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[nelkon and parker]

DON'T have a static loading screen such that if the system crashed, the player would never know.

DO have at least some sort of animation happening that will stop if the system crashes, overheats, etc. . . . ideally, every major load should have both some kind of animation (so you know the system is still working) AND a progress bar (so you know how much more you have to wait . . . i.e., Can I go get a beer?).

DON'T EVER have progress bars that fill up and start over again . . . that sh!t is just cruel taunting. Use some other animation.

DO put up game tips, hints, secrets, control lay-outs, etc.

DON'T put up game info, hints, etc. but change them so quickly that the player can't really read them without concentrating hard. (I'm talking to you Big Bumpin'.) We are playing games, not taking a test.

So basically you like most loading screens. I think its time for developers who know they can't avoid the use of loading screens, to become more inventive. How about updating the screens via a transparent online update. Would sure spice things up if the images/mini games/text changed.

 

[rollingstart]

either mask loading times in cutscenes or slowed down parts (NOT like Tony Hawk American Wasteland where it has you skate through a secluded boring place, like God of War or something. If there has to be a loading screen, then give an accurate progress bar that moves at a steady pace and have some interaction, I hate it when a loading bar reaches the end and just repeats and I also hate it freezes at like 10 percent then jumps to 75 percent after a while.

 

[Gigglepoo]

I'd at least like an interactive loading screen like some EA games now have. Sonic looks terrible. :lol

I thought Namco had a patent on that? What EA games let you play a game during loading?

 

[MMaRsu]

I thought Namco had a patent on that? What EA games let you play a game during loading?

Fifa, your the only player in the field, just you and the keeper. It looks awesome too.

 

[speculawyer]

So basically you like most loading screens. I think its time for developers who know they can't avoid the use of loading screens, to become more inventive. How about updating the screens via a transparent online update. Would sure spice things up if the images/mini games/text changed.

Well, most load screens don't follow those simple rules. Your idea of updating the images & text is brilliant . . . but scary. You know what load screens are going to become? That's right . . . . advertisements.

 

[nelkon and parker]

That's right . . . . advertisements.

Oh god... sadly I wouldn't be suprised if this happened this gen.

 

[R0nn]

I thought Namco had a patent on that? What EA games let you play a game during loading?

FIFA and NBA Live are the ones I know of. The difference between EA's and Namco's methods is that EA uses ingame assets and gameplay to kill the time. You are basically just running around freely on the field of play with a ball and can do basically everything you can do during a match. It's also good for a bit of practice or to get the feel of the game back if you hadn't played it for a while.

Next to hidden load times, EA's solution is easily the best method I've seen to date. It's also nice because it allows you to continue playing after it has finished loading and also because the loading never interferes with the gameplay through framedrops or anything like that. Combined with the way they present the transition from the "loading game" to the actual game makes it a very seamless experience.

 

[Son of Godzilla]

I like Dead Rising's load screens. Always something epic from a cutscene that just took place. Was kinda neat.

Anyways, what needs to never happen, ever, is staggering progress bars.

The Fifa load game is fun, but I never freakin notice when it's done loading.

 

[Oni Jazar]

Don't use loading screens.

 

[C- Warrior]

Don't: Don't have a loading screen text icon appear when the actual load screen is pretty damn fast, so fast -- its more a fade out to fade in than an actual load (see: devil may cry 4 trial demo)

 

[Mr. Wednesday]

Do show a progress bar/animation. A load % is even better.

 

[terrene]

Oh my god at the video.

NOW LOADING...

"Correct!" (claps)

NOW LOADING...

(shoots self)

I'm taking Sonic out of my queue at Gamefly right now. Is the PS3 version this bad?

 

[Brobzoid]

holy shit, I want to play sonic 360 just to see those loadings! WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!

 

[Zoramon089]

GoW loading basically was the same as MP (and other games) where it was disguised by cutscenese (elevator in MP) and slow door opening

 

[Bildi]

Zelda TP is great for loading - a few times I've tried to remember whether it has any loading but when I'm playing the game I never remember to check. In other words, I don't notice so it must be pretty good.

When I saw the thread title I also thought of Gears of War and how I don't remember it having any loading times. Again, it masks them brilliantly. You have to admire and respect development teams who design their game in such a way as to mask loading.

Just now reading the words "now loading" reminded me of when we had to deal with tape drives. But that was OVER 20 YEARS AGO - how can we still be dealing with the same crap 20 years later??? :lol

 

[DarknessTear]

They should put some kind of arcade game in place so you can fool around until it's done loading. I'm sure it'd be easy to do.

 

[SnakeXs]

They should put some kind of arcade game in place so you can fool around until it's done loading. I'm sure it'd be easy to do.

Not when Namco has a cock block on it.

Plus loading times shouldn't be that long, anywho.

 

[_Alkaline_]

Why the hell can developers realistically model a character's hair right down to the root but we STILL have loading times in games?

I mean, we have made such technological progress and can do amazing things with today's consoles, yet we still haven't got rid of load times, and if anything, they've gotten worse.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

Why the hell can developers realistically model a character's hair right down to the root but we STILL have loading times in games?

