Quick time event (QTE)
What is a quick time event (QTE)? On-screen button prompts you must hit in time, from Shenmue to Resident Evil 4, and who named them.
A quick time event, or QTE, is a moment where the game shows a button prompt and gives you a short window to press it. Failing may hurt your character or end the game.
Where the term comes from
Yu Suzuki, director of Shenmue, is credited with the term; Shenmue called the feature “quick timer events”. The earliest use found is in the Polish magazine Gry Komputerowe, April 1999.
Examples
Each game links to the source that describes it using the mechanic.
- Resident Evil 4, made with RE Engine
- Gears of War, made with Unreal Engine
- Mass Effect, made with Unreal Engine
- Until Dawn, made with Decima
- Shenmue
Related terms: Emergent gameplay, Softlock, Save scumming.
Genres: Survival horror.
Sources
Checked .
- Quick time event — Wikipedia
- Glossary of video game terms — Wikipedia