--- key: mechanic/activity-simulators--t137 type: mechanic id: activity-simulators--t137 lang: en title: Scientific experiments and instruments summary: >- An experiment changes a selected variable, measures results and compares them with expectations while preserving test conditions. updatedAt: '2026-10-22' status: active url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/activity-simulators--t137/' jsonUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/activity-simulators--t137.json markdownUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/activity-simulators--t137.md aliases: - Experiments and scientific instruments tags: - Activity and profession simulators - Mechanics and variants sourceIds: - source-3817d420df0baa92 - source-ef0022dff522a76d sources: - id: source-3817d420df0baa92 title: 'Robert Nystrom: State' url: >- https://github.com/munificent/game-programming-patterns/blob/master/book/state.markdown verifiedAt: null - id: source-ef0022dff522a76d title: In Other Waters url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/890720/' verifiedAt: null relations: - type: uses direction: outgoing label: Sources in the selection key: resource/state-pattern title: 'State: Game Programming Patterns' url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/resources/#resource-state-pattern' jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/resource/state-pattern.json' markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/resource/state-pattern.md' placements: - catalogId: activity-simulators id: t137 title: Activity and profession simulators url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/activity-simulators/#t137' categoryIds: - mechanics supersededBy: [] attributes: preview: updatedAt: '2026-10-22' title: Experiments and scientific instruments description: >- An experiment changes a selected variable, measures results and compares them with expectations while preserving test conditions. image: src: images/mechanics/strategy-in-other-waters-05.webp width: 1440 height: 810 game: In Other Waters sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/890720/' originalUrl: >- https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/890720/ss_2d54e423db28949853e52bf48f49811248f9800b.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780960958 credit: Jump Over The Age / Fellow Traveller rights: © Jump Over The Age / Fellow Traveller. All rights reserved. caption: The laboratory analyzes a collected biological sample alt: The laboratory analyzes a collected biological sample markers: - x: 44 'y': 51 label: 'Analysis complete: the species entry is updated' - x: 56 'y': 35 label: Samples are stored in the base’s slots tips: - >- Preserve the link between sample, chosen procedure and resulting observation. examples: - title: In Other Waters url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/890720/' 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/activity-simulators --- # Scientific experiments and instruments id: activity-simulators--t137 type: mechanic key: mechanic/activity-simulators--t137 lang: en status: active url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/activity-simulators--t137/ An experiment changes a selected variable, measures results and compares them with expectations while preserving test conditions. ## At a glance ![The laboratory analyzes a collected biological sample](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/strategy-in-other-waters-05.webp) [In Other Waters](https://store.steampowered.com/app/890720/) · © Jump Over The Age / Fellow Traveller. All rights reserved. 1. Analysis complete: the species entry is updated 2. Samples are stored in the base’s slots - Preserve the link between sample, chosen procedure and resulting observation. - [In Other Waters](https://store.steampowered.com/app/890720/) ## How it works An experiment changes a selected variable, measures results and compares them with expectations while preserving test conditions. ## Variants ### Mechanic variants - Controls keep other conditions unchanged. - Instruments have stated precision and range. - Repetition separates stable links from chance outcomes. - Protocols preserve settings and observations. ## Design example A player changes one reagent and compares two identically configured fictional sensors. Prototype check: Test reproducing an experiment from its log and distinguishing an assumption from an observed game result. ## Context and limits Activity simulators turn observation, operation sequences and limited tools into a testable work task. 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. ## Connected materials - Sources in the selection: [State: Game Programming Patterns](https://gamemechanics.pro/en/resources/#resource-state-pattern) (key: resource/state-pattern) ## Sources and 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. - [Robert Nystrom: State](https://github.com/munificent/game-programming-patterns/blob/master/book/state.markdown) (id: source-3817d420df0baa92) - [In Other Waters](https://store.steampowered.com/app/890720/) (id: source-ef0022dff522a76d) CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors