History Main / ConvenientColorChange

** [[VideoGame/BioShock 2 The sequel]]'s multiplayer uses red, white, and blue in a similar way; red machines have been hacked by the enemy team, and blue ones by your own. White is unhacked (vending machines) or inactive (turrets).

* In the ''Film/{{Tron}}'' universe, vehicles change to the color of whatever program is piloting it. Also, programs that are [[{{Brainwashing}} reprogrammed]] (or {{deprogram}}med) may change color. The page picture is Flynn [[InvokedTrope invoking the trope]] in order to pass himself off as a {{Mook}}. [[note]] {{Exaggerated}} and {{Justified}} in the franchise, as a Program's [[TronLines circuitry patterns]] are identify their function and loyalties. [[/note]]

* In the ''Film/{{Tron}}'' universe, vehicles change to the color of whatever program is piloting it. Also, programs that are [[{{Brainwashing}} reprogrammed]] (or {{deprogram}}med) may change color. The page picture is Flynn [[InvokedTrope invoking the trope]] in order to pass himself off as a {{Mook}}.

* The security bots in ''Franchise/{{Bioshock}}'' change from red-light to green-light when you hack them. Likewise, Big Daddies' helmet lights will turn green when hypnotized and red when aggro'd.
** The sequel's multiplayer uses red, white, and blue in a similar way; red machines have been hacked by the enemy team, and blue ones by your own. White is unhacked (vending machines) or inactive (turrets).

* In ''{{Dune II}}'', when an Ordos Deviator tank hit an opposing unit and put it under Ordos control, the unit's color changed to Ordos green.

* Magic weapons in ''{{Goblins}}'' are explicitly said to glow with the [[AuraVision aura color]] of their wielder and change depending on who is wielding them.

* In ''ErfWorld'', raiment has similar properties. It changes color and even ''symbol'' depending on who a unit serves. So when Wanda [[TheUndead uncroacks]] or [[BackFromTheDead Decrypts]] a unit, its raiment immediately changes to her or Parson's symbol.

* In ''VideoGame/ShinmegamiTenseiIIINocturne'', the main characters tattoo's will change color from blue to red when health is critically low.

* In an early draft of ''StarWars'', lightsabers worked like this.

* In ''StarWarsBattlefront'', any command posts you/the enemy captures will change colour.

* When buildings are captured in ''CommandAndConquer'' games (or when soldiers are mind-controlled), they change to the color of the team that captured them. GarrisonableStructures also get instant sandbags, flags, and color-coded paint jobs.

** We see this not only in the movies, but in the video games ([[VideoGame/TronEvolution Abarax]] turns an awful greenish color), and the AlternateContinuity of ''VideoGame/TronTwoPointOh'' shows a hapless infected Program transforming from blue circuitry to SicklyGreenGlow as well as an EvilCostumeSwitch for [[spoiler: Ma3a]] when she compiles with some malicious code.

[[caption-width-right:330:[-Well, at least no one can accuse Flynn of [[IncrediblyLamePun turning]] [[DirtyCoward yellow]]! [[note]](His [[EvilTwin evil]] [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot cyber]] [[EnemyWithin duplicate]], on [[Film/TronLegacy the other hand...)[[/note]] ]]-] ]]

* In the Film/{{Tron}} universe, vehicles change to the color of whatever program is piloting it. Also, programs that are [[{{Brainwashing}} reprogrammed]] (or {{deprogram}}med) may change color. The page picture is Flynn [[InvokedTrope invoking the trope]] in order to pass himself off as a {{Mook}}. {{Justified|Trope}} in that a Program's circuitry indicates its alignment and job within the system.

There's a lot of variations on this. MechaMooks that get [[HackingMinigame hacked]] will spontaneously change the color of any lights on their chassis, as if they were built with multiple colored bulbs just in case they were ever hacked[[hottip:*:(or the owner wants to mod them)]]. Characters under MindControl or the effects of TheVirus may have this happen to them as well.

