{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/goals-feedback--t279","type":"mechanic","id":"goals-feedback--t279","lang":"en","title":"Diegetic interfaces and in-world instruments","summary":"The player reads information through the character’s objects and instruments. Their place in the world supports context when displays remain legible.","updatedAt":"2026-10-21","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/goals-feedback--t279/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/goals-feedback--t279.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/goals-feedback--t279.md","aliases":["Information through instruments"],"tags":["Goals, difficulty, learning and feedback","Mechanics and variants"],"sourceIds":["source-d4c7409816f79db5","source-0a031a39aeeef0d8"],"sources":[{"id":"source-d4c7409816f79db5","title":"Game Accessibility Guidelines","url":"https://gameaccessibilityguidelines.com/","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-0a031a39aeeef0d8","title":"Deep Rock Galactic","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"In-world instruments display state and require character actions, making interface reading part of a spatial challenge."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Mechanic variants\n\n<a id=\"t279-variants\"></a>\n\n- Object-mounted gauges require orienting the object. <a id=\"t279-v1\"></a>\n- Panels permit control only while nearby. <a id=\"t279-v2\"></a>\n- Instrument screens constrain the field of view. <a id=\"t279-v3\"></a>\n- Redundant cues preserve essential state access. <a id=\"t279-v4\"></a>"},{"id":"example","title":"Design example","body":"Battery charge appears on a handheld instrument that must be raised instead of a weapon.\n\nPrototype check: Test gauge readability at low resolution and alternatives when instrument placement hides essential information."},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"Goals and feedback explain the value of an action, the causes of its result and ways to improve the next attempt. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"goals-feedback","id":"t279","title":"Goals, difficulty, learning and feedback","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/goals-feedback/#t279","categoryIds":["mechanics"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-21","title":"Information through instruments","description":"The player reads information through the character’s objects and instruments. Their place in the world supports context when displays remain legible.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/drg-autocannon.webp","width":1440,"height":810,"game":"Deep Rock Galactic","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/548430/ss_e6e1d97ee0a5fc8b82c5a9a1aacba178206e3522.1920x1080.jpg?t=1792497307","credit":"Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing","rights":"© Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing. All rights reserved.","caption":"Readings on the weapon housing","alt":"Deep Rock Galactic: an electronic ammunition display is built into the autocannon’s housing in front of the player.","markers":[{"x":84,"y":70,"label":"Readings on an in-world instrument"}]},"tips":["Keep critical readings accessible during action.","Check the instrument on small screens and at lower brightness."],"examples":[{"title":"Deep Rock Galactic","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/goals-feedback"}}