History Main / FirstPersonSnapshooter

* The 3D {{doujin}} fighter ''LineKillSpirits'' incorporates a somewhat unusual mechanic for fighting games: the only way to stop your opponent from regenerating after being damaged is to flip up her skirt and [[PantyShot take a picture of her panties]]. This is pretty much the entire point of the game.
* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Melee'' has a Camera Mode that allows players to take in-game photographs of their battles from various angles. And in case you're wondering, yes you can do ''[[PantyShot that]]'', too.

* ''VideoGame/NancyDrew and the Warnings at Waverly Academy'' (2009) was ''such'' an offender with this trope. You have to, at one point, take photos of the students around the school, as well as the school itself. If you are one centimetre out of what the AI thinks is dead perfect, you have to try again. And again. And again. Not to mention that the characters taunt you if you take too long to line up the shot, and one of the students isn't even at the school, so you have to take a picture...of her picture. Gah!
* ''Panty Raider: From Here to Immaturity'' was a comedy game from Hypnotix and Simon & Schuster Interactive with a bizarre premise: a trio of aliens stumble upon [[PoorMansPorn a lingerie catalogue from Earth]], and become [[MarsNeedsWomen desperate for more]] after their copy gets [[ADateWithRosiePalms "worn out"]]. They force an average Earthling male to take candid photographs of supermodels in their underwear for their "amusement", threatening him with AnalProbing and [[EarthShatteringKaboom the destruction of Earth]]. Fortunately, they also arm him with a high-tech camera and various tools, including [[TheNudifier clothing-dissolving goo]].

* ''Panty Raider: From Here to Immaturity'' was a comedy game from Hypnotix and Simon & Schuster Interactive with a bizarre premise: a trio of aliens stumble upon [[PoorMansPoor a lingerie catalogue from Earth]], and become [[MarsNeedsWomen desperate for more]] after their copy gets [[ADateWithRosiePalms "worn out"]]. They force an average Earthling male to take candid photographs of supermodels in their underwear for their "amusement", threatening him with AnalProbing and [[EarthShatteringKaboom the destruction of Earth]]. Fortunately, they also arm him with a high-tech camera and various tools, including [[TheNudifier clothing-dissolving goo]].

If the photography switches to a first-person view, then this overlaps with InUniverseCamera.

[[caption-width-right:350:A gentler kind of headshot.]]

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[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/NewPokemonSnap https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_2021_05_05_131325.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:A gentler kind of headshot.]]

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* Snapping photos is a plot element of ''VideoGame/TheLostCrown: A Ghost-Hunting Adventure''. A bit more interesting than most examples, as the photos often [[SpookyPhotographs reveal supernatural phenomena you can't otherwise detect]].
* In ''VideoGame/{{Firewatch}}'', Henry discovers a camera with a small amount of film left behind by a former park ranger's son. Any pictures he takes will be displayed during the credits, along with the few taken by the previous owner. The photos are then able to be viewed online, and to be [[{{Feelies}} physically]] ordered to the player.
* The player character of ''VideoGame/{{Eastshade}}'' is a painter, so unsurprisingly the gameplay involves painting, whcih, in practice, is just like taking a screenshot which is then rendered into a painting. The main quest is making a painting of 4 particular places, and several sidequests require you to make paintings.

* ''VideoGame/BeyondGoodAndEvil'' was one of the first to use it as a major plot driver, as the main character was an underground reporter charged with digging up the truth about an alien conspiracy. In a variation, she's really a ''professional'' photographer. It was also a sidequest: Jade had been hired by a scientific foundation to assist in creating a library of photographs of every animal on the planet. Taking pictures of animals netted the player money and other bonuses.

* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia'' has several camera-related sidequests, in which Shanoa must photograph such rare beasts as the JerseyDevil, the {{Chupacabra}} and the [[BigfootSasquatchAndYeti Yeti]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}'': Scooter asks you to take inspiring pictures for a love poem he's working on.

* ''VideoGame/GravityBone'': "PHOTO-GRAPH THE FIVE BIRDS." Maybe something of a subversion, since each bird [[MadeOfExplodium self-destructs]] when you take its picture, so collecting photos may not be the real goal.
* ''Far Cry''
** ''VideoGame/FarCry3'''s Camera is used to spot people, animals, and in a unusual side quest, take pictures for a man with [[ILoveTheDead questionable]] intentions.
** ''VideoGame/FarCry4'' has similar uses for its camera, albeit tagging enemies is less reliant, since the tags on Hunter enemies fade with time, making them harder to track.

* ''VideoGame/FreezeME'' plays with this, since the main character does use a camera to take pictures of things, but instead of collecting photographs, she uses this power to freeze things in place.

