“Game Feel”: The Impression Of Limited Time

One common feature of a lot of games is limited-time challenges, where the player must do something within a short period of time to succeed.

How can time pressure/limits be conveyed inside a video game?

Often called Quick-Time Events (QTEs), challenges within a limited time duration usually involve the player reacting to and/or performing certain actions before a timer runs out or the opportunity is missed.

QTEs or time challenges often involve some or all of the following:

• Time moving in slow-motion.
• An object or situation that will cause harm or negative effect is getting closer.
• A single path for the player to take, clearly indicating what to do to pass the challenge, OR…
• A specific input button is displayed on screen, indicating that the player should press the corresponding button in time.
• The UI flashing rapidly to catch the player’s attention and indicate something serious is happening.

If the player fails these types of challenges, they generally receive an instant death or permanent negative effect.

Some examples of Quick-Time Events: