---
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-33
type: mechanic
id: point-and-click--family-33
lang: en
title: 'Computers, phones and media environments'
summary: >-
  The player explores devices and media through interfaces that belong to the
  game world.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-33/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-33.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-33.md
aliases:
  - Computers and in-world media
tags:
  - Point-and-click adventures
  - Extended adventure systems
sourceIds:
  - source-86b980b788f54522
sources:
  - id: source-86b980b788f54522
    title: Her Story
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/368370/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: point-and-click
    id: family-33
    title: Point-and-click adventures
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/point-and-click/#family-33'
    categoryIds:
      - section-4
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Computers and in-world media
    description: >-
      The player explores devices and media through interfaces that belong to
      the game world.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/adventure-her-story-00.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 900
      crop:
        x: 120
        'y': 0
        width: 1200
        height: 900
      game: Her Story
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/368370/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/368370/ss_47f0e58df778d9f10b3df40ddce8bba8e592b1fb.1920x1080.jpg?t=1684962832
      credit: Sam Barlow
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed
        Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: A desktop and video database inside the game
      alt: A desktop and video database inside the game
      markers:
        - x: 44
          'y': 59
          label: Recording window with a tag and controls
        - x: 62
          'y': 39
          label: Search within the in-game database
    tips:
      - Give the in-game device interface clear and consistent rules.
    examples:
      - title: Her Story
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/368370/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original taxonomy adapted from user-selected design discussions; linked
  sources support specific examples, not the whole classification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/point-and-click
---
# Computers, phones and media environments

id: point-and-click--family-33
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-33
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-33/

The player explores devices and media through interfaces that belong to the game world.

## At a glance

![A desktop and video database inside the game](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/adventure-her-story-00.webp)

[Her Story](https://store.steampowered.com/app/368370/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. Recording window with a tag and controls
2. Search within the in-game database

- Give the in-game device interface clear and consistent rules.

- [Her Story](https://store.steampowered.com/app/368370/)

## How it works

The player explores devices and media through interfaces that belong to the game world.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-33-branch-1"></a>

- Access: find credentials, permission or solve fictional hacking puzzles. <a id="family-33-variant-1"></a>
- Files: search, open, restore, copy, move and compare data. <a id="family-33-variant-2"></a>
- Database search: use names, numbers, dates, relationships, properties and filters. <a id="family-33-variant-3"></a>
- Communication: select number, recipient, channel, call time and message method. <a id="family-33-variant-4"></a>
- Simulated interfaces: explore fictional desktops, browsers, mail, chats and phones. <a id="family-33-variant-5"></a>
- Digital modification: forge records, set profiles, change permissions and edit data. <a id="family-33-variant-6"></a>
- Remote control: operate cameras, drones, locks, robots and connected devices. <a id="family-33-variant-7"></a>
- Commands: enter instructions, build algorithms and follow system rules. <a id="family-33-variant-8"></a>

## Context and limits

A working classification with 44 families and 355 variants. Families overlap: one puzzle can combine items, dialogue, deduction and a character schedule. Core actions, progression architecture and assistance are separate layers. Sources identify examples from neighboring adventure genres.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original taxonomy adapted from user-selected design discussions; linked sources support specific examples, not the whole classification.

- [Her Story](https://store.steampowered.com/app/368370/) (id: source-86b980b788f54522)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors