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