* Starting from ''[=GT4=]'', ''VideoGame/GranTurismo'' allows the player to take a picture of his car, during a saved replay, or in a fixed location. The player can even save these pictures to an USB thumb drive, transfer them to computer, and then examine their perfections very closely. Seriously, a Cadillac Cien in the right light...

* One of the characters of ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts 2'', Anastasia is armed with a camera which, in addition to providing expanded information on enemies you snap, also allows her to 'capture' certain enemies, [[PowerCopying copying their signature moves]].
* ''VideoGame/ShadowHeartsFromTheNewWorld'' also features this trope. Although this time, it's the protagonist spunky young detective who wields a camera. It also has an EnemyScan effect, but he cannot copy attacks like Anastasia. The photos he takes are used in a [[GottaCatchThemAll trading sidequest]].
* One quest in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' has the player take a newfangled gnomish image capture device called the "Super Snapper FX" and take a picture of a dangerous turtle. Unfortunately, the flash from the camera makes the turtle more than a little mad. When the picture is taken, an item is left in the player's inventory that shows an image of the turtle.

* ''VideoGame/{{Anachronox}}'', the ''Quake II''-engine [=RPG=], had this. The main character is a private detective, however, so it makes some sense. He doesn't do much detective work with it during the game, instead spending his time taking pictures of [[CollectionSidequest rare and fantastic things]].

* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' has a quest where you have to take pictures of landmarks to give to [[PenName Michael Angelo]], an agoraphobic neon sign designer in need of inspiration.
* Several ''Franchise/JamesBond'' games have objectives that require you to take pictures of secret weapons, devices, and such.
* In the first ''VideoGame/BatenKaitos'' game, this is the only way to make money beyond the rare gimmick magnus that can be sold (and you want to keep most of them for them to finish [[EvolvingWeapon changing]] to register them instead of sell). The amount the photos sell for depends on a number of factors, but the most common are distance (proceeding with a melee attack to get close is often to your benefit), lighting (Light and dark attacks before the camera will make the photo brighter or darker, and getting the balance right is key), and if the enemy blocks the photo (less money resulting). Thankfully, 2-4 "decent" photos (less if you don't keep boss photos as a BraggingRightsReward or get some perfect shots) is all it takes clear out every shop of their (limited but slowly respawning) inventory.
* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', Sora's [[SuperCellReception Gummiphone]] comes with a built-in camera. This produces two forms of sidequests that extend throughout the entire game. One is the Moogle Shops giving out Photo Missions; if Sora takes a picture of the subject they specify, the Moogles will add an item to the synthesis list. The other is the Lucky Emblem hunt, a quest to find ninety Hidden Mickeys scattered throughout the first eight worlds; the more Hidden Mickeys found, the more rewards acquired. Notably, the series-signature "extra objective that unlocks a SequelHook {{Stinger}}" element for this entry is also tied to this sidequest; exactly how many needed to unlock the secret ending varies with difficulty.[[note]]You'll need all 90 on Beginner, 60 on Standard, 30 on Proud, and none on Critical.[[/note]]
* ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' has the Poké Finder, which allows you to take pictures of Pokémon in special hidden areas, not unlike ''VideoGame/PokemonSnap''. In fact, the developers said that this feature was meant to appeal to players who wanted a sequel prior to [[VideoGame/NewPokemonSnap its eventual sequel]].

* A mission in ''VideoGame/WingCommander IV'' had you on a recon mission, snapping photos of various [[LaResistance Border Worlds Militia]] bases in order to determine where a prisoner was being held.

* ''Afrika'' is a photography SimulationGame.
* Videogame/TheIdolmaster2 - You can take pictures of the girls during the stage performances after the Auditions or during the encore during Lives and Festivals.
* [[Videogame/TheIdolmaster The iDOLM@STER Gravure for You]] - That's the whole premise of the game.
* In one level of ''VideoGame/Hitman2SilentAssassin'', you are given a camera and instructed to photograph two thugs after killing them.
* ''VideoGame/AceCombat5TheUnsungWar'' has a StealthBasedMission where you have to run a recon mission. All of your weapons are replaced with a plane-mounted camera system.
* ''VisualNovel/PhotoKano'' is half this, half DatingSim.

* In ''SpyFiction'' you can disguise yourself as anyone you can photograph - either their outfit alone or their face depending on whether you can photograph them from the front or not. It makes the stealth sections remarkably easy.

