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So Uplink is a pretty fun game

245

Posts

  • ArminasArminas Student of Life SF, CARegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Oh my god, I didn't know this was on steam! I played this years ago and well, I didn't actually even know there was a story to this. Or I forgot. But I found an account with a HUGE amount of money so I remember saving the account information and then trying to hack it later. I had saved my game and well, I failed miserably the first time and got hit by the feds hard but I tried a second time and realized how little time I had but ended up getting far far too much money for me to count. I bought all the nicest things I could, and then...well, I think I stopped playing and decided that I'd put my hacker life away and go live somewhere sunny and warm.

    I'm going to go buy this, you know, for the story.

    Oh wait, I have Vista (32 bit), hmm... is this going to be a problem?

    Arminas on
  • TubeTube Registered User admin
    edited June 2010
    It's working fine on Vista for me.

    Tube on
  • Death Cab For AlbieDeath Cab For Albie Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Can someone explain to me how i'm getting caught?

    I go in, do the mission, delete my logs and get out before the trace finishes. Yet, i'm still being caught, I'm not sure what else I can do???

    Death Cab For Albie on
    ...we made it cool to wear medallions and say hotep...
  • Fleck0Fleck0 Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Can someone explain to me how i'm getting caught?

    I go in, do the mission, delete my logs and get out before the trace finishes. Yet, i'm still being caught, I'm not sure what else I can do???

    Almost certainly being tracked back to your Gateway through the logs you're leaving in the comps you bounce your connection off of

    When you log out of your target comp it'll leave a log saying "######## (last IP you bounced off)" has logged out. They can then slowly or in some organizations (like banks) very quickly use that to trace you back to your gateway.

    My preferred solution, always have InterNIC as your first bounce (because you dont have to re-hack it each time), than after every few missions go in and delete all the logs that show your gateway being routed through it. Thus when they reverse track the path you took to hack them they'll hit a dead-end at InterNIC and you can hack in safety

    Fleck0 on
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  • badger2dbadger2d San FranciscoRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Can someone explain to me how i'm getting caught?

    This represents the experience I remember from playing this game. It was pretty cool through the first few easy missions, then at some point after doing a bigger job I would get busted without having any idea what trail I had left behind. After a bunch of such tries I still hadn't figured out even in the haziest way what I should be looking for.

    edit: Log-out logs! I like it, that's kind of a wickedly subtle answer.

    badger2d on
    Blizzard: Symphony #1704
    Steam: badger2d
  • SzechuanSzechuan Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Axen wrote: »
    I remember playing Uplink a long time ago so my memory is a bit fuzzy, but you were just a normal human hacker correct?

    I seem to remember a game like Uplink, only you were a newly self-aware AI. The premise was that you had to slowly build yourself in to a Skynet like entity while staying under Humanity's radar. IIRC it was like Uplink with all the hacking and everything. However, you had to expand your capabilities, control, and over all influence in the world without raising Mankind's suspicion.

    Or maybe that game was just a fever dream. :?

    Are you sure you're not thinking of the let's play of Uplink featuring Enkidu?

    I'd like to chime in and note that this was one of the best Let's Plays I've ever read. I have neither owned nor played Uplink and still found it extremely entertaining.

    Szechuan on
  • Death Cab For AlbieDeath Cab For Albie Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Fleck0 wrote: »
    Can someone explain to me how i'm getting caught?

    I go in, do the mission, delete my logs and get out before the trace finishes. Yet, i'm still being caught, I'm not sure what else I can do???

    Almost certainly being tracked back to your Gateway through the logs you're leaving in the comps you bounce your connection off of

    When you log out of your target comp it'll leave a log saying "######## (last IP you bounced off)" has logged out. They can then slowly or in some organizations (like banks) very quickly use that to trace you back to your gateway.

    My preferred solution, always have InterNIC as your first bounce (because you dont have to re-hack it each time), than after every few missions go in and delete all the logs that show your gateway being routed through it. Thus when they reverse track the path you took to hack them they'll hit a dead-end at InterNIC and you can hack in safety

    This generally starts happening when I get to lvl 5 hacks (editing people in the criminal database, etc...).

    How secure are the other Uplink servers? I generally start off bouncing off InterNIC, then hit off the 4 (i think) uplink servers (bank, test, public access, i forgot the other). If I need more time, I usually add some public access servers.

    Also, could I not just remove one bounce in the middle of the connection and then they shouldn't be able to track me back? (i.e. i bounce off 7 servers, remove the routing logs from the 5th server or something, and then they should come up empty after that)

    Death Cab For Albie on
    ...we made it cool to wear medallions and say hotep...
  • Dr SnofeldDr Snofeld Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Has anyone actually done any of the plots? The first mission has proxies and stuff and by that stage I never have proxy bypass or the like.

    Dr Snofeld on
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  • ShogunShogun Hair long; money long; me and broke wizards we don't get along Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Alright I'll bite. Downloading now.

    Do I have to understand a lot of technical jargon in terms of hacking and stuff because I gave up on that business when I was a lad. Its not nearly as easy as hollywood makes it out to be.

    Shogun on
  • Dr SnofeldDr Snofeld Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Shogun wrote: »
    Alright I'll bite. Downloading now.

    Do I have to understand a lot of technical jargon in terms of hacking and stuff because I gave up on that business when I was a lad. Its not nearly as easy as hollywood makes it out to be.

    It's mostly point and click with some VERY basic command line stuff in a couple of places.

    Tip for when you first start out, go to your bank account and take out the maximum loan, then spend all your money on the best log deleter and password cracker. You should have exactly enough. It'll only take you a few missions to recover your losses.

    Dr Snofeld on
    l4d_sig.png
  • Death Cab For AlbieDeath Cab For Albie Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Dr Snofeld wrote: »
    Shogun wrote: »
    Alright I'll bite. Downloading now.

    Do I have to understand a lot of technical jargon in terms of hacking and stuff because I gave up on that business when I was a lad. Its not nearly as easy as hollywood makes it out to be.

    It's mostly point and click with some VERY basic command line stuff in a couple of places.

    Tip for when you first start out, go to your bank account and take out the maximum loan, then spend all your money on the best log deleter and password cracker. You should have exactly enough. It'll only take you a few missions to recover your losses.

    I believe there is only one version of the password cracker. After the basic software upgrades, the first thing I always go for is the 12k credit processor. Makes everything easier. But until I can figure out how to stop getting caught all the damn time, i'm never going to get very far. I bought the game last night and have already gone through 5 agents.

    Death Cab For Albie on
    ...we made it cool to wear medallions and say hotep...
  • Dr SnofeldDr Snofeld Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Dr Snofeld wrote: »
    Shogun wrote: »
    Alright I'll bite. Downloading now.

    Do I have to understand a lot of technical jargon in terms of hacking and stuff because I gave up on that business when I was a lad. Its not nearly as easy as hollywood makes it out to be.

    It's mostly point and click with some VERY basic command line stuff in a couple of places.

    Tip for when you first start out, go to your bank account and take out the maximum loan, then spend all your money on the best log deleter and password cracker. You should have exactly enough. It'll only take you a few missions to recover your losses.

    I believe there is only one version of the password cracker. After the basic software upgrades, the first thing I always go for is the 12k credit processor. Makes everything easier. But until I can figure out how to stop getting caught all the damn time, i'm never going to get very far. I bought the game last night and have already gone through 5 agents.

    Well actually there's the regular cracker and the dictionary-based one, which is useless cos only the real easy hacks use passwords that are real words and not gibberish.

    What's your hack procedure? Maybe it'd help to figure out where you're screwing up.

    Dr Snofeld on
    l4d_sig.png
  • Ninja Snarl PNinja Snarl P My helmet is my burden. Ninja Snarl: Gone, but not forgotten.Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Uplink is more of a puzzle game than some sort of in-depth super-hacker game. Most of it is more common sense if you're more familiar with technical jargon, but the game will more or less tell you what you need to know. The rest is planning and logic on the part of a player. You'll probably learn a thing or two, but the game still presents a pretty simplified version of a lot of computer concepts. Much more in-depth than Hollywood stuff, but far less of a learning curve than something like the average RTS.

    Ninja Snarl P on
  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Axen wrote: »
    I remember playing Uplink a long time ago so my memory is a bit fuzzy, but you were just a normal human hacker correct?

    I seem to remember a game like Uplink, only you were a newly self-aware AI. The premise was that you had to slowly build yourself in to a Skynet like entity while staying under Humanity's radar. IIRC it was like Uplink with all the hacking and everything. However, you had to expand your capabilities, control, and over all influence in the world without raising Mankind's suspicion.

    Or maybe that game was just a fever dream. :?

    I think you're thinking of "A Mind Forever Voyaging."

    PolloDiablo on
  • jothkijothki Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Dr Snofeld wrote: »
    Dr Snofeld wrote: »
    Shogun wrote: »
    Alright I'll bite. Downloading now.

    Do I have to understand a lot of technical jargon in terms of hacking and stuff because I gave up on that business when I was a lad. Its not nearly as easy as hollywood makes it out to be.

    It's mostly point and click with some VERY basic command line stuff in a couple of places.

    Tip for when you first start out, go to your bank account and take out the maximum loan, then spend all your money on the best log deleter and password cracker. You should have exactly enough. It'll only take you a few missions to recover your losses.

    I believe there is only one version of the password cracker. After the basic software upgrades, the first thing I always go for is the 12k credit processor. Makes everything easier. But until I can figure out how to stop getting caught all the damn time, i'm never going to get very far. I bought the game last night and have already gone through 5 agents.

    Well actually there's the regular cracker and the dictionary-based one, which is useless cos only the real easy hacks use passwords that are real words and not gibberish.

    What's your hack procedure? Maybe it'd help to figure out where you're screwing up.

    Having played the demo years ago, I'd assume that the dictionary cracker would primarily be useful for things like bank accounts, where there'd be decent security on the hardware side but weaknesses on the consumer side.

    Kind of amusing though how useless a password cracker would be in real life. You probably wouldn't make it through the first digit before logins get temporarily disabled.

    jothki on
  • BlurblBlurbl -_- Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Bought this a couple hours ago, already lost my first agent, attempting to change a record in the criminal database. Damn.

    Blurbl on
  • Death Cab For AlbieDeath Cab For Albie Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Blurbl wrote: »
    Bought this a couple hours ago, already lost my first agent, attempting to change a record in the criminal database. Damn.

    Don't feel bad, I'm losing them at a pretty startling pace.

    Death Cab For Albie on
    ...we made it cool to wear medallions and say hotep...
  • ShogunShogun Hair long; money long; me and broke wizards we don't get along Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    You guys are scaring me away from installing this.

    Shogun on
  • MrVyngaardMrVyngaard Live From New Etoile Straight Outta SosariaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I still have the original release of this game.

    Good times. Love the soundtrack something fierce.

    MrVyngaard on
    "now I've got this mental image of caucuses as cafeteria tables in prison, and new congressmen having to beat someone up on inauguration day." - Raiden333
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  • Fort1tudeFort1tude Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    dont forget to leave the log showing you connected, or you will get caught when the game only sees "**** has disconnected"

    Fort1tude on
    Steam ID - Fort1tude
  • TetraNitroCubaneTetraNitroCubane Not Angry... Just VERY Disappointed...Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Fort1tude wrote: »
    dont forget to leave the log showing you connected, or you will get caught when the game only sees "**** has disconnected"

    And also remember to delete the log indicating that you gained Admin access. I forgot that one a few times, with the expected consequences.

