History VideoGame / ShiftOS

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shiftos.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Are we having fun yet?]]

''[=ShiftOS=]'' is a game about a fictional work-in-progress operating system also called [=ShiftOS=]. A hacker known as [=DevX=] "hijacks" your computer and installs the OS in a barely usable state, forcing you to use it because they needs beta testers, and you must bring your computer back to usability by enhancing the system's functionality by earning and spending "code points". The game was under active development for several years by the original developer, but it was eventually discontinued. The source code has since switched hands, laying dormant for a while (across this period, a lot of the existing content for and surrounding the game disappeared from the Internet) before being abruptly revived in December of 2016. The game is a SpiritualSuccessor to VideoGame/{{Histacom}} from the same developer, who claimed that the previous game had encountered legal issues due to the heavy use of graphics and sound from Windows.

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* SensoryAbuse: The "hijacking" consists of EpilepticFlashingLights, and loud, annoying beeps.

* SensoryAbuse: The "hijacking" consists of flashing lights, and loud, annoying beeps.

* RecycledPremise: {{Subverted}}. Judging by some of the things the original developer has said, it seems this game was originally meant to be similar to VideoGame/{{Histacom}} but without copyrighted content, using code points as a replacement for time travel. However, development stopped before any actual adventure could be added - the whole time, all that was worked on was the environment.

* RecycledPremise: {{Subverted}}. Judging by some of the things the original developer has said, it seems this game was originally meant to be similar to VideoGame/{{Histacom}} but without copyrighted content, using code points as a replacement for time travel. However, development stopped before any actual adventure could be added - the whole time, all that was worked on was the environment.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The original plan for [=ShiftOS=] was, instead of a game, an actual Linux distribution which switched to a random selection of applications on every login, but this was never implemented.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The game was only officially released on terrible file-sharing sites which delete their files after a while, and many versions of the game have now expired, with no binaries of the final version remaining available. Much of the supplementary content has also disappeared.

* ExcusePlot: The intro to the game features [=DevX=] explaining that they developed the OS and is forcing people to use it for the purpose of beta testing. This character never appears again and the rest of the game does not feature any storyline whatsoever.

* ExcusePlot: The intro to the game features [=DevX=] explaining that he developed the OS and is forcing people to use it for the purpose of beta testing. This character never appears again and the rest of the game does not feature any storyline whatsoever.

''[=ShiftOS=]'' is a game about a fictional work-in-progress operating system also called [=ShiftOS=]. A hacker known as [=DevX=] "hijacks" your computer and installs the OS in a barely usable state, forcing you to use it because they needs beta testers, and you must bring your computer back to usability by enhancing the system's functionality by earning and spending "code points". The game was under active development for several years by the original developer, but it was eventually discontinued. The source code has since switched hands, with development still underway. The game is a SpiritualSuccessor to VideoGame/{{Histacom}} from the same developer, who claimed that the previous game had encountered legal issues due to the heavy use of graphics and sound from Windows.

* RecycledPremise: {{Subverted}}. Judging by some of the things the original developer has said, it seems this game was originally meant to be similar to [[VideoGame/Histacom Histacom]] but without copyrighted content, using code points as a replacement for time travel. However, development stopped before any actual adventure could be added - the whole time, all that was worked on was the environment.

* RecycledPremise: {{Subverted}}. Judging by some of the things the original developer has said, it seems this game was originally meant to be similar to {{Histacom}} but without copyrighted content, using code points as a replacement for time travel. However, development stopped before any actual adventure could be added - the whole time, all that was worked on was the environment.

''[=ShiftOS=]'' is a game about a fictional work-in-progress operating system also called [=ShiftOS=]. A hacker known as [=DevX=] "hijacks" your computer and installs the OS in a barely usable state, forcing you to use it because they needs beta testers, and you must bring your computer back to usability by enhancing the system's functionality by earning and spending "code points". The game was under active development for several years by the original developer, but it was eventually discontinued. The source has switched hands numerous times since, with various failed revival attempts over the years. The game is a SpiritualSuccessor to VideoGame/{{Histacom}} from the same developer, who claimed that the previous game had encountered legal issues due to the heavy use of graphics and sound from Windows.

-->-- '''[=DevX=]''', original developer of [=ShiftOS=]

''[=ShiftOS=]'' is a game about a fictional work-in-progress operating system also called [=ShiftOS=]. A hacker known as [=DevX=] "hijacks" your computer and installs the OS in a barely usable state, forcing you to use it because they needs beta testers, and you must bring your computer back to usability by enhancing the system's functionality by earning and spending "code points". The game was under active development for several years by the original developer, but it was eventually discontinued. The source has switched hands numerous times since, with various failed revival attempts over the years. The game is a spiritual successor to VideoGame/{{Histacom}} from the same developer, who claimed that the previous game had encountered legal issues due to the heavy use of graphics and sound from Windows.

''[=ShiftOS=]'' is a game about a fictional work-in-progress operating system also called [=ShiftOS=]. A hacker known as [=DevX=] "hijacks" your computer and installs the OS in a barely usable state, forcing you to use it because they needs beta testers, and you must bring your computer back to usability by enhancing the system's functionality by earning and spending "code points". The game was under active development for several years by the original developer, but it was eventually discontinued. The source has switched hands numerous times since, with various failed revival attempts over the years. The game is a spiritual successor to {{Histacom}} from the same developer, who claimed that the previous game had encountered legal issues due to the heavy use of graphics and sound from Windows.