* lego.com once had a game centered around this where the player controls a remote control spy robot and must sneak up on suspects and take pictures of them and record conversations without them noticing in order to find a thief, called ''Robohunter 2: Spy City''. (information on the first ''Robohunter'' game is hard to find, so it is unknown if it was the same)

* ''VideoGame/SilentHillShatteredMemories'' - taking pictures with the protagonist's phone cam will reveal a number of secrets...[[spoiler: including the UFO Ending]].
* In ''VideoGame/EternalDarkness'', Peter is a reporter, but you can't take pictures. You can, however, use his camera flash to stun enemies.

* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'', which had you [[CollectionSidequest taking pictures of photograph icons]] spread throughout the environments. The pictures actually end up as screenshots in the game's folder.
** ''San Andreas'', ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity Vice City]]'', and ''IV'' also feature a mission or two where you play photographer to get some photos, preferably covertly.
** Unfortunately, in VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV, the camera on your cell phone [[DummiedOut does not actually save any pictures or do anything useful.]]
* ''VideoGame/DeadRising'' featured this, which made some sense since the protagonist is a freelance reporter. [[MemeticMutation He's covered wars, ya know.]]

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Elite}} Frontier: Elite II]]'' has a class of military missions that involve taking pictures of an enemy installation on some uninhabited planet several light-years away.

* The ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' series. Taking pictures is required at least once in the series, and numerous {{Easter Egg}}s are available by snapping up photos of random innocuous things. Depending on what you snap you can find ghosts, have your CO call you a pervert, and confirm your best friend's doubts about your sexuality.
** If you wait until the fourth Act to obtain the Camera in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'', you'll find Otacon used it to take some photographs of Naomi.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonSnap'' is literally a first person camera shooter, since the main concept is about taking shots of Pokémon in the wild.

* ''VideoGame/BioShock'': Cameras are a recurring player tool in the ''BioShock'' franchise:

* In ''VideoGame/BatenKaitosOrigins'', this is the only way to make money beyond the rare gimmick magnus that can be sold (and you want to keep most of them for them to finish [[EvolvingWeapon changing]] to register them instead of sell). The amount the photos sell for depends on a number of factors, but the most common are distance (proceeding with a melee attack to get close is often to your benefit), lighting (Light and dark attacks before the camera will make the photo brighter or darker, and getting the balance right is key), and if the enemy blocks the photo (less money resulting). Thankfully, 2-4 "decent" photos (less if you don't keep boss photos as a BraggingRightsReward or get some perfect shots) is all it takes clear out every shop of their (limited but slowly respawning) inventory.

* ''VideoGame/BioShock'':
** The first ''VideoGame/{{BioShock|1}}'' has you acquire and use a "Research Camera" as part of the plot. Using the camera to take photos of various enemies can grant you combat bonuses against them, and even power-ups! In the sequel's single-player mode, it's replaced by a video camera, which gives you more points for using a variety of attacks on the subject.
** Comes back in ''VideoGame/BioShock2'' multiplayer, although it's [[{{Nerf}} Nerfed]] considerably (it only allows you a small, circumstantial bonus against the person you snapped, no rewards for you)

* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', Sora's [[SuperCellReception Gummiphone]] comes with a built-in camera. This produces two forms of sidequests that extend throughout the entire game. One is the Moogle Shops giving out Photo Missions; if Sora takes a picture of the subject they specify, the Moogles will add an item to the synthesis list. The other is the Lucky Emblem hunt, a quest to find ninety Hidden Mickeys scattered throughout the first eight worlds; completing this is the series-signature "extra objective that unlocks a SequelHook {{Stinger}}" element for this entry.

* In ''VideoGame/BatenKaitosOrigins'', this is the only way to make money beyond the rare gimmick magnus that can be sold (and you want to keep most of them for them to finish [[EvolvingWeapon changing]] to register them instead of sell). The ammount the photos sell for depends on a number of factors, but the most common are distance (proceeding with a melee attack to get close is often to your benefit), lighting (Light and dark attacks before the camera will make the photo brighter or darker, and getting the balance right is key), and if the enemy blocks the photo (less money resulting). Thankfully, 2-4 "decent" photos (less if you don't keep boss photos as a BraggingRightsReward or get some perfect shots) is all it takes clear out every shop of their (limited but slowly respawning) inventory.

* The [=PS3=] and 360 versions of ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' include this. At night, you can travel the hub worlds and snap a picture of someone who isn't exactly the same temperment when you speak to them in the daytime. Doing so will cause you to enter a mini-level to defeat Dark Gaia's mooks within a time period in order to free the person from Dark Gaia's influence.