    If anyone's getting really frustrated with any particular kind of mission, or just curious about what impact actions have, I again recommend the Ultimate Uplink Guide. It provides a lot of good tips, and it's pretty well organized. Just don't poke around in the walkthrough section if you don't want spoilers. Otherwise the mechanics are easy to find spoiler-free... Unless you're trying to figure it out on your own via trial and error, of course.

    Also, my tips for avoiding traces in paranoia situations:
    First hop is InterNIC, Second hop is Uplink Test Computer, between you and your target put a bajillion difference bounces, not just three or four (I usually have the bounces going around the world at least twice). If you have time still while connected to the 'job', go into the Admin console and nuke malicious activity logs (i.e. file deletions, copying, etc) and the Admin elevation log. Leave your connection log. It'll look like you connected and disconnected without actually doing anything. Once you finish your job, disconnect, and log into InterNIC immediately. Delete two logs - (1) The Admin access log for your current session, and (2) The routing log for the job you're trying to obscure. Once that's done, quickly do another connection route, this time starting at InterNIC, bouncing a few times (~10, to prevent the trace-disconnect), and getting to the Uplink test machine. Now, again delete the Admin and routing logs.

    No one will trace you for the hacking of the Uplink Test computer, even if you get disconnected, so it's a nice buffer layer. If you can get to it before the passive trace does, then the Feds will never even get to InterNIC. And even if they do - Whoops! Nothing to see there anyway.

    TetraNitroCubane on
  • Death Cab For AlbieDeath Cab For Albie Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Fort1tude wrote: »
    dont forget to leave the log showing you connected, or you will get caught when the game only sees "**** has disconnected"

    And also remember to delete the log indicating that you gained Admin access. I forgot that one a few times, with the expected consequences.

    If anyone's getting really frustrated with any particular kind of mission, or just curious about what impact actions have, I again recommend the Ultimate Uplink Guide. It provides a lot of good tips, and it's pretty well organized. Just don't poke around in the walkthrough section if you don't want spoilers. Otherwise the mechanics are easy to find spoiler-free... Unless you're trying to figure it out on your own via trial and error, of course.

    Also, my tips for avoiding traces in paranoia situations:
    First hop is InterNIC, Second hop is Uplink Test Computer, between you and your target put a bajillion difference bounces, not just three or four (I usually have the bounces going around the world at least twice). If you have time still while connected to the 'job', go into the Admin console and nuke malicious activity logs (i.e. file deletions, copying, etc) and the Admin elevation log. Leave your connection log. It'll look like you connected and disconnected without actually doing anything. Once you finish your job, disconnect, and log into InterNIC immediately. Delete two logs - (1) The Admin access log for your current session, and (2) The routing log for the job you're trying to obscure. Once that's done, quickly do another connection route, this time starting at InterNIC, bouncing a few times (~10, to prevent the trace-disconnect), and getting to the Uplink test machine. Now, again delete the Admin and routing logs.

    No one will trace you for the hacking of the Uplink Test computer, even if you get disconnected, so it's a nice buffer layer. If you can get to it before the passive trace does, then the Feds will never even get to InterNIC. And even if they do - Whoops! Nothing to see there anyway.

    So you don't worry about removing the bounce logs from all your hops? Just the interNIC and uplink test?

    Death Cab For Albie on
    ...we made it cool to wear medallions and say hotep...
  • tetsuoZshimatetsuoZshima Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Repox wrote: »
    hack 192.168.0.1
    seriously though, I thought when I played this on gametap they would remove the copy protection

    Main reason I canceled my gametap account: I love me some old gaming. It's fucking ridiculous that if you want to play an old kings quest game, that THEY provide on the service, it's next to impossible. You can only open the manual window in the fucking game window, which automatically pauses the game. Only pausing the game gives you a "wrong answer" response to the copy protection question, which is something along the lines of "what is the 3rd word in the 2nd paragraph on page 29." So it pauses, you check the word, go back, unpauses, says you fail, and gives you a different question... of course... to get to the manual...

    yeah.

    tetsuoZshima on
  • TetraNitroCubaneTetraNitroCubane Not Angry... Just VERY Disappointed...Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    So you don't worry about removing the bounce logs from all your hops? Just the interNIC and uplink test?

