The process of hacking a terminal in Fallout 3 is represented through a mini-game, which players have to beat in order to gain access. Depending on how much the player invests into his or her Science skill, the amount of difficulty involved may vary.
The purpose of the mini-game is to guess the right password within four attempts. Failing to do so may lock up the terminal. However, it is possible to back out and restart the process before all four tries are used up. On the computer screen, the player should be able to see several words surrounded by random symbols. Upon choosing one of these words, the system will inform the player on how many correct letters appear in the word they have chosen. The next choice should reflect the feedback that has been given, but it is important to note that the letters, whatevery they may be, must always appear in the same order.
