Lockpicking in Video Games

[eurolock fan]

What are some games that feature lockpicking?

[JK_the_CJer]

The guy that made this game is an idiot, but the game isn't bad. I wish it were more realistic though. Every knows from Oblivion that when you pick locks, the pins jump and you have to catch them at the top. This game isn't like that at all. I think the guy just made something up and doesn't really know how picking works. It's still kinda fun though and its sort of related to lock picking:

http://www.theamazingking.com/game.html

[MBI]

Splinter Cell has lockpicking. My seven year old son got very frustrated when I let him try that part. He said "picking locks in real life is a lot easier than picking them in fake life."

[Safety0ff]

Here's one I found the other day:
http://www.unlockers.org/Lockpickinggame.zip

[linty]

thief has a sort of lockpicking which is more like wheel of fortune than anything else.

[freakparade3]

morrowind has lockpicking

[GhostKillah]

Here's one I found the other day:
http://www.unlockers.org/Lockpickinggame.zip

this one is kinda challenging but it keeps on kicking me out

[Havoc]

I think it was splinter cell I was thinking of too that seemed pretty close to realistic, only...not.

Keep in mind that some of the designers might have looked into lock picking, but decided against making it totally realistic because they don't want to risk the bad PR they'll inevitably get when the parents get wind of a video game that 'teaches children how to pick locks'.

[headshot tM]

I've been playing Splinter Cell Double Agent for awhile, the lockpicking is no way near reality.

There is only 2-4 pins (depending on the security of the area) and all you have to do is use w,a,s,d to make the pick move the pin up (takes like 2 hits) and it's open.

I don't think it's about the parent's finding out it teaches kids to lockpick (the game is rated 18+ so parents should know better). I believe it's because sometimes you have to pick locks very quickly and not spend 2 mins adjusting the tension etc... So they just made it for continence, and easy for people.

[FFVison]

I play Guild Wars. In that, you can use lockpicks to open chests instead of keys, while certain chests you can open with lockpicks only. When you click on the chest, it asks if you want to use a key (if it's available), cancel, or use a lockpick. It shows you your chances of opening the chest using a lockpick and basically, depending on your rank for your "treasure hunter" title, it gives you a certain percentage that you will open the lock and retain your lockpick. Your rank (kinda like a skill level) doesn't determine how long it takes to open the lock. It takes just as long to open the lock with the lockpick as it does to use a key to open it. But if luck is not in your favor, the lockpick will break and you are less one lockpick. In this game, lockpicks are basically a substitution for keys. Not very true to life. Plus on top of that, like a LOT of movies and probably games as well, they don't say anything about a tension wrench, which as anyone on this site will tell you, that's what turns the plug, and that's what separates the pros from the newbies.

[Harpo_the_bad]

Anyone remember Deus Ex?

That game featured lockpicks. You had to develop your lockpicking skill level (simply a number that increased allowing you to pick harder locks) and then find lockpicks to open doors.

The stupid thing was that once you used a lockpick it disappeared. I'm a beginner and haven't yet picked a single lock (still waiting for my tools) but it's even beyond me why anyone would think a lockpick was a 'single use only' tool!

[eurolock fan]

That reminds me of Hammer & Sickle where a short hook pick could only be used 5 times then it disapeared from your inventory.

[skeleton_keys]

Heh, this is a funny coincidence...I'm an amateur game-maker as my other hobby, and right now we've got a thread going on the AGS forum discussing the problem with Locked Room type puzzles, and how inaccurate the lockpicking shown in games is.

[SystemeD]

I don't know if you ever played with a console. But I think that make a lockpicking game which use a console gamepad (double thumb stick + vibration) would be a nice idea. Imagine, with one finger you control the tension wrench, with the other you control the pick and a light vibration of the pad could simulate pins movements...
The game could reproduce real padlocks and cylinders organized by difficult of picking and grouped in game levels.
The only problem is that such a game would probably be difficult to sell because of the small number of people interested in lockpicking.
We're special!

[GhostKillah]

I don't know if you ever played with a console. But I think that make a lockpicking game which use a console gamepad (double thumb stick + vibration) would be a nice idea. Imagine, with one finger you control the tension wrench, with the other you control the pick and a light vibration of the pad could simulate pins movements...
The game could reproduce real padlocks and cylinders organized by difficult of picking and grouped in game levels.
The only problem is that such a game would probably be difficult to sell because of the small number of people interested in lockpicking.
We're special!

i actually think about this same idea when i grab my xbox joystick=)
btw the game can still be popular if lockpicking is not going to be the only thing youre going to do there)