    That's right, and the Uplink test machine is just added insurance. Technically you can get away with just InterNIC.

    Break the chain in any one place, and those tracking you will be bamboozled. The thing to keep in mind are that some places trace you stupid fast (Government agencies / banks), so you've got to get to those logs before they do. If you're too slow, they'll find you by following the chain before you delete it, hence why you want your deletion points within the first hops - Which will be the last places they check on their end, buying you time.

    Also be aware that a sub-standard (i.e. less than level 5) log deleter will leave traces behind that can be undeleted by savvy enough hackers. As someone else in the thread mentioned, you want that level 5 log deleter quickly.

    TetraNitroCubane on
  • ArrathArrath Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I seem to remember using the log modifier to change my hop records to originate from some government servers. That was fun.

    Arrath on
  • AlectharAlecthar Alan Shore We're not territorial about that sort of thing, are we?Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I played Uplink a ton last fall, before I owned a computer that could actually run modern games. It's not exactly a high fidelity simulation of hacking, but it does a brilliant job of selling you on this cinematic version of hacking. It makes you feel like an awesome corporate saboteur, instead of the lonely dude in his basement with remote access software, a case of moutain dew, some cheetos and a password cracker he found via google.

    Alecthar on
  • Dr SnofeldDr Snofeld Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    The reason InterNIC is always first is because its password never changes and it never traces you, so you don't need to bounce.

    Dr Snofeld on
    l4d_sig.png
  • BlurblBlurbl -_- Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    So that Let's Play that was linked was pretty fucking awsome reading in it's own right.

    Wait, is the storyline in it part of the game? Seems a bit advanced for it.

    Edit: Yeah, that's the game's story. Well I'll be damned.

    Blurbl on
  • ShogunShogun Hair long; money long; me and broke wizards we don't get along Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    So I took my first newb mission besides the test mission. I got the file but then I was disconnected. I reconnected to try and delete my logs and I was disconnected again. It says I have to pay two fines and now no one will work with me.

    Shogun on
  • Dr SnofeldDr Snofeld Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Shogun wrote: »
    So I took my first newb mission besides the test mission. I got the file but then I was disconnected. I reconnected to try and delete my logs and I was disconnected again. It says I have to pay two fines and now no one will work with me.

    Did you bounce the connection? How far? Did you remove the logs at InterNIC?

    I can't find my disc, I may just buy it a second time on Steam cos I like Introversion so much.

    Dr Snofeld on
    l4d_sig.png
  • BlurblBlurbl -_- Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Shogun wrote: »
    So I took my first newb mission besides the test mission. I got the file but then I was disconnected. I reconnected to try and delete my logs and I was disconnected again. It says I have to pay two fines and now no one will work with me.

    Are you remembering to bounce the connection between you and the target?

    It's not totally necessary to remove logs on the target, as long as you stop the chain somewhere between the two computers.

    Blurbl on
  • TubeTube Registered User admin
    edited June 2010
    1. don't get disconnected. if you get disconnected, you're done. they've got a complete trace and you're going to get a criminal record and a fine at best. always make sure you hit disconnect before they trace you.
    2. you don't want to erase the logs on the computer you hacked, because you'll just leave an exit log when you log out and they'll figure it out. You need to delete the logs on one of your bounces (preferably interNIC). It makes sense, but it's hard to get your head around how the game works

    Tube on
  • ruzkinruzkin Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I love Uplink to death, and own the physical copy from waaaay back, but when I switched from PC to mac the fucker just refused to work properly, despite there being a Mac version included on the cd.

