{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/visual-novel--family-18","type":"mechanic","id":"visual-novel--family-18","lang":"en","title":"Metamechanics","summary":"The rules use saves, the interface, and knowledge of the game itself as part of the game's decision.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/visual-novel--family-18/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/visual-novel--family-18.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/visual-novel--family-18.md","aliases":[],"tags":["Visual novels","Mechanics"],"sourceIds":["source-97967c9840cf314d"],"sources":[{"id":"source-97967c9840cf314d","title":"Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/1388880/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"The rules use saves, the interface, and knowledge of the game itself as part of the game's decision."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Variants and applications\n\n<a id=\"family-18-variants\"></a>\n\n- Response to boot or restart. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The game counts returning to a save as a meaningful action by the player. <a id=\"variant-vn-175\"></a>\n- Memory of canceled decisions. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Consequences take into account decisions that are no longer part of the current version of events. <a id=\"variant-vn-176\"></a>\n- Conservation as a subject of the game. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Slots, save points or their properties are involved in the task. <a id=\"variant-vn-177\"></a>\n- The menu is like a game space. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Promotion requires meaningful interaction with the main menu or settings. <a id=\"variant-vn-178\"></a>\n- Actions with game files. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The game offers to explore or change files specially designed for this. <a id=\"variant-vn-179\"></a>\n- Working with a virtual operating system. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Embedded files, windows and applications form the gaming environment. <a id=\"variant-vn-180\"></a>\n- Manage the availability of choice. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player restores, changes or wins blocked actions. <a id=\"variant-vn-181\"></a>\n- Conscious cessation of interaction. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Closing, waiting, or refusing a habitual command has intended plot significance. <a id=\"variant-vn-182\"></a>"},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"Author's working classification for designing games and interactions. Options can overlap and combine; the list is not a generally accepted standard or proven exhaustive list. Application examples are conditional unless a specific verifiable observation is indicated nearby. Sources support individual techniques and technical limitations."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"visual-novel","id":"family-18","title":"Visual novels","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/visual-novel/#family-18","categoryIds":["section-1"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Metamechanics","description":"The rules use saves, the interface, and knowledge of the game itself as part of the game's decision.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/narrative-doki-plus-03.webp","width":1440,"height":810,"game":"Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/1388880/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1388880/ss_188001a5bfcfede5be35099f06f7b5ced2d2bcec.1920x1080.jpg?t=1769459840","credit":"Team Salvato / Serenity Forge","rights":"© Team Salvato / Serenity Forge. All rights reserved.","caption":"The in-game desktop in DDLC Plus","alt":"The in-game desktop in DDLC Plus","markers":[{"x":7,"y":56,"label":"Files makes files part of the game’s own interface"}]},"tips":["Help players distinguish intentional metagame behaviour from software errors."],"examples":[{"title":"Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/1388880/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/visual-novel"}}