* In ''VideoGame/BatenKaitosOrigins'', this is the only way to make money beyond the rare gimick magnus that can be sold (and you want to keep most of them for them to finish [[EvolvingWeapon changing]] to register them instead of sell). The ammount the photos sell for depends on a number of factors, but the most common are distance (proceeding with a melee attack to get close is often to your benefit), lighting (Light and dark attacks before the camera will make the photo brighter or darker, and getting the balance right is key), and if the enemy blocks the photo (less money resulting). Thankfully, 2-4 "decent" photos (less if you don't keep boss photos as a BraggingRightsReward or get some perfect shots) is all it takes clear out every shop of their (limited but slowly respawning) inventory.

* The "World Adventures" expansion pack for ''VideoGame/TheSims 3'' adds the Photography skill. You can buy a camera, take pictures, and put them up around your house or sell them.

* lego.com once had a game centered around this where the player controls a remote control spy robot and must sneak up on suspects and take pictures of them and record conversations without them noticing in order to find a thief, called Robohunter 2: Spy City. (information on the first robohunter game is hard to find, so it is unknown if it was the same)

* The ''Franchise/SlyCooper'' games, especially ''[[VideoGame/Sly2BandOfThieves Band of Thieves]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/Sly3HonorAmongThieves Honor Among Thieves]]'', have areas where Sly uses his all-purpose gadget to take some reconnaissance pictures, a natural thing for a thief to do before major operations. One mission uses the ghost-trapping idea, though. In ''VideoGame/PlayStationAllStarsBattleRoyale'', this is somehow Sly's Level 3 Super.

*** After getting the Deluxe Pictobox, there's an elaborate {{Sidequest}} that involves taking pictures of nearly every character, enemy, boss, etc. in the game and delivering them to the Nintendo Gallery to complete a figurine collection (notably, one character only appears if you have a UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance and a cable to link it to your UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, allowing you to complete ''another'' sidequest that spans five of the game's dungeons, though this character isn't a requirement for completing the gallery).
*** The ''HD'' remake alleviates most of the tedium which comes this sidequest, thanks to the Deluxe Pictobox holding more photos (12 as opposed to 3), the addition of a small icon indicating whether a pictograph is eligible into becoming a figurine and Carlov being able to create multiple figurines per day (as opposed to 1 per day). Thanks to the Tingle Bottle, users could also post pictographs to Miiverse, helping to eliminate the risk of [[PermanentlyMissableContent permanently losing the chance to take pictographs of characters or bosses who make limited appearances]]. However, despite the omission of the system link requirements for the other sidequest which makes a certain character appear, [[GuideDangIt there is no indication on how and where to complete this sidequest]]. And to top it all off, this once optional character is now 'required' to complete the gallery.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker''. Just getting the picto box, as well as upgrading it for color features, spans a sidequest on its own: It all starts with exploring the narrow caves behind Tingle's prison, then showing the picto box to Lenzo, then completing three snap shot tasks, then finding a rainbow-colored firefly in Forest Haven ''and then'' giving it to Lenzo. After getting the color features, there's an elaborate {{Sidequest}} that involves taking pictures of nearly every character in the game (notably, one picture/statue can only be found if you have a UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance and a cable to link it to your UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, allowing you to complete ''another'' sidequest that spans five of the game's dungeons). Then there's the various sidequests in Windfall Island that involve giving pictures to certain characters. Also, in ''The Wind Waker HD'', the Picto Box has the additional function of being able to post photos on Miiverse, even self-shots. This also helps to eliminate the risk of [[PermanentlyMissableContent losing permanently figurines of characters or boss creatures who make limited appearances]]. The remake also allows the player to store four times as many pictures as before, which increases the pacing of the figurine collection.

* ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor: Underground'' has a StealthBasedMission where you masquerade as a press photographer. [=PS2=] sequel ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor: Frontline'' similarly features a level where part of the mission is to photograph blueprints for a [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany German]] plane prototype.

* Way back in the early '90s ''Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin'' for the Sega Genesis asked you to take pictures of supervillains before you fought them. You could then sell them in your secret identity between missions to buy more web fluid. Justified, of course, because that's exactly what Peter Parker does in the comics.

* Snapping photos is a plot element of ''TheLostCrown: A Ghost-Hunting Adventure''. A bit more interesting than most examples, as the photos often [[SpookyPhotographs reveal supernatural phenomena you can't otherwise detect]].

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* ''VideoGame/PokemonSnap'' is literally a first person camera shooter, since the main concept is about taking shots of Pokémon in the wild.

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* ''VideoGame/JurassicParkOperationGenesis'' let you pick up a few extra bucks if you took pictures of the dinosaurs in your park. Some missions require you to take photos of dinosaurs while in a car, like the one where you acquire 200 points taking pictures of predatory dinosaurs fighting each other, hunting, or eating.

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* ''AceCombat5TheUnsungWar'' has a StealthBasedMission where you have to run a recon mission. All of your weapons are replaced with a plane-mounted camera system.