff like passwords, secure encryption). Hacking is just a "catch-all" word that has become sort of a slur to those who hack as it lumps them in with "script kiddies". The character in uplink is a so called "script kiddie" because he uses other programs and tools made by others, that he in all likelyhood doesnt understand, to cause havok.

 

[Lukeje]

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html

Look it up.

Is clicking on that link likely to get my name put on a 'list' somewhere?

Coding is writing programs and crackers crack things (as in the name stuff like passwords, secure encryption). Hacking is just a "catch-all" word that has become sort of a slur to those who hack as it lumps them in with "script kiddies". The character in uplink is a so called "script kiddie" because he uses other programs and tools made by others, that he in all likelyhood doesnt understand, to cause havok.

'Script kiddy'; hmm... I'll have to remember that one, thanks.

 

[Lukeje]

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html

Look it up.

Is clicking on that link likely to get my name put on a 'list' somewhere?

Unlikely. It's about how to learn computer programming for fun, and the writer, Eric S. Raymond, writes in the FAQ that he abhors cracking.

Huh, that's really interesting, thanks.

 

[Nivag the Owl]

Dreamfall has some really cool hacking protocols based on symbol matching.

 

[jezz8me]

I loved the Enter The Matrix hacking as well as the "hacking" in Mass Effect which was like a reverse game of frogger, dodging the blocks instead of hopping on them.

 

[beddo]

Enter the Matrix had a DOS prompt style hacking feature.

 

[Syphonz]

First time I played Crysis, one objective was to crack enemy intel off a computer. I didn't really know how to play the real well so I actually grabbed the computer itself, turned on super speed, and ran out. I failed the objective as it seems you cannot return the computer, and plug it back in to receive the intelligence.

My friend thought it was one of the most hilarious things he's ever seen and then made a racial joke refrence. You do some stupid things under fire and stressed, lol.

 

[Bluntknife]

Fact:

Hacking can be extremely funny and entertaining.

Fact nº2:

Cracking is a form of hacking.

Orignaly Hacking was refered to modding hardware, ie: pencil marks on video cards to increase voltage.

Cracking was refered to creating viruses/etc that can steal ones personal infomation.

 

[RAWKSTAR]

Uplink is great :]

I agree, tis a game all about hacking for those who didn't know (couldn't guess).
I'd reckonmend it!