Abstract: Disclosed in some examples is a method for controlling a user interface environment, the method including rendering, on a display, a user interface including a first environment in a first portion of the user interface and a second environment in a second portion of the user interface, the first environment visually representing an unlocked area of a game and the second environment visually representing a locked area of the game, displaying a player character in the first portion of the user interface, wherein the player character has access to the first environment and is restricted from accessing the second environment, and displaying, in the second portion of the user interface, a visual effect obscuring display of a visual property of the second environment and indicating a location of an object in the second environment, while the visual property is displayed in the first portion of the user interface region.

Abstract: Disclosed in some examples is a method of providing a computer-implemented game, the method includes rendering a display of a virtual in-game environment comprising an unlocked area and a locked area, an in-game player character controlled by a player of the game having access to the unlocked areas but being restricted from accessing the locked area; and using one or more processors, applying a visual effect to the locked area to distinguish the locked area from the unlocked area, the visual effect revealing one or more aspects of the unlocked area.

Abstract: Disclosed in some examples is a method of providing a computer-implemented game, the method includes rendering a display of a virtual in-game environment comprising an unlocked area and a locked area, an in-game player character controlled by a player of the game having access to the unlocked areas but being restricted from accessing the locked area; and using one or more processors, applying a visual effect to the locked area to distinguish the locked area from the unlocked area, the visual effect revealing one or more aspects of the unlocked area.

Abstract: Disclosed in some examples is a method of providing a computer-implemented game, the method includes rendering a display of a virtual in-game environment comprising an unlocked area and a locked area, an in-game player character controlled by a player of the game having access to the unlocked areas but being restricted from accessing the locked area; and using one or more processors, applying a visual effect to the locked area to distinguish the locked area from the unlocked area, the visual effect revealing one or more aspects of the unlocked area.