Off topic - Shameless plug for Uplink: Hacker Elite
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Stardock Forums
Stardock Forums
If you would like to support a great game, written by a couple of British guys out of their basement (OK, I might be exaggerating about the basement part, 
), you might want to take a peek at Uplink. You may have seen the ad during the GalCiv installation routine => http://www.cc.utah.edu/~skg5166/uplink.png
I played the game last year. Previously available only as an import in the US, Strategy First is now publishing it here. In it, you play the part of a hacker taking on jobs for pay. As you make more money you may upgrade your hardware and software in the game to run your hacker tools faster, safer, more silent. It's a Hollywood'ized version of hacking life (not at all resembling the methods of real hackers) - but with all the tedium taken out. You'll often find yourself racing against the clock to get the file or information you're looking for, just before the sysadmin traces your connection. All the while, the "trace tracker" beeping louder and faster as the sysadmin gets uncomfortably close to completing the trace. It's actually raised my heartrate on occasion.
The graphics are simple, appropriate for this type of game but the gameplay aspect is refreshingly different and great fun. Music is very appropriate. Some of the missions can get repetitive after a while but there is also a developing backstory which keeps things interesting. Coincidentally, there is also a sort of alignment in this game. You can choose "good" or "bad" jobs. Good jobs being what a hacker might consider ethically OK while bad jobs could involve framing someone or ruining some poor fool's life by altering social security records. Take on too many "bad" jobs and you could get shunned by those individuals or corporations offering "good" jobs. The game has also been heavily modded by fans. You can find more info and a demo at Introversion's site => http://www.introversion.co.uk/
Note: I'm not related to any one of those responsible for this game, just a fan interested in spreading gaming goodness with my GalCiv community pals
~SDC~
), you might want to take a peek at Uplink. You may have seen the ad during the GalCiv installation routine => http://www.cc.utah.edu/~skg5166/uplink.pngI played the game last year. Previously available only as an import in the US, Strategy First is now publishing it here. In it, you play the part of a hacker taking on jobs for pay. As you make more money you may upgrade your hardware and software in the game to run your hacker tools faster, safer, more silent. It's a Hollywood'ized version of hacking life (not at all resembling the methods of real hackers) - but with all the tedium taken out. You'll often find yourself racing against the clock to get the file or information you're looking for, just before the sysadmin traces your connection. All the while, the "trace tracker" beeping louder and faster as the sysadmin gets uncomfortably close to completing the trace. It's actually raised my heartrate on occasion.
The graphics are simple, appropriate for this type of game but the gameplay aspect is refreshingly different and great fun. Music is very appropriate. Some of the missions can get repetitive after a while but there is also a developing backstory which keeps things interesting. Coincidentally, there is also a sort of alignment in this game. You can choose "good" or "bad" jobs. Good jobs being what a hacker might consider ethically OK while bad jobs could involve framing someone or ruining some poor fool's life by altering social security records. Take on too many "bad" jobs and you could get shunned by those individuals or corporations offering "good" jobs. The game has also been heavily modded by fans. You can find more info and a demo at Introversion's site => http://www.introversion.co.uk/
Note: I'm not related to any one of those responsible for this game, just a fan interested in spreading gaming goodness with my GalCiv community pals
~SDC~
