Quick Time Event

A Quick Time Event is typically a form of interactive cut-scene, where main control of the on-screen action is replaced by a lengthy animation with limited user interaction. Most games that feature QTEs flash an on-screen icon to tell players which button or direction to press to successfully continue the animation. Failing to press the proper buttons in a timely fashion usually results in some form of penalty, such as failing to execute the attempted move, getting hit by incoming objects, and so on.

The term QTE originated in Shenmue, but examples of similar sequences go all the way back to the cinematic laser disc games of the early-mid '80s, such as Dragon's Lair, Cliff Hanger, Space Ace, Ninja Hayate, Road Blaster, and Time Gal, as well as athletic sports games such as Track & Field.

In 2001, Shenmue II introduced a variation of the QTE called the Command Quick Time Event (CQTE), which instead of inputting commands in real time, freezes the scene and gives you a limited time to enter a longer string of buttons.

Although the intention is to make cut-scenes more interactive, this form of gameplay has been criticized in modern video games for replacing action, rather than complementing it.

A more recent variation of the QTE is the timed decisions mechanic, which adds an element of moral decisions to the concept.