* In ''TransformersAnimated'', when Mixmaster and Scrapper [[FaceHeelTurn change their allegiance to the Decepticons]], their [[UnusualEuphemism optics]] go from yellow to red, as Autobots have blue eyes, Decepticons have red ones.

* The [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms laser guns]] of ''GIJoe'' act like this.

* The security bots in ''VideoGame/{{Bioshock}}'' change from red-light to green-light when you hack them. Likewise, Big Daddies' helmet lights will turn green when hypnotized and red when aggro'd.

PaintItBlack is a subtrope of this.

!Examples

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Video games, movies, and other media action can be fast paced and potentially confusing. Telling apart TheCavalry from the EliteMooks they're engaging is complicated by the camera moving and lack of good lighting; this is why factions are DressCodedForYourConvenience and everyone on the SuperTeam is ColorCodedForYourConvenience. If there's energy attacks, so are they. {{Ray Gun}}s will have the color of the faction, and even normal guns' [[EveryBulletIsATracer tracer rounds]] will be the same color.

* The security bots in ''{{Bioshock}}'' change from red-light to green-light when you hack them. Likewise, Big Daddies' helmet lights will turn green when hypnotized and red when aggro'd.

* In the Film/{{Tron}} universe, vehicles change to the color of whatever program is piloting it. Also, programs that are [[{{Brainwashing}} reprogrammed]] (or {{deprogram}}med) may change color. The page picture is Flynn [[InvokedTrope invoking the trope]] in order to pass himself off as a {{Mook}}. {{Justified}} in that a Program's circuitry indicates its alignment and job within the system.

* In ''TransformersAnimated'', when Mixmaster and Scrapper [[FaceHeelTurn change their allegiance to the Decepticons]], their [[UnusualEuphemism optics]] go from blue to red, as Autobots have blue eyes while Decepticons have red ones.

* ''GearsOfWar'': The light on guns change to either blue or red depending upon which side picks them up.
* ''StarCraft'' has it for mind-controlled units in the ''Brood War'' extension, but averts it for "rescuable" units in missions (usually heroes).

* Though not universally true, ''FireEmblem'' characters will often switch their outfits to blue instead of green (NPC) or red (enemy) upon joining the player's army.
* In ''TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks'', Phantoms being controlled by Zelda turn pink.
* ''ElShaddaiAscensionOfTheMetatron'' has the weapons change color from black to white as soon as you steal (and purify) them from enemies.

* In ''StarWarsBattlefront'', any command posts you/the enemy captures will change colour.

[[quoteright:330:[[{{Tron}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TronFlynnChangesColor_9882.jpg]]]]

* In the {{Tron}} universe, vehicles change to the color of whatever program is piloting it. Also, programs that are [[{{Brainwashing}} reprogrammed]] (or {{deprogram}}med) may change color. The page picture is Flynn [[InvokedTrope invoking the trope]] in order to pass himself off as a {{Mook}}. {{Justified}} in that a Program's circuitry indicates its alignment and job within the system.
** We see this not only in the movies, but in the video games ([[TronEvolution Abarax]] turns an awful greenish color), and the AlternateContinuity of ''[[{{Tron20}} Tron 2.0]]'' shows a hapless infected Program transforming from blue circuitry to SicklyGreenGlow as well as an EvilCostumeSwitch for [[spoiler: Ma3a]] when she compiles with some malicious code.

[[caption-width-right:330:[-Well, at least no one can accuse Flynn of [[WorldwidePunomenon turning]] [[DirtyCoward yellow!]] [[note]](His [[EvilTwin evil]] [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot cyber]] [[EnemyWithin duplicate]], on [[Film/TronLegacy the other hand...)[[/note]] ]]-] ]]

[[caption-width-right:330:[-Well, at least no one can accuse Flynn of [[WorldwidePunomenon turning]] [[DirtyCoward yellow!]] [[hottip:*:(His [[EvilTwin evil]] [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot cyber]] [[EnemyWithin duplicate]], on [[Film/TronLegacy the other hand...)]] ]]-] ]]