Game Master Panel

The Game Master (GM) panel is the operator interface used to monitor and control an active escape room session. In Wonder Controlz, the GM panel is built using Node-RED Dashboard — a UI framework that runs directly inside Node-RED on the Main PC.

Node-RED Dashboard provides a set of visual widgets (buttons, switches, sliders, indicators, text fields, gauges, etc.) that can be arranged into a custom interface. The GM panel is accessed through a web browser on any device connected to the local network — a tablet, laptop, or dedicated monitor at the GM station.

Because the panel is built within Node-RED, it has direct access to the entire game logic and all connected devices. There is no separate “control software” or additional layer between the GM and the room — the panel is part of the same flow that runs the game.

Every room is different, so the GM panel is tailored to each installation. Common elements include:

• Start / Reset buttons — begin a new session or reset the room to its initial state
• Timer display — countdown for the current session
• Pause / Resume — freeze the game timer and all automated sequences
• Skip puzzle — manually advance the game past a stuck puzzle

• Puzzle status indicators — which puzzles are solved, in progress, or locked
• Sensor states — real-time view of all digital inputs (doors, buttons, triggers)
• Device status — which I/O modules are online, any communication errors

• Hint buttons — send pre-defined hints to in-room displays or audio
• Custom text input — type a message to players via er-chat
• Audio triggers — play specific sound effects or announcements

• Lock / unlock controls — manually open or close electromagnetic locks
• Light controls — adjust lighting scenes or trigger effects
• Media controls — play, stop, or switch video/audio content

Since the GM panel is built with Node-RED Dashboard nodes, it can be customized without limits:

• Layout — arrange widgets in tabs, groups, and columns to match the GM's workflow
• Branding — custom colors, logos, and styling to match the venue
• Complexity — from a simple start/reset panel to a comprehensive multi-tab control center
• Multi-room — a single Node-RED instance can host panels for multiple rooms, each on its own tab
• Responsive — works on tablets, phones, and desktop browsers

Room builders and operators can modify the panel at any time by editing the Node-RED flow — no external tools, no recompilation, no deployment process.

The GM panel benefits directly from the Zero Field Logic architecture:

• The panel sees everything — every sensor, every output, every device state, in real time
• Manual overrides work instantly because the panel operates at the same level as the game logic
• Changes to the panel (adding a button, rearranging a layout) take effect immediately
• The same flow that controls the game also drives the GM interface — no synchronization issues