Sin is a computer game developed by Ritual Entertainment and published by Activision in 1998. Sin is a shooter game based on a modified version of the Quake II Game engine; but because it involves more plot-driven gameplay than most First-person shooter and what Ritual describes as action-based outcomes, it could almost be considered an adventure game. The plot element of the game and its consequent replayability are among its most distinguishing (and advertised) characteristics.

Sin was one of the first shooters in which the player s actions could cause dramatic changes in the level (computer and video games); for example, explosions could cause part of a building to collapse.

Despite several attractive features, Sin did not gain as much widespread popularity as was expected. The game s initial release was filled with many serious Computer bug that made progressing through the game difficult, if not impossible. Several Patch (computing) were eventually released to address these issues, but the negative impression had already been made. Particularly damaging were reviews from websites and magazines whose policies specified that only the initial release of a game was to be considered.

One likely explanation for the number of bugs in Sins initial release is that the game was released prematurely in an attempt to beat Half-Life to market ( Sin was often billed as a Half-Life killer ). There are a number of digs against Half-Life and its developer Valve Software in Sin ; for instance, a sign posted above a steam pipe reads Do Not Play With Valve . (Any player that turned the valve was dealt a huge amount of damage as the pipe exploded.) Unfortunately for Ritual Entertainment, Sin did not live up to expectations.

The game also was the focus of some video game controversy, mostly centered around its main villain, Elexis Sinclair. As is common in FPS-style games, Elexis was depicted as improbably busty and clad in revealing outfits; her seductive taunts and outrageous behavior spawned accusations of misogyny and pandering to the baser instincts of adolescent boys.

In 1999 a mission pack called Wages of Sin was released by development studio 2015, Inc..

An anime movie based on the game was also created in 2001. The movie uses the same basic characters and storyline as the game, but many changes were made in the plot (including killing one of the game s major characters in the first couple of minutes of the movie, and replacing him with a woman with the same name).

A sequel, SiN Episodes , is due out (at least partially) in 2005. Ironically, despite the original trying to best Half-Life , it uses Half-Life 2s Source engine and will be released on Valve s very own Steam (content delivery).

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