Abandonware Databases

Use actual abandoned database software for your narrative collection.

I don't know if it is the right move to have the main database be this vintage looking, since it is supposed to be new. I think I can get away with 10-15 years but 30 years might be a little silly. But I love them.

Abandonware Database List

Virtual Machine OCSs

Considerations

How many do you need?
I guess you'd have to look up the legality of distributing this software?
What is the legality of simply replicating the software look in another programming language?
- Can you lean enough PHP to recreate this? Unity is what you know, but it's such a hog. Wouldn't it be nice to create something agile?
And look into emulators. This could be a pain.
logistics of distributing software - is it realistic to distribute on a QR code or USB drive for small press?

Narrative affordances

Player is a research assistant in a department charged with moving data from ancient databases into newer databases. Perhaps I can create an "extraction" tool that pulls the data (read only data?) into a "new" database software (but really it's just unlocking new files in the "new" database)
- At some point your get an access code that unlocks some read only data. The entity wants to talk to you and gives you a way to do it.
- Maybe the entity is let through when the player does a certain activity without the VPN on.
The important data has attention drawn to it because the new software flags it as being corrupted in a particular way. (maybe you got a notice to watch these and transfer them into a secret third database for a mysterious benefactor. )
mysterious employer angle your client has asked you only to do these things at night. Maybe using a special VPN? Which is just a dummy program that doesn't do anything, but your client told you it is very sophisticated and only blocks specific traffic (maybe a specific enemy? Maybe an astral plane and the notice of specific eldritch entities?) this software should be very alarming but not in a goth way.