---
key: mechanic/electronic-devices--family-g21
type: mechanic
id: electronic-devices--family-g21
lang: en
title: Surveillance and security
summary: >-
  Cameras and surveillance systems show remote locations. The player monitors
  changes and uses the observations to solve a task.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/electronic-devices--family-g21/
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/electronic-devices--family-g21.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/electronic-devices--family-g21.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Electronic devices in games
  - World
sourceIds:
  - source-090ee83445744667
sources:
  - id: source-090ee83445744667
    title: The Operator
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: electronic-devices
    id: family-g21
    title: Electronic devices in games
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/electronic-devices/#family-g21'
    categoryIds:
      - section-2
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Surveillance and security
    description: >-
      Cameras and surveillance systems show remote locations. The player
      monitors changes and uses the observations to solve a task.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/narrative-the-operator-11.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: The Operator
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1771980/ss_016b45729ee402502b0784a3d1a8492a3f7996f9.1920x1080.jpg?t=1778485297
      credit: Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova
      rights: © Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova. All rights reserved.
      caption: Comparing a camera recording with a live feed
      alt: Comparing a camera recording with a live feed
      markers:
        - x: 66
          'y': 43
          label: The second feed allows observation of current behaviour
    tips:
      - Distinguish live feeds from recordings.
    examples:
      - title: The Operator
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
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/electronic-devices
---
# Surveillance and security

id: electronic-devices--family-g21
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/electronic-devices--family-g21
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/electronic-devices--family-g21/

Cameras and surveillance systems show remote locations. The player monitors changes and uses the observations to solve a task.

## At a glance

![Comparing a camera recording with a live feed](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/narrative-the-operator-11.webp)

[The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/) · © Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova. All rights reserved.

1. The second feed allows observation of current behaviour

- Distinguish live feeds from recordings.

- [The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/)

## How it works

Devices: Computer; Camera; Terminal; Device.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-g21-variants"></a>

- Switch cameras. Rule: Choose a point of view that gives the necessary information. <a id="variant-g21-01"></a>
- Point the camera. Rule: Rotate, zoom in and hold the target in the observation area. <a id="variant-g21-02"></a>
- Monitor multiple threads. Rule: Distribute attention between independent events. <a id="variant-g21-03"></a>
- Notice anomalies. Rule: Detect a change, violation or threat. <a id="variant-g21-04"></a>
- Set up an alarm. Rule: Select zones, thresholds and events for automatic warning. <a id="variant-g21-05"></a>
- Report an incident. Rule: Classify an observation and elicit an appropriate response. <a id="variant-g21-06"></a>
- Look for blind spots. Rule: Find out what the surveillance system does not see or record. <a id="variant-g21-07"></a>

## Context and limits

Author's taxonomy of actions, task forms and end-to-end conditions for design. Categories overlap. References support individual families, not every variant.

## Connected materials


## Sources and 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.

- [The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/) (id: source-090ee83445744667)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors