Silencer (game)

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Static Silencer agent hacking a large terminal

Silencer is a multiplayer-only video game released by Mind Control Software for online play using World Opponent Network technology. It combines elements of sidescroller games with other Sci-Fi action games such as Crusader: No Remorse. In the game, there are multiple competing agencies that send agents into the field to hack public computer terminals, with the goal of exposing the Martian government's secrets. Agents in the same agency could work as a team, and agents could buy a variety of items and weapons to help their team excel or to hinder an opponent.

In May 2001, the game was pulled from online play when Won.net went offline. Several efforts to re-establish the game have been made, with many veterans of the game community spearheading different projects (ranging from circumventing the authentication present in the original binaries to rebuilding the game on another engine as a mod or from scratch in Python).

In February 2007 Mind Control Software announced that they planned on releasing a version of the source code under unspecified licensing restrictions. However, the source code, as of September 4th, 2007, has not been released. Little information has been made public beyond the original announcement, leading some to question its sincerity.

On September 16, 2007 a project attempting to bypass the WON authentication by reverse engineering and editing the binary program succeeded in establishing a connection between the client and server binaries, resulting in a playable game. The project's actions are of dubious legality, though their work appears to be tolerated if not actually condoned by Mind Control Software.

On September 17, 2007, Arsia Mons, a veteran group who has reversed engineered the software, released an installer that allows easy playability. Currently, around 30 players are involved in playing on a privately-owned server that is open to the public.