{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/horror-tension--t216","type":"mechanic","id":"horror-tension--t216","lang":"en","title":"Sensory limitations and incomplete information","summary":"A constrained perception channel changes information gathering, increasing the value of available signals and verification.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/horror-tension--t216/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/horror-tension--t216.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/horror-tension--t216.md","aliases":["Limited perception channels"],"tags":["Horror and tension","Mechanics and variants"],"sourceIds":["source-b2a89cba190d4ef9","source-65de2bd88b556a03"],"sources":[{"id":"source-b2a89cba190d4ef9","title":"Frictional Games: Amnesia","url":"https://www.amnesiagame.com/","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-65de2bd88b556a03","title":"Alien: Isolation","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/214490/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"A constrained perception channel changes information gathering, increasing the value of available signals and verification."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Mechanic variants\n\n<a id=\"t216-variants\"></a>\n\n- Light cones restrict the visible sector. <a id=\"t216-v1\"></a>\n- Noise masks a quiet approaching threat. <a id=\"t216-v2\"></a>\n- Instruments display traces with a delay. <a id=\"t216-v3\"></a>\n- Alternative channels preserve essential accessibility. <a id=\"t216-v4\"></a>"},{"id":"example","title":"Design example","body":"An instrument detects motion behind a wall but updates slowly and shows no exact creature shape.\n\nPrototype check: Test essential signal readability with accessibility settings and decorative effects disabled."},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"Horror builds decisions around limited certainty, defensive means and safe recovery time. 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":"horror-tension","id":"t216","title":"Horror and tension","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/horror-tension/#t216","categoryIds":["mechanics"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Limited perception channels","description":"A constrained perception channel changes information gathering, increasing the value of available signals and verification.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/general-alien-isolation-03.webp","width":1440,"height":822,"game":"Alien: Isolation","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/214490/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/214490/ss_90419f0e549d54138abfeb3c7b78e4b5427afdb0.1920x1080.jpg?t=1763647113","credit":"Creative Assembly / Feral Interactive (Mac) / Feral Interactive (Linux) / SEGA / Feral Interactive (Mac) / Feral Interactive (Linux)","rights":"Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed screenshot from Steam; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.","caption":"A motion tracker provides incomplete information beyond a door","alt":"A motion tracker provides incomplete information beyond a door","markers":[{"x":21,"y":63,"label":"The tracker reports motion without a direct view"},{"x":61,"y":53,"label":"A closed passage limits visibility"}]},"tips":["Keep the available signal reliable within the tracker’s stated limits."],"examples":[{"title":"Alien: Isolation","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/214490/"}]}},"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/horror-tension"}}