Hacking mini games, what is best?

[Sorakun]

Alright so I am currently working on a VN where the protagonist is a programmer/hacker,

We are going to be adding a mini-game of some sort of hacking, or at least that we call hacking.

So I'm looking for advice on what kind of mini-game would be best? A lot of games have some sort of hacking in them, such as:
Assassins Creed
Deus Ex
Jack and Daxter
Fallout 3 ect

So, what do you think is best, and why? what was good/bad about them?

[Tempus]

Of your list, I've played Assassin's Creed (the first two), Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and Fallout 3. I don't recall any hacking in Assassin's Creed, so I'm assuming you mean later entries. I didn't mind Deus Ex: HR's hacking since the mini game gave you a few ways to do things, as well as items to use during it. On top of that it wasn't too difficult to build up points to get good at. Also, you could often bypass the hacking altogether since the game let you achieve things in multiple ways. I don't remember Fallout 3's hacking, besides that I disliked it.

There's a relatively new hacking game out that uses actual programming logic in puzzles rather than super abstracted representations of it. (About half an hour later and I've found it again.) It's called Glitchspace. Here's a Gamasutra article about it. Also, there are quite a few older games that use hacking or something like it as a mechanic. IIRC Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic had hacking mini games too. Here's some games on my "to-play" list that sound like they might involve hacking:

• Snatcher
  System Shock 2
  Uplink
  Hacker Evolution
  Gemini Rue
  Burn Cycle
  Hard Reset

[ThisIsNoName]

I don't remember Fallout 3's hacking, besides that I disliked it.

Dang, I was just going to say how Fallout 3's hacking was my favorite.

Another hacking game you might want to look into is "Enter the Matrix". The hacking section is actually a separate part of the game, and is almost like a mix between interactive fiction and a DOS prompt. (also you can unlock cheats IIRC, which is awesome). It was easily the best part of an otherwise mediocre game.

[Sorakun]

Of your list, I've played Assassin's Creed (the first two), Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and Fallout 3. I don't recall any hacking in Assassin's Creed, so I'm assuming you mean later entries. I didn't mind Deus Ex: HR's hacking since the mini game gave you a few ways to do things, as well as items to use during it. On top of that it wasn't too difficult to build up points to get good at. Also, you could often bypass the hacking altogether since the game let you achieve things in multiple ways. I don't remember Fallout 3's hacking, besides that I disliked it.

There's a relatively new hacking game out that uses actual programming logic in puzzles rather than super abstracted representations of it. (About half an hour later and I've found it again.) It's called Glitchspace. Here's a Gamasutra article about it. Also, there are quite a few older games that use hacking or something like it as a mechanic. IIRC Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic had hacking mini games too. Here's some games on my "to-play" list that sound like they might involve hacking:

• Snatcher
  System Shock 2
  Uplink
  Hacker Evolution
  Gemini Rue
  Burn Cycle
  Hard Reset

Well if you like the idea of script kiddie programming Uplink is a great game. In itself it was a decent game though not something id replay.
Hacker Evolution was definitely my favorite hacking game but I don't know if it would be too advanced for a player to get a hang of as a mini game.
I haven't tried the others in the list though so i shall take a look

And the reference to the Assassins Creed hacking was from the 4th installment in the series, that is to say Black Flag.

I don't remember Fallout 3's hacking, besides that I disliked it.

Dang, I was just going to say how Fallout 3's hacking was my favorite.

Another hacking game you might want to look into is "Enter the Matrix". The hacking section is actually a separate part of the game, and is almost like a mix between interactive fiction and a DOS prompt. (also you can unlock cheats IIRC, which is awesome). It was easily the best part of an otherwise mediocre game.

Do you think that people would be able to grasp a DOS like prompt version of hacking if it was just for a mini game type thing?
From experience in developing games in the past people generally don't think too much as as of such tend to not get even some of the most basic things that aren't spelled out to them, I'm worried of this as it would bring peoples view of the game down

[Asceai]

I'd have a hard think about whether you want this in the game at all. The problem is, no matter how much effort you put into your representation of hacking in the story (and us programmer-types do like to get this right) it can really be dragged down by a silly minigame where connecting four blocks gets you into the mainframe. On the other hand, a hacking minigame that tries to be realistic will end up being some combination of boring and incomprehensible, and you could easily alienate a lot of your readers. There's a constant struggle between trying to make a story realistic and trying to make it entertaining and a minigame could make it even harder to get the balance right.

[ThisIsNoName]

I don't remember Fallout 3's hacking, besides that I disliked it.

Dang, I was just going to say how Fallout 3's hacking was my favorite.

Another hacking game you might want to look into is "Enter the Matrix". The hacking section is actually a separate part of the game, and is almost like a mix between interactive fiction and a DOS prompt. (also you can unlock cheats IIRC, which is awesome). It was easily the best part of an otherwise mediocre game.

Do you think that people would be able to grasp a DOS like prompt version of hacking if it was just for a mini game type thing?
From experience in developing games in the past people generally don't think too much as as of such tend to not get even some of the most basic things that aren't spelled out to them, I'm worried of this as it would bring peoples view of the game down

I think part of the reason why it worked in Enter the Matrix was because it was a completely optional and separate mode. If you have a linear story where you have to stop progress to go into the hacking minigame, then I think it would get frustrating quickly.

[Sorakun]

I'd have a hard think about whether you want this in the game at all. The problem is, no matter how much effort you put into your representation of hacking in the story (and us programmer-types do like to get this right) it can really be dragged down by a silly minigame where connecting four blocks gets you into the mainframe. On the other hand, a hacking minigame that tries to be realistic will end up being some combination of boring and incomprehensible, and you could easily alienate a lot of your readers. There's a constant struggle between trying to make a story realistic and trying to make it entertaining and a minigame could make it even harder to get the balance right.

I think part of the reason why it worked in Enter the Matrix was because it was a completely optional and separate mode. If you have a linear story where you have to stop progress to go into the hacking minigame, then I think it would get frustrating quickly.

So, if it was optional for example would let you unlock some bonus content, but not vital to the story, it would probably work better? As that way you wouldn't hold people back with it, but also you could give a bit more of an explanation to it

[Oreo_Blue]

So, if it was optional for example would let you unlock some bonus content, but not vital to the story, it would probably work better? As that way you wouldn't hold people back with it, but also you could give a bit more of an explanation to it

That's a good idea. If you implement some sort of cheat that completed the hacking game automatically, people who don't want to play the hacking minigame can just skip that part, and the people who played and win the minigame, will get a reward.

[Sorakun]

So, if it was optional for example would let you unlock some bonus content, but not vital to the story, it would probably work better? As that way you wouldn't hold people back with it, but also you could give a bit more of an explanation to it

That's a good idea. If you implement some sort of cheat that completed the hacking game automatically, people who don't want to play the hacking minigame can just skip that part, and the people who played and win the minigame, will get a reward.

A hacking cheat, that is an interesting thought. Hmm so something like a script which you can start which will automatically complete the hack, interesting, i shall have to give this a go