---
key: mechanic/voice-audio--family-01
type: mechanic
id: voice-audio--family-01
lang: en
title: Direct voice commands
summary: >-
  The player speaks a command specifying an action and target. The game
  recognizes the intent, executes the order and shows the result.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/voice-audio--family-01/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/voice-audio--family-01.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/voice-audio--family-01.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Voice and sound
  - Speech as meaning
sourceIds:
  - source-a9cd3a94eec7c9d4
  - source-bb0f4ec127a0525d
sources:
  - id: source-a9cd3a94eec7c9d4
    title: There Came an Echo
    url: >-
      https://blog.playstation.com/2016/05/23/there-came-an-echo-hits-ps4-on-may-31/
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-bb0f4ec127a0525d
    title: There Came an Echo
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/319740/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations:
  - type: explains
    direction: incoming
    label: Understand the principle
    key: lesson/input-and-feedback
    title: Input and feedback
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lessons/input-and-feedback/'
    jsonUrl: >-
      https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/lesson/input-and-feedback.json
    markdownUrl: >-
      https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/lesson/input-and-feedback.md
placements:
  - catalogId: voice-audio
    id: family-01
    title: Voice and sound
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/voice-audio/#family-01'
    categoryIds:
      - speech
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Direct voice commands
    description: >-
      The player speaks a command specifying an action and target. The game
      recognizes the intent, executes the order and shows the result.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/interface-there-came-echo-06.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: There Came an Echo
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/319740/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/319740/ss_61fbbe3a716ef02ceb0e802efa846a20b39d8a2c.1920x1080.jpg?t=1568690498
      credit: Iridium Studios / Iridium Studios
      rights: >-
        © Iridium Studios / Iridium Studios. Publisher-distributed Steam
        screenshot. All rights reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: 'There Came an Echo: squad orders and the ALPHA 5 waypoint'
      alt: 'There Came an Echo: squad orders and the ALPHA 5 waypoint'
      markers:
        - x: 48
          'y': 45
          label: MOVE TO ALPHA 5 specifies an action and a named target
    tips:
      - Confirm recognized commands before dangerous or irreversible actions.
    examples:
      - title: There Came an Echo
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/319740/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original taxonomy adapted from user-selected design discussions; linked
  sources support specific examples, not the whole classification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/voice-audio
---
# Direct voice commands

id: voice-audio--family-01
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/voice-audio--family-01
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/voice-audio--family-01/

The player speaks a command specifying an action and target. The game recognizes the intent, executes the order and shows the result.

## At a glance

![There Came an Echo: squad orders and the ALPHA 5 waypoint](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/interface-there-came-echo-06.webp)

[There Came an Echo](https://store.steampowered.com/app/319740/) · © Iridium Studios / Iridium Studios. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot. All rights reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. MOVE TO ALPHA 5 specifies an action and a named target

- Confirm recognized commands before dangerous or irreversible actions.

- [There Came an Echo](https://store.steampowered.com/app/319740/)

## How it works

Specify an action, select a target and check the result.

## Variants

### Character actions

<a id="family-01-branch-1"></a>

- Movement: walk, run, turn, stop. <a id="family-01-branch-1-variant-1"></a>
- Interaction: open, take, inspect, activate. <a id="family-01-branch-1-variant-2"></a>
- Items: select, use, transfer, combine. <a id="family-01-branch-1-variant-3"></a>
- Abilities: attack, defend, heal, switch modes. <a id="family-01-branch-1-variant-4"></a>

### Selection and addressing

<a id="family-01-branch-2"></a>

- Name a particular character or object. <a id="family-01-branch-2-variant-1"></a>
- Select a target by a property: nearest, red, damaged. <a id="family-01-branch-2-variant-2"></a>
- Assign custom names and spoken aliases. <a id="family-01-branch-2-variant-3"></a>
- Specify relationships: behind the door, left of the tower, near an ally. <a id="family-01-branch-2-variant-4"></a>

### Compound commands

<a id="family-01-branch-3"></a>

- Clarify, correct or cancel an existing order. <a id="family-01-branch-3-variant-3"></a>
- Combine actions into a sequence. <a id="family-01-branch-3-variant-1"></a>
- Specify a conditional action: hide if an enemy appears. <a id="family-01-branch-3-variant-2"></a>
- Specify an exception: everyone except the scout. <a id="family-01-branch-3-variant-4"></a>

## Context and limits

A working design-space map: 27 families, 81 branches and 324 variants. Voice control, audio-based play and communication can combine or exist separately. Released-game examples support particular techniques; supplementary combinations are design proposals.

## Connected materials

- Understand the principle: [Input and feedback](https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lessons/input-and-feedback/) (key: lesson/input-and-feedback)

## Sources and provenance

Original taxonomy adapted from user-selected design discussions; linked sources support specific examples, not the whole classification.

- [There Came an Echo](https://blog.playstation.com/2016/05/23/there-came-an-echo-hits-ps4-on-may-31/) (id: source-a9cd3a94eec7c9d4)
- [There Came an Echo](https://store.steampowered.com/app/319740/) (id: source-bb0f4ec127a0525d)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors