Frequently Asked Questions
Game Mechanics
How do I navigate the Deep404 world?
Navigation is primarily done from the top-down Map View. Use the focus controller buttons at the bottom of the screen or the W-A-S-D keys to move your view. You can also click and drag the map. Switch to Street View for a first-person perspective in areas you have explored.
How do I interact with objects or players?
Simply click on any highlighted object, player avatar, or interactive terminal in the world. This will bring up a context menu in the Detail Focus Area, showing you available actions like "Talk," "Trade," "Scan," or "Use."
How do I make Credits?
Credits are the lifeblood of Deep404. You can earn them by taking on official roles, such as an Advert Watcher or Rubbish Collector. More advanced players can earn significant credits by providing services like transport, crafting, or information brokering to other players.
How do I search for my friends?
Click the search icon in the main toolbar to open the Player Search view. You can enter your friend's exact player name or their registered email address. Results will show their current status and last known general location if they are online.
How do I use my AI Companion?
Your AI Companion is your guide. Access it via the "smart toy" icon in the header. You can ask it for help, get information about game mechanics, or give it commands to analyze data you've collected. It learns as you play, becoming more effective over time.
How do I use News items?
The News feed is your window into the world's events. You can read public broadcasts, player-submitted rumors, and system alerts. You can also spend credits to post your own messages, which can be used to advertise your services, recruit for a faction, or share valuable intel.
Player Roles
Advert Watcher
This is an entry-level role perfect for new players. As an Advert Watcher, you earn credits by viewing sponsored advertisements placed throughout the world. Find designated ad terminals and interact with them to begin.
Rubbish Collector
Help keep the city clean! This role involves finding and recycling digital "trash" like discarded items or spam messages left by other players. You'll earn a steady income and contribute to the world's aesthetic.
Sleeper Collector
Your job is to find player avatars that have been inactive for an extended period and transport them to designated "Sleep Stations." This frees up world resources and earns you a fee for each "sleeper" you successfully collect.
Data Scavenger
In this role, you'll travel to various data nodes scattered across the city. Your task is to scan these nodes for raw, unrefined data packets. This basic information is the first step in the valuable information supply chain.
Advert Reviewer
A step up from watching ads. As a Reviewer, you provide valuable feedback on advertisements. Your ratings help the system determine ad quality, and you'll earn higher rewards and build your trust rating for doing so.
Driver
Purchase a vehicle and offer your services as a taxi. You can transport other players between locations for a fee. Set your own prices and build a reputation as a fast and reliable driver in the bustling city.
Cook
Gather digital ingredients and craft them into consumable items. These items can be sold to other players to provide them with temporary buffs, such as increased movement speed or enhanced scanning abilities.
Cyber-Mechanic
Items in Deep404 suffer from wear and tear. As a Cyber-Mechanic, you can repair vehicles, tools, and other digital items for other players, charging a fee for your skilled services and rare components.
Community Guide
A role for helpful and knowledgeable players. Greet newcomers, give them tours of the city, and answer their basic questions. You'll earn tips from grateful new players and a special flair recognizing your contribution.
Text Approver
A trusted position where you review player-submitted text for public display (like news feed posts or forum messages). You'll filter out spam and abusive content, helping to maintain a positive community environment.
Info Broker
Purchase raw data from Data Scavengers and use your skills to refine it into valuable intelligence. This could be anything from player location patterns to economic trends. Sell your refined intel for a significant profit.
Drone Operator
Operate sophisticated remote drones. Use them for a variety of tasks, including package delivery for other players, corporate surveillance contracts, or scouting dangerous areas of the world from a safe distance.
Faction Recruiter
Become the official representative for a player-run faction. Your job is to find and persuade new players to join your cause. Successful recruiters are charismatic and well-rewarded by their faction leaders.
Chef
Go beyond simple cooking. As a Chef, you can establish your own restaurant, create unique recipes, and advertise your business to the entire server. This is a business-oriented role for the entrepreneurial player.
Image Approver
Similar to a Text Approver but with more responsibility. You will review player-submitted images, such as profile pictures or faction logos, to ensure they are appropriate for the game world.
Police
Enforce the law in Deep404. Respond to crime reports from other players, investigate illegal activities, and apprehend players who have active warrants. This is a high-risk, high-reward role for those who want to bring order to the chaos.
Glitch Hunter
Actively seek out and document system bugs, exploits, or graphical errors. Submitting a detailed and reproducible report on a critical bug to the system administrators will earn you a significant credit bounty.
Digital Architect
A highly respected creative role. You will design building layouts, park schematics, or entire area templates. If the system AI uses your template for procedural generation, you will earn royalties and a permanent credit on the location.
Judge
Preside over player court cases. You will hear evidence presented by Police and other players, make rulings, and issue sentences or fines. This role requires impartiality and a deep understanding of the game's rules.
City Planner
Influence the very shape of the world. In this senior role, you can propose and vote on large-scale infrastructure projects, such as building a new bridge, establishing a new commercial zone, or changing the map layout.
Game Manager
The pinnacle of trusted players. Game Managers are given limited administrative tools to resolve player disputes, mentor new users, and act as liaisons to the official developers. This role is by invitation only to the most respected members of the community.