---
key: mechanic/spatial-interfaces--t307
type: mechanic
id: spatial-interfaces--t307
lang: en
title: 'Physical objects, markers, NFC and QR'
summary: >-
  A physical carrier supplies an identifier or record. NFC Tools displays a read
  tag; a game scenario can map that tag to an item or action.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/spatial-interfaces--t307/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/spatial-interfaces--t307.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/spatial-interfaces--t307.md
aliases:
  - 'Physical objects, NFC and QR'
tags:
  - Spatial and alternative interfaces
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-c72a42953b3221b7
  - source-d9428a17ad939e56
sources:
  - id: source-c72a42953b3221b7
    title: 'Android Developers: NFC basics'
    url: 'https://developer.android.com/develop/connectivity/nfc/nfc'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-d9428a17ad939e56
    title: NFC Tools
    url: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nfc-tools/id1252962749?uo=4'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: spatial-interfaces
    id: t307
    title: Spatial and alternative interfaces
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/spatial-interfaces/#t307'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: 'Physical objects, NFC and QR'
    description: >-
      A physical carrier supplies an identifier or record. NFC Tools displays a
      read tag; a game scenario can map that tag to an item or action.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/touch-nfc-tools-1.webp
      width: 663
      height: 1440
      game: NFC Tools
      sourceUrl: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nfc-tools/id1252962749?uo=4'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/a0/b1/7d/a0b17d13-0043-7f38-3a1e-560b2d77e4ea/02.jpeg/720x1560bb.jpg
      credit: wakdev
      rights: >-
        © wakdev. Developer-distributed app screenshot; all rights reserved.
        Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: 'NFC Tools: information and a record read from a physical NFC tag'
      alt: 'NFC Tools: information and a record read from a physical NFC tag'
      markers:
        - x: 49
          'y': 28
          label: A serial number identifies a tag but does not grant permission
    tips:
      - Validate the allowed action separately from recognising the tag.
    examples:
      - title: NFC Tools
        url: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nfc-tools/id1252962749?uo=4'
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/spatial-interfaces
---
# Physical objects, markers, NFC and QR

id: spatial-interfaces--t307
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/spatial-interfaces--t307
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/spatial-interfaces--t307/

A physical carrier supplies an identifier or record. NFC Tools displays a read tag; a game scenario can map that tag to an item or action.

## At a glance

![NFC Tools: information and a record read from a physical NFC tag](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/touch-nfc-tools-1.webp)

[NFC Tools](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nfc-tools/id1252962749?uo=4) · © wakdev. Developer-distributed app screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. A serial number identifies a tag but does not grant permission

- Validate the allowed action separately from recognising the tag.

- [NFC Tools](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nfc-tools/id1252962749?uo=4)

## How it works

Physical tokens provide identifiers or poses that a game maps to a specific object and permitted action.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t307-variants"></a>

- QR codes select records by a read identifier. <a id="t307-v1"></a>
- NFC requires a supported reader and accessible channel. <a id="t307-v2"></a>
- Geometric markers provide observed poses. <a id="t307-v3"></a>
- Physical figures can encode a limited property set. <a id="t307-v4"></a>

## Design example

A QR card adds an item to a local collection and rescanning opens its existing record.

Prototype check: Test unknown tags, repeat reads and missing NFC access in the target environment with an explicit selection alternative.

## Context and limits

Spatial and specialized input requires calibration, clear action confirmation and a way to continue after signal loss. 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 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.

- [Android Developers: NFC basics](https://developer.android.com/develop/connectivity/nfc/nfc) (id: source-c72a42953b3221b7)
- [NFC Tools](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nfc-tools/id1252962749?uo=4) (id: source-d9428a17ad939e56)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors