History Main / SymbolDrawingInterface

[[folder:Adventure]]

* The PC-version of ''VideoGame/{{Fahrenheit}}'' replaces control stick motion patterns of the consoles with tracing the same patterns with a mouse, effectively making it this.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks''
* In ''VideoGame/{{Turgor}}'', you do everything except walking and talking by drawing symbols on the screen and feeding them with energy. Even talking to Sisters requires it.

* In ''Film/MontyPythonsTheMeaningOfLife'' the LicensedGame, in the section "Live Organ Transplants" you as a surgeon have to cut into a body. It starts out with simple lines, then gets more complex and the last one you have to do is in the image of WesternAnimation/{{Gumby}}.

* ''VideoGame/MystV'' had you draw symbols on a special slate in order to command the strange creatures that inhabited the worlds you visited. Noted for being frustratingly buggy; it often took several tries for a symbol to be recognised, and it was easy to accidentally draw the symbol that would [[GameBreaker take you to the end of the level]].

* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', Jade uses the Pictionary fetch modus, which means she picks up items by drawing them on a tablet computer.

* ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Okamiden}}'': The gameplay revolves primarily around the Celestial Brush Techniques, requiring the player to "paint" symbols on the screen to create various effects such as, among other things, making the sun rise or fall, lashing objects as with a blade, causing dormant plants to bloom, etc.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Turgor}}'', you do pretty much everything except walking and talking by drawing symbols on the screen and feeding them with energy. Even talking to Sisters requires it.
* The gameplay of ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Okamiden}}'' revolve primarily around the Celestial Brush Techniques, requiring the player to "paint" symbols on the screen to create various effects such as, among other things, making the sun rise.

* ''VideoGame/Okami'' is based on the use of the Celestial Brush, wherin the player draws on the screen to use certain techniques (turning night to day, slashing objects as with a blade, causing dormant plants to bloom).

* Various "Gestures" add-ons for UsefulNotes/MozillaFirefox allow you to browse the web with a SymbolDrawingInterface. The Opera browser even supports this natively.

** In the Dream World of the generation V ''VideoGame/{{Pokemon}}'' games, there's a minigame where you have to guide a Sableye in a mine cart to collect gems by drawing symbols representing each platform to jump on.

* ''VideoGame/TraumaCenter''

* ''Franchise:{{Pokemon}}'':

** ''VideoGame/PokémonRanger: Guardian Signs'' allows you to draw symbols that summon Pokémon you've encountered, particularly Legendaries.

In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', Jade uses the Pictionary fetch modus, which means she picks up items by drawing them on a tablet computer.
In ''Anime/{{Simoun}}'', the Ri Maajons are graphical patterns drawn in the air with the eponymous aircraft's mystical gems, which, if drawn correctly, bring forth powerful magic.

* ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite'' uses an interface where you perform miracles by drawing corresponding symbols on the ground.
** The sequel keeps this but also adds the option of using a more traditional interface.
* ''VideoGame/{{Sacrifice}}'' allowed you to navigate through the tactical menus with this, although clicking or using keyboard shortcuts was usually simpler.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Turgor}}'', you do pretty much everything except walking and talking by drawing symbols on the screen and feeding them with energy.
** Even talking to Sisters requires it.

* Several UsefulNotes/NintendoDS games:
** ''VideoGame/LostMagic'' makes you cast spells that way.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks''
** ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'' game uses this for the [[FunctionalMagic ninpo]] spells.
** ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaDawnOfSorrow'' required this to finish off defeated bosses.
** ''VideoGame/TraumaCenter''
** ''VideoGame/{{Scribblenauts}}'' gives a type 3 RealityWritingBook to the player, which can be toggled between this and a keyboard.

** from the [[Creator/HidekiKamiya same developer]], ''VideoGame/TheWonderful101'' uses drawing gestures mechanic to switch between weapons.

* An InUniverse example in ''VideoGame/HeavyRain'': Although this interface is not used by the player, Norman Jayden's ARI does have a consistent motion-control interface.

* Early versions of ''VideoGame/{{Darwinia}}'' used this system to summon units. This was replaced by default with a menu-based system in later versions.
* ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger: Guardian Signs'' allows you to draw symbols that summon Pokémon you've encountered, particularly Legendaries.
* ''VideoGame/ArxFatalis'' used this for its magic system.

* InUniverse, non-VideoGame example: In ''Anime/{{Simoun}}'', the Ri Maajons are graphical patterns drawn in the air with the eponymous aircraft's mystical gems, which, if drawn correctly, bring forth powerful magic.
* Various "Gestures" add-ons for UsefulNotes/MozillaFirefox allow you to browse the web with a SymbolDrawingInterface.
* In the Dream World of the generation V ''VideoGame/{{Pokemon}}'' games, there's a minigame where you have to guide a Sableye in a mine cart to collect gems by drawing symbols representing each platform to jump on.
* InUniverse example: In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', Jade uses the Pictionary fetch modus, which means she picks up items by drawing them on a tablet computer.

* The casual game ''VideoGame/{{Drawn}}'' is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: you draw pictures to make things manifest or change.

* Several NintendoDS games:

* InUniverse example: In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', Jane uses the Pictionary fetch modus, which means she picks up items by drawing them on a tablet computer.

* In ''Film/MontyPythonsTheMeaningOfLife'' the LicensedGame, in the section "Live Organ Transplants" you as a surgeon have to cut into a body. It starts out with simple lines, then gets more complex and the last one you have to do is in the image of {{Gumby}}.