    On PC, you can toggle sound and music off independently. On Mac, the music and sound are linked. You get both or none. Oh, also, the mouse pointer does not relate to where you're actually clicking. Oh, and none of the resolution options work.

    Oh, and running it through VMWare creates screen-flash seizures :(

    I miss Uplink.

    ruzkin on
    g4OlSIF.jpg
  • ShogunShogun Hair long; money long; me and broke wizards we don't get along Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I bounce the connection off as many servers as possible. Do I disconnect then reconnect to InterNIC to delete the logs? If I bring up the world map with the log deleter and click on InterNIC it says something about it can't mess with an active connection or something.

    Shogun on
  • TubeTube Registered User admin
    edited June 2010
    Shogun wrote: »
    I bounce the connection off as many servers as possible. Do I disconnect then reconnect to InterNIC to delete the logs? If I bring up the world map with the log deleter and click on InterNIC it says something about it can't mess with an active connection or something.

    Disconnect from whatever you were hacking

    Connect direct (no bounces) to InterNIC and hack into the admin account (they don't trace you or change the password)

    delete the bounce log but NOT your log in log. JUST the bounce log. Anything else will leave holes that they can use to track you, because you're going to leave a log when you log out no matter what

    voila, their trace will hit a dead end because interNIC has no record of who the signal was bounced from

    Tube on
  • ShogunShogun Hair long; money long; me and broke wizards we don't get along Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Shogun wrote: »
    I bounce the connection off as many servers as possible. Do I disconnect then reconnect to InterNIC to delete the logs? If I bring up the world map with the log deleter and click on InterNIC it says something about it can't mess with an active connection or something.

    Disconnect from whatever you were hacking

    Connect direct (no bounces) to InterNIC and hack into the admin account (they don't trace you or change the password)

    delete the bounce log but NOT your log in log. JUST the bounce log. Anything else will leave holes that they can use to track you, because you're going to leave a log when you log out no matter what

    voila, their trace will hit a dead end because interNIC has no record of who the signal was bounced from

    Right on gonna give this a try. I didn't realize I was supposed to hack InterNIC. And if you only have to hack it once it would make it a lot easier to get rid of the logs. I also did what someone else said earlier and upped my loan and got the 2nd version of the log deleter.

    Shogun on
  • TubeTube Registered User admin
    edited June 2010
    Shogun wrote: »
    Right on gonna give this a try. I didn't realize I was supposed to hack InterNIC. And if you only have to hack it once it would make it a lot easier to get rid of the logs. I also did what someone else said earlier and upped my loan and got the 2nd version of the log deleter.

    InterNIC is basically the game throwing you a bone by making it easy to delete your logs. What's funny is that no one tracing you will ever go "well we know this guy can delete his logs, and only one person ever logs in and out of this unsecured computer where all of our traces hit a dead end. you think that IP is the guy?"

    Tube on
  • ShogunShogun Hair long; money long; me and broke wizards we don't get along Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Worked flawlessly.

    Ok so should I just leave all the programs I plan to use running? If I have a bunch of shit going will the password breaker go slower?

    Shogun on
  • TubeTube Registered User admin
    edited June 2010
    Shogun wrote: »
    Worked flawlessly.

    Ok so should I just leave all the programs I plan to use running? If I have a bunch of shit going will the password breaker go slower?

    Yeah, it goes a lot slower, but you can ramp it up. stuff like the trace tracker and motion detector should always be up, but most stuff you can take off if you're not using it. as you get a better computer multi tasking becomes more viable.

    Tube on
  • Dr SnofeldDr Snofeld Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I wanna amend my earlier advice - been years since I played but just started a new game. Use your max loan to buy a password cracker and maxed trace tracker. If you then do two or three missions in quick succession you'll have enough time to save up for and buy level 4 log deleter and clean up InterNIC before you get into any trouble.

    Dr Snofeld on
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