Post
The cone-shaped danger zone that turns sneaking into geometry you can actually read.
Vision cones are visual or invisible detection zones projecting from guards, cameras, or enemies. They simplify perception into a readable shape: stay outside the cone and you are hidden, step inside and risk detection. Some games display cones directly; others ask players to infer them from head direction, lighting, and behavior. The challenge is balancing realism with readability, because true human perception is messy and unfair in play.
Example
Metal Gear Solid made guard cones visible on the radar, instantly teaching players how stealth worked. Mark of the Ninja displays enemy sightlines clearly, letting players solve stealth rooms like tactical puzzles. Commandos and Desperados make vision cones the core language of real-time stealth planning.
Why it matters
Vision cones make stealth legible. They turn AI perception from mysterious cheating into a learnable system, which lets players take risks with confidence instead of crawling through levels in fear of arbitrary detection.
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