Audio Logs

Audio Logs are interactive objects found throughout the various levels of System Shock and System Shock 2.

Overview
Picked up Audio Logs are instantly downloaded into the MDR or PDA and grant the player access to audio recordings created by the game's characters. These recordings are archived and available for replay later, and provide both essential and non-essential information, ranging from plot development and passcodes needed to unlock certain in-game areas to deeper game lore.

Legacy
System Shock was the first video game to be well known for using Audio Logs as a way of telling the plot, where the player could use them to piece together the back-story themselves. Many popular games later copied this style. They include System Shock 2 's spiritual successor BioShock and other titles like Dead Space, DOOM³, F.E.A.R., Singularity and many more.

Trivia

 * Irrational Games and 2K have various types of voice recorders in all of their games.