_Access - FINISHED. Please lock.

Akatosh · Fri 29/12/2006 10:29:11

YOUR MISSION: Get the KoffeeKrisisII - demo from the heavily defended Knollware Mainframe. Penetrate all defenses and don't let yourself get caught by the admin (who'll log on later in the game) or his tracers. Be the ub3r h4Xx0R you always wanted to be. Launch executables and 'chat' with other people.

DISCLAIMER: _Access is just a hacking simulation. This game does not support or encourage any real hacking in any way. I reject any responsibility forany real hacking that is done based on information gained through _Access. If you want to perform a malicious hack, don't claim you just did it thanks to _Access if you get caught. Most parts of hacking do not work like you saw it in _Access. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

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Screenies:
NEW!

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Demo I

The first demo can be found under http://www.uploadyourfiles.de/748f12f84deb291fd8e39d604944252f/c2kg0/Download.html
Wait about 15 seconds, then click on the link standing behind 'Ihr Downloadlink:' - I know it's a bit unusal to use a german webhoster, but all others seem to be down

Or:
http://dasjoe.de/ags/AccessDemo.zip
Thanks to Hajo.
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Demo II

Yup, this is one of the very few games who have more than one demo released! Check http://www.evilshare.com/a02b0d0a-ff5d-1029-b2ec-00a0c993e9d6! Exclamation mark!

Project Status
So I've finally decided to add a 'Project Status' section to this post

Graphics: ~95% (rather small variety used, but these look nice)
Story: 100%
Puzzles:

- whenever I think I have the definite number of rooms set up, the number increases
Music: 100%, thanks to the Music Player

ENTIRE GAME: Should be about 80% finished now.
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04.01.07: I've started working on the mainframe. It has some HEAVY security online. For those interested, the same that the NSA database uses in Dan Brown's "Digital Fortress" :o
In addition, I'll add a badly needed information database to the game - the "Securipedia". You'll make some heavy use of it.

06.01.07: Hitting 'enter' now works on every textbox in the game.

13.01.07: After a long break I finally decided to get my lazy ass back working on this. The Securipedia background (by Darth Mandarb) can be seen in the new screenie above.

20.01.07: The second LAN is finished. Increased difficulty. Also, TRACERs are implented; even the first LAN has one. Makes this a bit more difficult.

21.01.07: The first LAN has been re-worked a little, the second one was enlarged by about 100%. It features two tracers. Two *fast* tracers. And WLAN. And a modem.

25.01.07: Good news, everyone. I've just played Trilby's Notes and 6 Days in a row in a completly dark room. And now wind causes some tree to bash its brenches against my window, the same wind is howling loud enough to wake the dead and there was some horror movie on TV I watched before playing these games. So I won't be able to sleep for, like, the next ten weeks. Which'll give me much, much time to work on this. Expect the next demo be released on Saturday. Yes, there will be a second demo. And probably a third. Depends on the TV program, Yahtzee, and that bloody tree I'm going to chop down if it doesn't stop the branch business.

27.01.07: Despite the cold I caught - here's the second demo! http://www.evilshare.com/a02b0d0a-ff5d-1029-b2ec-00a0c993e9d6 ! Have fun, or else!

10.02.07: There we are, it's nearly possible to complete the game now. Nearly. And there is a third LAN... with the ADMIN. Also, the Tracer has been removed from the first LAN system again, due to balancing issues.

17.02.07: Woohoo, Music Player!

09.03.07: Beta. Check the last post for details.

Darth Mandarb · Fri 29/12/2006 13:29:11

Do all backgrounds of the game look like the first screenshot? (I ask because menu screens (as mentioned in the rules) don't count as 1 of the 2 needed screenshots) If there are other screenshots not the same as the first screen, please post promptly.

Akatosh · Fri 29/12/2006 13:34:46

They look very similar. Remember, you are hacking a computer; the main menu provides a good idea of the look-and-feel. (NOTE: NOT ANYMORE. -13.01.07)

Just in case, I've added another screenie, though (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a23/FAMILIAR_QUEST/access3.png)

Does 'within 5 minutes' count as promplty?

Rui 'Trovatore' Pires · Fri 29/12/2006 23:06:03

I've always liked this sort of game, and it's great to have an AGS game like this. Think you can hazard a guess as for a potential release date, or whether we can wait for a demo, or how far ahead you are in development, or something of the sort?

EDIT - Also, I suggest the approach taken by "Uplink" - do a "User login" every time the player starts. If it exists already, then RESTORE their saved game, and if not START a new game, and save their game whenever they quit and make sure that the player won't use Alt-X to quit, somehow... and thus do away with the SAVE/RESTORE buttons, and replace QUIT with LOGOUT or something. Increases immersion, and is more interesting.

Akatosh · Sat 30/12/2006 11:01:21

Pshew, that's difficult to say. You won't be able to make much use of that information, but I'm finished with the Knollware Public Access Server and the KnollNet Index Server. Also, the "chat" channels #leetspeak, #ags (weee!), #rap and #cyber "work" now. First few puzzles are complete. I'll release a demo when I'm at the point the game actually starts on - the Knollware Mainframe.

