Fictitious databases in video games.
 

Just recently, I've started up a new game, after beating another FF, this time it's Front Mission 3, and I feel like I'm parading this game around, but whatever.

Now for the thread:

Do you like to get yourself immersed in ficticious databases that are presented in video games? What do I mean? For example, the database that you access in Balamb Garden in FFVIII, or the Email/Forum server in well, Front Mission 3, or the network and emails that you can hack into in the PC game, Deus Ex, or even the laptops in Splinter Cell.

I personally love these when they're done right, and I can spend an amazing amount of time just reading over emails that are planted in the game to make it more believable, when appropriate. Sometimes they can be funny and amusing, and add life to the game, despite them just being words, much like the GFF forum. For example, in FFVIII and FM3, it adds so much rather redundant information which may seem to waste time for the gamer, but I think it's better that way, since you can sort out the garbage vs the history and its importance to the story.

List other games which you encounter such databases/email servers/networks that just add that element in the gaming atmosphere that this is the "electronic age" and your comments about them.

I sometimes find them entertaining to read through whenever they're present in games.

I remember the FFVIII station in the classroom as well. I didn't access the database until after the first two discs, but I read some of the announcements between story missions.

When I started the .hack series for the first time, the email feature and forums were also interesting. I checked those areas often since they gave clues about the actual game.

Oh yes, this brings up Xenosaga. I loved that bunny thing. So cute. Too bad I didn't bother with Episode II, and I'm just planning on passing this series on by. I like how I got pagers and emails and the bunny would comment. Did the bunny have a name?

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i6...nosaga2265.jpg

It's been quite some time since I've played either game.

I'm not sure if the bunny in Xenosaga had a name. Perhaps it did and I simply overlooked it. I also can't recall if the bunny was present in Episode II.

The bunny was present in XS2, but much MUCH less often. I think I remember seeing him in Miltia.

And I swear he had a name. Maybe it's in Xenosaga I's "fictional database", which you almost HAVE to read to understand the game.

Deus Ex had some cool computer stuff. For instance, in UNATCO, each computer has its own set of permissions, and you can log into different user accounts to read e-mail and do other things. Of course, the best thing to do is just hack the password list.

Speaking of Deus Ex (almost spelt desu there), I'd love to see DE3, on either next gen console or PC would be fine. 1337 Hacker Skillz. Okay no.

I'd have to say yes. I mean, it's the only explanation I have for reading the history of unicorn racing on JORDAN. That's from Snatcher, before anyone asks.

Hmm. i remember Dino Crisis 2 had some mini databases... or some sort. BUt yeah, having a deep and vast amount of 'backstory' can really make me much more immersed in a game

He showed up every time you did a mission in the GS campaign, along with being the one you had to talk to so you could start the whole thing. His picture showed up at the start and end of every mission, and you could read his commentary about each mission after you beat it. There was also the doll in Sakura's room if you want to count that. Overall, he might have shown up less often (though, considering the number of missions there are, I'm not too sure), but I definitely wouldn't say it was that much less compared to the first game.

The Star Ocean 3: Till the End of Time Battle Simulator. I won't be even be spending time in the gym pumping iron where I could just kick hologram-ass.

And gain combat prowess or some shit, plus a good workout.

Morrowwind and Oblivion are full of books. History, mythology, cults, general reference, and fiction can all be found. A lot of it is boring, but I find the history pretty interesting. It really helps to establish the realistic feeling that there's more to this game world than the "present."

Its name was "Bunnie", as far as I can remember.

I like how they integrated a computer research database as a very important part of the game in Gabriel Knight 3. It also gave turn to some nifty puzzles that I enjoyd immensely.

The simulated internet in Front Mission 3 is a major part of why I would bear the game's children, were it physically possible. I loved poking around and reading random shit on construction plans and budget problems, a lot of which had nothing to do with the actual game (or at least the parts Kazuki and co. were concerned with) but helped to draw me into the overall atmosphere. Some of the websites were kinda corny (hey guys, the password for our liberation front's website is "BEFREE!") but overall yes, much <3.

Oddidly enough, it seems Front Mission 4 doesn't have any of those fictitious databases :( (beside the newspapers and that's not even much).

I'll assume that libraries and bookshelves are forms of databases, technically.

I loved reading all the books in shelves in the Wild Arms series, particularly Wild Arms 3. You'd come across all this info on the guardians as well as interesting battle and story bits. A lot of the time, there were hints hidden in the books, in addition to all the neat filler story.

In Star Ocean 3, almost every shelf had a longer than usual storybook in it. I was really surprised at how much words they put in almost every book in almost every house in almost every town.

In Growlanser Generations, II had this collectable story you could read which was somewhat interesting, despite the chapters not really linking together.

In FM3, I spent more time reading the emails and info in between chapters than actually fighting in the mechs. I barely noticed the database in FFVIII though since I played it a long time ago.

The Armored Core Series has always been a favorite of mine, as the the whole menu system makes you feel as though you are in some control area ready to accept missions for certain areas/corporations, and the emails you receive from opposing pilots make you feel a part of it.

When it's done right I like it, but I couldn't get into the FFesque ones as they made me feel "out of the game" rather than more emmersed in it.

Another type that isn't mentioned is the "lore books" in some games, like Oblivion/Morrowind, both of which had extensive lore books just on the history of the world. Those I liked, and many were quite interesting to read. I can see many mods that could come out of those kind of things.

I never really feel that I have that ability to take on board all that kind of information, but it's nice to know it's there and that many aspects of the game have some sort of solid foundation, rather than just drawing things out of thin air. It's been too long since I last played FFVIII and Deus Ex and I can only remember faintly what their database/mail system were like. I found the mails to be funny in Front Mission 3 and I liked to see those who were wanted by the police, whom you then turn in anonymously. The desktop was cool, I loved the Mr. Rupy wallpaper. I'm seeking Mr. Rupy on the internet.

Is it just me or did I enjoy reading Jiminy's Journal on all the characters/plot devices in the KH series.

The PDAs in Doom 3 could be really annoying at times. I practically felt obligated to find as many of those as possible just so I could get some code to some locker. And oh the frustration when they didn't have much by way of importance. I admit I snickered a little at one I found where some guy complains about some big shipment of chainsaws that came in, and his ranting about how useless the shipment is and how he has no idea why that ended up here, etc.

Front Mission III database is amazing. I spend quite time to read the email and "browsing" the "network" :D

Rockman EXE series also features some database. There are some fictional bulletin board in the game and email address, but I think it's lame, compared to FM III.

The idea was much better implemented in the System Shock series, IMO. That's a great fictional database right there that doubles as plot dump.

I suppose you could consider the Marathon series computer terminals in the same way, since they were brimming with historical tidbits about Earth and the aliens. I still love poking through the Marathon's Story page.

One of the best Databases I encountered was the Encyclopedia in Star Ocean 3. It was a nice place to get a lot of info about the various aspects of the game.

Another good one was the Monster Database from Final Fantasy X-2. The best aspect was that the enemies were presented as they appeared in battle: in 3D and moving.

In Metroid Prime games, I read through all those scan logs, and all the individual notes on everything. There's a lot there.