History Main / RealTimeWithPause

* '''MenuTimeLockout''': This is an unintentional implementation of "Realtime With Pause". In other words, the designers added the ability to pause the game as a simple convenience, allowing the player to take a break from the action. Often, the screen goes gray, and/or a big obtrusive box appears, saying "The game is paused". But while the designer intended the game to be ''truly'' paused, for some reason it is still possible to examine the playing-field and/or give orders to your units!

* The "Pause" button on [[CaptainNTheGameMaster Captain N's Controler]] is like this... for his allies. Kevin is fully mobile during the pause effect and can relocate objects... but can't give his friends new orders.

* Upcoming indie RealTimeTactics game ''[[FrozenSynapse Frozen Synapse]]'' uses a simultaneous turn based approach for controlling your units.

* Global conquest on the PC version of [[{{Commandandconquer}} Kanes wrath]] (Until a battle occurs then it switches to RTS)

* Another classic non-video-game example is ''{{Diplomacy}}'' (from the same company, AvalonHill). This combines--or perhaps conspires--with the totally deterministic battle system and various other features to make the game an excellent exercise in the GambitPileup.

* ''[[XCom X-COM]]: Apocalypse''. You can also switch to a pure turn-based mode instead, but only before a battle starts. The cityscape portion of the game always uses PRT.
** The ''{{X-Com}}'' series' SpiritualSequel, UFOAfterBlank (''Aftermath'', ''Aftershock'' and ''Afterlight''.)

** This is distinct from other RTWP games because it's evident that [[GoodBadBugs the designer didn't really intend]] the pause feature to be ''useful''… for anything other than taking a break. HardCore players often consider its use [[{{Munchkin}} cheating]].

* Another classic non-video-game example is ''{{Diplomacy}}'' (from the same company, AvalonHill). This combines--or perhaps conspires--with the totally deterministic battle system and various other features to make the game an excellent exercise in the ThirtyXanatosPileup.

* ''DwarfFortress''

* Another classic non-video-game example is ''{{Diplomacy}}'' (from the same company, AvalonHill). This combines with the totally deterministic battle system and various other features to make the game an excellent exercise in the ThirtyXanatosPileup.

* ''JamesBone: EverythingOrNothing'' has the "Bond Sense" mode, which allows the player to replicate Bonds expert markmanship by both giving them more time to examine the situation and select targets, and also highlights enemies and destroyable scenery. While it doesn't fully pause the game, it does slow the action to a crawl to give you more, but not unlimited time.
** James Bone? Well, [[FreudWasRight I guess you could]] [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean put it that way]]...

Approaches to this issue are often unique or innovative, as there are many possible combinations to be tried. Games may have a different emphasis on action versus strategy, and interface design can make a huge difference too.

** This gets even more complicated when the Battle Navigator is trying to rig the sails or load the cannons at the same time (both are furious action-oriented puzzles requiring a lot of skill and concentration!). Some captains are so good at this, they can sail a ship with half a crew on-board, filling in themselves during intense battles. This allows making tons of cash, because there are fewer crewmates to share the loot with!

* ''{{Achron}}'' is a rare '''multiplayer''' version of this kind of game. It pulls it off by allowing the players to pause time, but not meta-time... so even if you do freeze a moment to give your units complex orders, you better be quick because your opponent is still somewhen out there mucking with the timeline.

* {{HiddenObjectGames}} are often timed - whether counting down (as a deadline) or counting up (for scoring purposes). Given the vast number of such games made in the past decade, you're absolutely bound to come across a timed game where the designers hadn't really considered this exploit. So when the game is paused, the scene remains quite visible (sometimes simply a little darkened) and you can actually keep looking for clues without wasting any precious time. This has recently been changed a little, due to many Hidden Object Games abandoning the time factor altogether.

** The ''LordOfTheRings: The Battle For Middle Earth'' series.

* ''CriticalMass'' has a nearly identical system, though on a much smaller time scale.