/EDIT: I'm thinking of the user thing. But then again, you aren't registered to anything - you are just a random guy trying to get the FRIGGING AWESOME demo from the Public Access Server

Gord10 · Sat 30/12/2006 14:32:56

This game looks interesting

Dan_N · Sat 30/12/2006 16:38:17

Akatosh... :o

I'm flabbergasted. This is a really amazing thing to do with AGS. And it looks awesome.

You once told me to think of the children, now you must think of the children. A DEMO, MAN! QUICK!

Rui 'Trovatore' Pires · Sat 30/12/2006 20:47:46

Re the user registration - then making something similar to WinXP's "Welcome" screen, where you login as any user you like, with your account settings.

Akatosh · Sun 31/12/2006 12:21:19

Thanks for the idea, the log on screen now looks like that,
which in my opinion is just great.

/EDIT: I've already changed the main menu again.

Check here for the updated version. When you quit the game, it now saves into slot 111, and clicking on 'Recent' restores that save game. If not present, you get a nifty error message.

ManicMatt · Sun 31/12/2006 12:31:25

Well probably not quite the same, but I enjoyed that "hacking" minigame on the Matrix PS2 videogame!

This looks neato!

I hope a not-massively-technical person like me will grasp it!

*Access granted!*

Akatosh · Sun 31/12/2006 15:19:16

Demo!

http://www.uploadyourfiles.de/748f12f84deb291fd8e39d604944252f/c2kg0/Download.html
http://dasjoe.de/ags/AccessDemo.zip

It's very early, but you can already solve a few puzzles!

Note: To access an IP, click on the telnet button and type it in, points and everything, e.g. 127.0.0.1. To make the enter ip field vanish, click the button again. 'Looking' does not work on everything, but you'll see when. The LAN screen isn't explained, but I think you'll be able to figure out. If you're stuck or feel you need a certain program to, e.g., bypass a firewall, feel free to ask in the available chat channels. If you asked in the right way, you'll get a helpful reply. The last three chat channels aren't there yet.

Have fun!

/EDIT: Okay, short LAN explanation:

Spoiler

The square things are hubs or the router; just connect to them. The strange thing in the middle of the screen is an isolation bridge. connect and type y to invert the status of the associated locks. The strange colored pc is a lock opener; connect and type y to open the associated lock. The locks are security; you can only connect if they are open (no dot in the middle). The normal-colored pc is your target.
Also, you can only connect to other systems if one of these strange blue lines lead to your target from your current location. If the line is white, it denotes your connection runs that way. To get back to the router, click on reset connection.

[close]

Oh, and I left debug mode on.

Ignore that. I'd replace the file, but I'm feeling too lazy right now. Same is true for writing a readme or adding lookat interaction to the LAN systems right now

Peder 🚀 · Sun 31/12/2006 16:01:10

I have downloaded and will try it when I got time!

Dan_N · Sun 31/12/2006 16:26:24

One word: awesome.

The interface is really nice and pleasing to the eye. Haven't tested the help function yet, but I hope you explained each function nicely.

Kudos, and keep working on it, can't wait for a full version.

Peder 🚀 · Sun 31/12/2006 19:10:03

This is Awesome Akatosh.

A really good idea and the demo is great!

Looking forward to the game to be finished!

Good luck!

Rui 'Trovatore' Pires · Sun 31/12/2006 20:50:12

Great implementation of the user thingamajiggy. Congrats.

EDIT - And please make it so that pressing "ENTER" at the chat program also works.

Ubel · Mon 01/01/2007 12:56:17

I just tried the demo. It's very good and I'd really like to see this game finished! So don't give up on it!

Akatosh · Mon 01/01/2007 13:59:02

Update:
I ceased working on this to continue with a crappy buggy and dumb adventure game instead.

Just kidding

Actually, I just implented the missing chat channels, made the

Spoiler

Toolbot PM

[close]

a little easier to trigger and started working on the after-LAN server. Also, there now are in-game descriptions for the LAN systems (which you'll encounter some additional times).

Akatosh · Sat 13/01/2007 12:30:13

I really hate triple posting, but I have to bump this thread once again. Any mods, delete the post above if you feel like.

/EDIT: Thank you.

Rui 'Trovatore' Pires · Sat 13/01/2007 13:03:07

Now this is starting to look seriously interesting. Good on ye for Securipedia, it's always good to give the players the maximum possible resources.

Akatosh · Sun 14/01/2007 13:05:06

Well, I don't know why, but suddenly my mind went all "Geez, probably there are people who don't know how a bastion host workds!"

The Securipedia will both be a kind of "help function" if you, for example, don't know the settings of a packet filter and needed for one or two puzzles, for example, you'll need a certain vital information to crack the bastion host.

/EDIT: I hope I won't get problems for too much realism... I just realised I actually used Wikipedia as a source for security systems. Good thing everything else is quite non-realistic

I added a disclaimer to the first post, though. Don't expect an explanation how the password_cracker works (although this is so... obvious)

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