---
key: mechanic/visual-novel--family-12
type: mechanic
id: visual-novel--family-12
lang: en
title: Correspondence and digital investigation
summary: >-
  Messages, files and digital traces become the material of communication,
  search and reconstruction of events.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/visual-novel--family-12/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/visual-novel--family-12.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/visual-novel--family-12.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Visual novels
  - Mechanics
sourceIds:
  - source-f97a7da06fc05861
sources:
  - id: source-f97a7da06fc05861
    title: STEINS;GATE
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/412830/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: visual-novel
    id: family-12
    title: Visual novels
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/visual-novel/#family-12'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Correspondence and digital investigation
    description: >-
      Messages, files and digital traces become the material of communication,
      search and reconstruction of events.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/narrative-steins-gate-03.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: STEINS;GATE
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/412830/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/412830/ss_2335b7b8d7b5adc666e38443468b4c73ae69e9a3.1920x1080.jpg?t=1715703398
      credit: 'MAGES. Inc. / Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.'
      rights: '© MAGES. Inc. / Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.. All rights reserved.'
      caption: A phone is integrated into the visual novel scene
      alt: A phone is integrated into the visual novel scene
      markers:
        - x: 87
          'y': 43
          label: The phone menu provides a separate interaction channel
    tips:
      - 'Distinguish new messages, message history and phone actions.'
    examples:
      - title: STEINS;GATE
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/412830/'
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/visual-novel
---
# Correspondence and digital investigation

id: visual-novel--family-12
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/visual-novel--family-12
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/visual-novel--family-12/

Messages, files and digital traces become the material of communication, search and reconstruction of events.

## At a glance

![A phone is integrated into the visual novel scene](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/narrative-steins-gate-03.webp)

[STEINS;GATE](https://store.steampowered.com/app/412830/) · © MAGES. Inc. / Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.. All rights reserved.

1. The phone menu provides a separate interaction channel

- Distinguish new messages, message history and phone actions.

- [STEINS;GATE](https://store.steampowered.com/app/412830/)

## How it works

Messages, files and digital traces become the material of communication, search and reconstruction of events.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-12-variants"></a>

- Branching correspondence. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The choice of messages changes the conversation and events. <a id="variant-vn-118"></a>
- Delayed response or ignoring. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The time and fact of the answer influence the result of communication. <a id="variant-vn-119"></a>
- Several parallel chats. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player distributes attention between conversations and their participants. <a id="variant-vn-120"></a>
- Receiving and rejecting a call. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The decision determines the available scene and the caller's reaction. <a id="variant-vn-121"></a>
- Working with attachments. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Photos, audio and documents are considered sources of information. <a id="variant-vn-122"></a>
- Selecting a publication. Type: Mechanics. Rule: A post, comment or reaction changes reputation and the spread of information. <a id="variant-vn-123"></a>
- Forwarding a message. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Transmitting someone else's text changes the awareness and attitudes of the participants. <a id="variant-vn-124"></a>
- Search in the virtual network. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player searches for data inside simulated sites and services. <a id="variant-vn-125"></a>
- Access to an account or device. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Password and other conditions open a new piece of information. <a id="variant-vn-126"></a>
- Removing or hiding your digital footprint. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player changes the availability of correspondence, publications and entries for other characters. <a id="variant-vn-127"></a>

## Context and limits

Author's working classification for designing games and interactions. Options can overlap and combine; the list is not a generally accepted standard or proven exhaustive list. Application examples are conditional unless a specific verifiable observation is indicated nearby. Sources support individual techniques and technical limitations.

## 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.

- [STEINS;GATE](https://store.steampowered.com/app/412830/) (id: source-f97a7da06fc05861)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors