Uplink (video game)

Uplink
Uplink icon Uplink box cover Uplink box cover
Developer(s)	Introversion Software
Publisher(s)	Introversion Software (Windows/Linux), Ambrosia Software (Mac OS X), Stardock (Windows)
Designer(s)	Chris Delay, Mark Morris, Thomas Arundel
Platform(s)	Windows, Linux, Mac OS X
Release	October 1, 2001 (Windows/Linux) May 27, 2003 (Mac OS X) August 23, 2006 (Steam)
Genre(s)	Hacking Sim
Mode(s)	Single player

For the Half-Life demo, see Half-Life: Uplink.

Uplink is a computer game released in 2001 by the British software company Introversion Software. On 23 August 2006, it was made available for purchase on Valve's Steam service. It is a near-unique game that is best described as a simulator of the cinematic depiction of computer hacking.

Plot

In the game, the player assumes the role of a hacker in the year 2010, who begins work for the Uplink Corporation, which is a world-wide company providing work for hackers. The player amasses money, software, Gateway hardware and skill in the course of performing jobs for various clients, hacking servers of global corporations for profit. The storyline of the game begins with the player receiving an e-mail from a deceased top ranking Uplink agent concerning the research done by the Andromeda Research Corporation, related to the Andromeda organization which proclaims the destruction of the Internet. It is constructing a computer virus known as Revelation using artificial life research as base in an attempt to destroy the world wide net. One of the companies, Arunmor, attempts to cross their plans by developing Faith, a counter virus that can purge Revelation. The player can choose between two companies or even ignore the plot in its entirety, concentrating on freelance hacking, in which case the storyline plays out without the player's participation.

Style

Uplink focuses on emulating highly stylised, Hollywood-esque hacking, as seen in movies such as Hackers, Sneakers, WarGames and Swordfish. References to these movies can be found throughout the game, including joke servers for companies such as Steve Jackson Games (which appears to have been raided by the Secret Service) and a nuclear missile control system from WarGames. It also features at least two references to the movie Sneakers. One of which can be found in the first version of the game (and was later removed in an update released by Introversion) which is a cheat code in which the user has to enter TooManySecrets as the username thus allowing him to access a cheat menu. This is a reference to the film Sneakers (an anagram to the phrase "Setec Astronomy")

The game has a certain number of unusual features, including an in-game IRC function to talk to other players and a "multimonitor" function which allows the player to play the game over two screens (disabled in version 1.34), using a LAN connection to another computer running the game. This feature is often mistaken for multiplayer by some, due to the fact that in the original versions it was mislabeled 'Network'.

Soundtrack

File:Number One.jpg

The Uplink Corporation has a ranking system for its agents. Here, the player has managed to achieve the highest position.

The game uses several songs originally made in s3m, mod and xm format. The original song files are included on the Bonus CD-ROM of the game, a disk that was originally given as a free addition to those who referred the game to others. The disk also includes several songs which were rejected. This is the chosen soundtrack, with artist and downloads where available; the songs are all apparently free.

• The Blue Valley by Karsten Koch
• Deep in Her Eyes by Peter 'Skaven' Hajba
• Mystique Parts 1 and 2 by 'Timelord'
• Digital Serenity by Ryan Cramer
• Symphonic by Dual Crew

Although the files are all in .s3m, .mod or .xm format where available, these formats play in several audio players (e.g. Winamp) and tools do exist to convert them to .mp3 and other formats if someone wishes to play them in portable audio players, such as CDMaster32 [1].

Release

The game was released for Microsoft Windows and Linux directly by Introversion, and ported to and released for Mac by Contraband and Ambrosia Software respectively. Chris Delay stated in an interview with PC Gamer UK that they did not pay for advertising of the game at all - it became known purely by word of mouth. A version released in the US was published and distributed by Strategy First under the title Uplink: Hacker Elite. Legal proceedings were undertaken when Strategy First filed for bankruptcy and ceased paying Introversion royalties, but the Hacker Elite version remains available from various sources. The game is now also available via Valve's Steam online distribution service.

File:AcademLink.JPG

A typical mission in Uplink, where the player is falsifying academic records.

Fanbase

Uplink has a strong modding community, with themes, gateways, new sound and image packs, and other additions being made. In mid-2003 Introversion began selling the source code for the game, along with other tools on the Uplink Developer CD. This has led to a large number of gameplay modifications including new skins and graphics, new sounds and music, mission types, new entities to hack such as the FBI Mod, which adds an FBI server to the game[2], along with new security systems and missions, and total conversions such as Uplink: The Mod and Onlink. Introversion are currently in the process of making a new patch with a number of beta-patches, which beta-testers can play without having to buy the game, currently a 1.5 patch is available [3].

Hacker Elite royalties

A version released in the US was published and distributed by Strategy First under the title Uplink: Hacker Elite. Strategy First ran into financial difficulties, and ceased paying royalties to Introversion shortly before filing for bankruptcy protection, but continued to sell the game in competition with Introversion.

On 20th January 2006 Introversion announced they were taking legal action against all retailers of Uplink: Hacker Elite [4], except Stardock [5]. It transpired that, while filing for bankruptcy would have caused a breach of contract, Strategy First persuaded Canadian courts to grant a moratorium preventing termination of the contract[6]. Strategy First has resumed paying limited royalties.

Stores and services currently reselling Hacker Elite in North America include:

• Stardock, as part of TotalGaming.net
• Direct2Drive, IGN's digital distribution service (as of July 2006)
• Strategy First's online store
• Turner Broadcasting's GameTap service.

As some versions of Uplink: Hacker Elite have been modified, many game mods and patches will not run with the Hacker Elite version.

See also

• Cyberpunk
• Hacking

External links

• Official website
• Introversion Software
• Modlink — Modding website
• The Ultimate Uplink Guide — Exhaustive guide
• ambrosia Software — Macintosh version
• Uplink: Hacker Elite at TotalGaming.net — PC version