---
key: mechanic/electronic-devices--family-g18
type: mechanic
id: electronic-devices--family-g18
lang: en
title: Digital Investigation
summary: >-
  The player reconstructs an event using digital records, timestamps, routes and
  connections between data.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/electronic-devices--family-g18/
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/electronic-devices--family-g18.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/electronic-devices--family-g18.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Electronic devices in games
  - Data
sourceIds:
  - source-090ee83445744667
sources:
  - id: source-090ee83445744667
    title: The Operator
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: electronic-devices
    id: family-g18
    title: Electronic devices in games
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/electronic-devices/#family-g18'
    categoryIds:
      - section-3
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Digital Investigation
    description: >-
      The player reconstructs an event using digital records, timestamps, routes
      and connections between data.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/narrative-the-operator-03.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: The Operator
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1771980/ss_5f9f8137d263ed2142a81c055aa785a08695e4cf.1920x1080.jpg?t=1778485297
      credit: Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova
      rights: © Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova. All rights reserved.
      caption: Time markers on a route and photograph
      alt: Time markers on a route and photograph
      markers:
        - x: 29
          'y': 48
          label: Timestamps allow checking the sequence of movements
    tips:
      - Let players verify a conclusion against the original record.
    examples:
      - title: The Operator
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/electronic-devices
---
# Digital Investigation

id: electronic-devices--family-g18
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/electronic-devices--family-g18
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/electronic-devices--family-g18/

The player reconstructs an event using digital records, timestamps, routes and connections between data.

## At a glance

![Time markers on a route and photograph](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/narrative-the-operator-03.webp)

[The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/) · © Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova. All rights reserved.

1. Timestamps allow checking the sequence of movements

- Let players verify a conclusion against the original record.

- [The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/)

## How it works

Devices: Computer; Smartphone; Terminal.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-g18-variants"></a>

- Restore chronology. Rule: Compare dates and traces of activity to reconstruct events. <a id="variant-g18-01"></a>
- Link accounts and people. Rule: Determine who is hiding behind the number, nickname or device. <a id="variant-g18-02"></a>
- Check the alibi. Rule: Compare the person's statement with records and digital traces... <a id="variant-g18-03"></a>
- Find a contradiction. Rule: Detect discrepancies between multiple sources. <a id="variant-g18-04"></a>
- Display missing information. Rule: Obtain an address, password or identity through a set of indirect clues. <a id="variant-g18-05"></a>
- Check authenticity. Rule: Distinguish the original recording from forgery, editing or false data. <a id="variant-g18-06"></a>
- Choose the fate of the evidence. Rule: Transfer, publish, hide or destroy the obtained information. <a id="variant-g18-07"></a>

## Context and limits

Author's taxonomy of actions, task forms and end-to-end conditions for design. Categories overlap. References support individual families, not every variant.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/) (id: source-090ee83445744667)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors