MISSION SELECTED:

Chaos Mode → “Cursed Experiments, Glitch Art, ‘This Shouldn’t Exist.’”

Why it fits:

Archive It! isn’t just a game — it’s a digital fever dream that talks back. It simulates a retro OS that spirals into chaos, mixing puzzles, memes, fourth-wall breaks, and fake system crashes. It’s experimental, unpredictable, and stylishly cursed — the textbook Chaos Mode entry.

Inspiration

GTA’s side missions, old-school hacker aesthetics, and meme culture. We wanted to build something that felt like a digital heist — chaotic, sarcastic, and alive. CheekyOS was born from the idea: what if your computer had an attitude?

What it does

Archive It! is a narrative puzzle mini-game that simulates a glitchy retro OS. You play as a data-runner completing “The Last Upload” mission — navigating corrupted files, sarcastic AI taunts, and hidden lore.

How we built it

-Using React + TypeScript (Vite) for its modular structure and live state updates. -Each component mimics a real OS feature — draggable windows, pop-ups, terminals — built entirely with CSS transforms and React hooks. -Visuals were inspired by CRT monitor effects, scanlines, and analog distortions. -All animations, glitches, and UI transitions are handcrafted using CSS and a bit of mathematical randomness.

Challenges we ran into

-Keeping the interface “broken” but functional. -Managing over 10 interactive puzzle states without breaking logic flow. -Balancing chaos with clarity

Accomplishments that we're proud of

-Fully simulated retro desktop UI with draggable windows. -In-game “mini-games” like Snake.exe and Decrypt That Meme. -Lore integration through fake emails and terminal logs.

What we learned

The importance of micro-interactions — a single popup can change the entire tone of gameplay.

What's next for Archive It!

-A GTA-style mission selector (“Runner Contracts”) for new upload challenges. -Add SFX lol

Running the Project Locally

To get this "stylishly cursed" OS running on your own machine, follow these steps.

Prerequisites

You must have Node.js (which includes npm) installed on your computer.

Setup & Installation

Download the Code: Download the main project folder as a ZIP file from the GitHub repository.

Unzip and Navigate: Unzip the downloaded file (archive-it-main.zip) and open a terminal (like Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Terminal) inside the main project folder.

Example:

cd path/to/archive-it-main

Install Dependencies: Run the following command to install all the necessary packages for the project.