---
key: lens/schell-062
type: lens
id: schell-062
lang: en
title: Transparency
summary: Make controls understandable enough for attention to remain on play.
updatedAt: '2026-10-10'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/lens/schell-062/'
jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/lens/schell-062.json'
markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/lens/schell-062.md'
aliases:
  - Transparency
  - '62'
tags:
  - Puzzles and interfaces
sourceIds:
  - source-a5287443699910bb
  - source-f546a7168effffbb
sources:
  - id: source-a5287443699910bb
    title: 'Schell: 113 second-edition lenses'
    url: 'https://schellgames.com/art-of-game-design'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-f546a7168effffbb
    title: Transparency
    url: 'https://deck.artofgamedesign.com/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations:
  - type: reviews
    direction: incoming
    label: Apply this lens
    key: lesson/npc-action-selection
    title: How an NPC selects an action
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lessons/npc-action-selection/'
    jsonUrl: >-
      https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/lesson/npc-action-selection.json
    markdownUrl: >-
      https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/lesson/npc-action-selection.md
  - type: reviews
    direction: incoming
    label: Apply this lens
    key: path/npc-behavior
    title: NPC behavior
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/learn/npc-behavior/'
    jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/path/npc-behavior.json'
    markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/path/npc-behavior.md'
placements:
  - title: In the original collection
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lenses/#schell-062'
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  number: '62'
  theme: interface
  author: Jesse Schell
  originalTitle: Transparency
  referenceUrl: 'https://deck.artofgamedesign.com/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial explanations and review questions based on the
  user-selected Schell notes and attributed primary references. External
  concepts and source material retain their rights.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
---
# Transparency

id: schell-062
type: lens
key: lens/schell-062
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/lens/schell-062/

Make controls understandable enough for attention to remain on play.

## Principle

Make controls understandable enough for attention to remain on play.

## Review questions

- When does the player stop thinking about the interface and focus on the problem?
- Which operation repeatedly draws attention back to the controls?

## Attribution and limits

Jesse Schell · Schell: 113 second-edition lenses

The concise explanations and review questions are original gamemechanics.pro wording. This is an independent reference, not a translation of the cards or a substitute for the book. Names, concepts and external material remain their authors’ work.

## Connected materials

- Apply this lens: [How an NPC selects an action](https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lessons/npc-action-selection/) (key: lesson/npc-action-selection)
- Apply this lens: [NPC behavior](https://gamemechanics.pro/en/learn/npc-behavior/) (key: path/npc-behavior)

## Sources and provenance

Original editorial explanations and review questions based on the user-selected Schell notes and attributed primary references. External concepts and source material retain their rights.

- [Schell: 113 second-edition lenses](https://schellgames.com/art-of-game-design) (id: source-a5287443699910bb)
- [Transparency](https://deck.artofgamedesign.com/) (id: source-f546a7168effffbb)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors