Museum of Mechanics: Lockpicking for Windows

Playable lockpicking mechanics library

Dim Bulb Games created Museum of Mechanics: Lockpicking. This program combines lockpicking mechanics from different PC games into one program. It contains the most prominent take on the mechanism that introduced innovation to the gaming industry.

This library contains a number of minigames that each represent a different lockpicking mechanism from a well-known name in gaming. It is not a game. Elder Scrolls: Oblivion or Thief is a great choice if you want to play a story that features a lot of lockpicking and a plot.

Nordhagen, a game developer, says that this one is intended for game developers. They can use the Museum for inspiration and to apply those ideas to their own creations.

Even gamers can benefit from it, learning new techniques and enhancing their skills. It is easy to use and free of charge, making it accessible for everyone.

The Museum will load you up and place you in a large, musky room that resembles a first-person videogame. There are doors that lead to the hall, and you'll see different names. Click on a lock to enter a minigame.

Each minigame takes players to a world from a popular game industry title. You will then be taken to a door in the gameplay. It will then provide a simplified version and explainers to help you understand the mechanic.

This program doesn't cover every version of lockpicking that has been created. It contains the most innovative lockpicking techniques, and there are many more to come. A mechanic from pen-and paper Dungeons and Dragons, a hugely influential source, is included for context.

Nordhagen himself says that it's amazing to see how many versions this simple mechanic exists in different games. Some are simpler than he remembers but they provide valuable insight for developers.

Museum of Mechanics Lockpicking provides a brief overview of the most important lineages of this ubiquitous videogame mechanic. Johnnemann Nordhagen revealed more titles in the series, providing a unique way for game developers and historians to explore this trend.