View source for Alterna Log

The '''Alterna Logs''' are unlockable logs available in ''[[Return of the Mammalians]]''. They were created by [[O.R.C.A.]] as a means of documenting key information on [[Alterna|Alternan]] history from its creation onward.<ref>[[List of Alterna Logs#Log002: The Rise of Civilization (Again)|Alterna Log 2]]</ref> O.R.C.A states that the Logs are something citizens are granted access to as they prove their capabilities, which it follows up with a threat, saying that [[Agent 3 (Splatoon 3)|Agent 3]] should not attempt to share the contents of the Logs without permission.<ref>[[Get to Know Alterna, Your Only Choice]] mission dialogue in [[Return of the Mammalians]]. '''O.R.C.A.:''' One last thing. As you complete missions and become an ever-more-exceptional citizen, you will naturally gain increased access to the Alterna Log. Do not attempt to share the Alterna Log without permission. Please handle the information with care. And please consider this a threat. Have a nice day!</ref>

Every time the player reaches a new site, a new Log is made available, totaling at six. A secret seventh log can be found by clearing [[After Alterna]], a level only made available after completing [[Return_of_the_Mammalians|the main story mode]].

==Appearance==
The icon for the Alterna Logs features Alterna's logo against a backdrop of statistics, with O.R.C.A.'s symbol prominently displayed. The icon features a pixelated style, while the Alterna logo has a [[wp:Chromatic aberration#Photography|chromatic aberration]] effect applied to it, implying it is being viewed through a (possibly damaged) screen. 

Logs appear in a corrupted state until they are fully unlocked, wherein their contents are unreadable; the images appear heavily corrupted, and the text appears encrypted. A heading that reads "{{color|Analyzing...|red}}" appears at the top of each incomplete log's title. Every time a [[mission]] is cleared for the first time, one line of the site's corresponding Log is decrypted. If the newly decrypted line of text is directly above an image, the image is decrypted as well. After being fully decrypted, each Log is fully restored, though the images in each file may still contain glitch effects.

==Logs==
{{for|a transcript of each Logs' contents|List of Alterna Logs}}
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:S3 Alterna Log Selection Screen.jpg|The Alterna Logs in the Archive selection screen.
File:Alterna Log004 half-complete.jpg|Alterna Log004 in an  incomplete state.
</gallery>
==Trivia==
*O.R.C.A.'s threat towards Agent 3 suggests the content of the Logs is considered sensitive, and likely was not available to all Alternan citizens during their time in the shelter.
**Consequently, Agent 3 is the only member of the [[New Squidbeak Splatoon]] with access to the Alterna Logs. [[Marie|Agent 2]] is interested in reading them, but decides against attempting to do so.<ref>[[Get to Know Alterna, Your Only Choice]] mission dialogue in [[Return of the Mammalians]]. '''Agent 2:''' Alterna Log, huh... Well, something's been added to your menu. I wanna peek... Ah, but I won't.</ref>
**Alternatively, this threat may serve as a meta joke deterring players from posting story spoilers online.
* The "corrupted" text in logs with incomplete processing bears a resemblance to [[wikipedia:Mojibake|mojibake]], a type of textual "corruption" that occurs due to a mis-match between textual encoding and decoding.
*The final log being titled "Log.exe" in contrast to the other logs' numbered titles suggests that its content is hidden within the Log program's [[wp:Executable|executable file]].

==Etymology==
Log refers to a type of archive, typically a recording of events as they are on-going, which are used for historical or other documentation.

==References==
<references/>

==Names in other languages==
{{Localized name
|color=Splatoon 3
|Jap=オルタナログ 
|JapR=orutana rogu
|JapM=Alterna Logs
}}

[[Category:Return of the Mammalians]]