Infection

.hack//Infection Logo

.hack//Infection (Japanese: .hack//感染拡大Vol.1, Hepburn: .hack//Kansen Kakudai, lit. "Infection Expansion" or "Spread of Infection") is the first entry in the set of games released for PlayStation 2. The collection of games are sometimes referred to as a Tetralogy or Quadrilogy. Fans also use the abbreviation "IMOQ," taking the first letter in each consecutive game's western title in order (Infection, Mutation, Outbreak, Quarantine). Infection and the other games take place within the fictitious MMORPG called 「The World」. Each game came packaged with a bonus DVD of the OVA .hack//Liminality, which shows offline events occurring concurrent to the events in-game. The games are set in the "first season" of the .hack series, taking place after SIGN and ZERO. Several other media retell the events of the games, including .hack//Another Birth, .hack//XXXX, New Novelization [.hack] and .hack//Link. The games are followed by Legend of the Twilight manga.

Synopsis

 You're in their WORLD now!
 Who is Aura? What is the Book of Twilight? Why did your friend, Orca, fall into a mysterious coma? As the outlaw player, Kite, you're on a mission of truth. Take a journey into a virtual world where anything is possible, and nothing is as it appears. Fight your way through contaminated levels of cyberspace as you take on and eliminate enemies, and unlock codes that will allow you to gate travel to even more environments - all in a desperate attempt to discover who or what's behind The World.
 Embark on an epic journey to unlock the truth lurking behind THE WORLD.

 そしてカイトは手に入れた。
 データを改竄してしまうイリーガルな能力。
 仲間とチャットしながらダンジョンを冒険し、リアルではメールやBBSで攻略情報の交換が楽しめる。そんな楽しいネットワークゲーム「The World」を始めたはずだった……。しかし友達が、ユーザーたちが、ゲーム世界が、何か見えない大きな意思に引きずられ、壊れてゆく！そして僕もいつのまにか……。

Plot

The main story follows protagonist Kite, who was invited to play the game 「The World」 by his friend Yasuhiko, who is known as Orca in the game. After a chance encounter with a monster chasing after mysterious girl in white, Orca is attacked and Kite narrowly avoids the same fate. Kite's computer crashes after the incident, leaving the player bewildered by the turn of events. Kite's player then discovers that Yasuhiko was rendered comatose after the incident. Kite's player decides to continue playing The World in the hopes of finding answers as to why his friend is now hospitalized.
Kite turns to the BBS to see if any other players may know about the bizarre incident, but his message is quickly removed. He also receives mysterious e-mails, some which aim to help while others contain thinly veiled threats.
While in The World Kite meets and teams up with BlackRose, a newbie who has her own reasons for pursuing the truth. Before Kite can learn more of her circumstances, they are attacked by a Data Bug. Balmung appears to warn them to stay away from the monster before witnessing Kite use Data Drain for the first time. Balmung mistakenly believes that Kite is behind the corruption of data and threatens him before leaving. A mysterious woman who has been seen watching over Kite mocks Balmung for his assumptions, informing him that Kite was a friend of his partner, Orca.

Liminality

Main articles: In the Case of Mai Minase

Setting

Infection is set exclusively on the computer belonging to Kite's player character. When the game starts, it simulates booting into Altimit OS, where the player can access their desktop and log into The World.

Desktop

The desktop features a reader for emails, world news, and a video player to rewatch cutscenes. The player can customize their desktop wallpaper and background music. Wallpapers, music, and cutscenes can be unlocked through game progress, which is tracked via the Books of Ryu.

Mailer

Main articles: Infection Mailer

Throughout the game, the player receive messages from other players and system update information from CyberConnect, the developer of The World.

News

Main articles: Infection News

The game is shown entirely through the player's desktop so world building is done through reading World News. References to events in The World can be connected to events offline and the repercussions of the game's instability can be seen to gradually increase in severity.

The World

The World is the game within the game of .hack//INFECTION. It is a simulated MMORPG that allows players to enjoy a sandbox experience in which players choose how they wish to play the game on an individual level. There is no overarching goal for players to pursue outside of escapism and staving off boredom.

BBS

Main articles: Infection BBS

When players access The World's application, they can read messages from other players in the community forum known as the BBS, or Bulletin Board System. The board posts can expand the amount of areas Kite can access as well as unlock events and plot progression.

Servers

 Δ Server, Aqua Capital Mac Anu
 ϴ Server, Highland City Dun Loireag

Chaos Gate and Keywords

Main articles: Infection Chaos Gate

Fields

Main articles: Infection Fields

Monsters

Main articles: Infection Monsters

Items

Main articles: Infection Items

Characters

Main articles: Infection Characters

Production

Staff

Main articles: IMOQ Credits

Merchandise

Game Release

Japan:

Title: .hack//感染拡大 Vol.1

Region NTSC-J

Serial Number: SLPS-25121

Release Date: June 20, 2002

Rating:

US:

Title: .hack//Infection

Region: NTSC-U

Serial Number: SLUS-20267

Release Date: February 11, 2003

Rating: Teen

Memory: 685 k

Genre: Action/Rpg

Language: English Subtitles and Interface, English and Japanese Voice

Korea:

Title: .hack//감염확대 Vol.1

Region NTSC-K

Serial Numbers:

SLKA-25080

Korea: October 22, 2003

Rating:

EU:

Title: .hack//Infection

Region: PAL

Serial Numbers:SLES-52237

Release Date: March 26, 2004

Rating:

Language:

Demo

Region NTSC-U:
SLUS-29042 (Regular Demo)
SLUS-28023 (Trade Demo)