I mean, we have made such technological progress and can do amazing things with today's consoles, yet we still haven't got rid of load times, and if anything, they've gotten worse.

Not to be realistic with my numbers here, but because while hair follicles have increased by 10, the speed at which the hair follicles can be read from disc has only increased by 3. Now if only they'd be satisfied with 5 times as many follicles at 60 frames per second rather than 10 times as many at 30, loading would be but half as long!

 

[LakeEarth]

They should put some kind of arcade game in place so you can fool around until it's done loading. I'm sure it'd be easy to do.

Patented. No one other than Namco can do it without paying Namco.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

So basically you like most loading screens. I think its time for developers who know they can't avoid the use of loading screens, to become more inventive. How about updating the screens via a transparent online update. Would sure spice things up if the images/mini games/text changed.

Ahaha. Forecast Channel integration into loading screens.

 

[Dahbomb]

DMC3 loading screen. You can break the Now Loading screen, Hightime it, juggle it with E&I and even Stinger it. Perfect way to get yourself pumped up.

And OMFG at the Sonic the Hedgehog load times.

 

[Synbios459]

Speaking of loading, why did cartridge games like Batman Forever for the SNES have loading?

 

[[Nintex]]

The best recent load times for good looking console games were:
Fzero GX
Select Machine
Select Track
Black screen <1 sec>
Race begins

Metroid Prime 2
Metroid Prime 1 had some "closed" doors, you just had to wait 5 or 6 seconds till they opened. Metroid Prime 2 however has flawless loadtimes, even the Elevator Animations can be skipped.

The load times of Sonic 360 are actually longer then the game itself.:lol

 

[human5892]

Speaking of loading, why did cartridge games like Batman Forever for the SNES have loading?

Those are games that have lots of compressed data that the system needs to decompress before it can address it.

 

[GDJustin]

I was always fascinated by Castlevania: SotN's controllable loading text, for some reason...

 

[Armitage]

The best recent load times for good looking console games were:
Fzero GX
Select Machine
Select Track
Black screen <1 sec>
Race begins

Metroid Prime 2
Metroid Prime 1 had some "closed" doors, you just had to wait 5 or 6 seconds till they opened. Metroid Prime 2 however has flawless loadtimes, even the Elevator Animations can be skipped.

The load times of Sonic 360 are actually longer then the game itself.:lol

I thought GX's menus very clunky, it took too long to go into the shop, or read data from the memory card. The main game was great though.

 

[MrPing1000]

DO include a "press this button to continue" message after the loading, very handy if you want to take a piss or something.

 

[jett]

Sonic's loading timeas are just unbelievable....seriously wow.

 

[fernoca]

I always like screen that show artwork/stuff while loading....

As always, using Mortal Kombat as an example..
Loved the idea of the Loading Screen in Armageddon ..being the VS. screen between each match...

 

[Mejilan]

That Sonic 360 video HAS to be fake, right?

Not even entry-level game programmers are that stupid anymore.

 

[Bildi]

That Sonic 360 video HAS to be fake, right?

Not even entry-level game programmers are that stupid anymore.

Sorry, I don't quite get the point you're trying to make.

 

[Mejilan]

Sorry, I don't quite get the point you're trying to make.

That the kind of sloppy coding like that just DOESN'T happen anymore.

 

[Nickovic]

Obviously it does.

 

[TTP]

DON'T copy This... (No, it's not the WWE PSP video, btw)

Holy shit! :lol :lol :lol

 

[Autofokus]

DON'T copy This... (No, it's not the WWE PSP video, btw)

--If you have ten minutes to waste, go ahead and click it. There is just so much wrong in it and it just... I don't have to comment on it, I believe; a video is worth millions of words, but you'll only have enough consciousness to say "shit". Also if you're masochistic enough, read the comments. But those of us who have played and beaten the game know the truth... oh god do we know the truth...

external floppy drive comfirmed!

 

[Bildi]

That the kind of sloppy coding like that just DOESN'T happen anymore.

Indeed. It's just that for a minute I thought you were suggesting that Sonic programmers are somehow more capable than entry level programmers. That would be silly to suggest, of course*.

*I will be happy to eat crow if Sonic Wii turns out good.

 

[Jonnyram]

Wow, that was offensive.
I feel bad for the few remaining Sonic fans that bought this game

 

[Bartman3010]

lets just get rid of load times then!

problem solved

This man speaks the truth.

 

[marvelharvey]

wow, that's the kind of loading I'd expect 6 months before release/optimization. I've never seen something so god awful in a finished game.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

It's strange that Namco was able to patent something like that. Oh well. It's just too bad, because it is a perfect way to pass the time during long load times. Won't be an issue too much longer anyway.

 

[tralfazz]

So basically you like most loading screens. I think its time for developers who know they can't avoid the use of loading screens, to become more inventive. How about updating the screens via a transparent online update. Would sure spice things up if the images/mini games/text changed.

I'd love to see EA use the ESPN interface and have scoreboard updates or news bytes on the loading screens in game. I agree with the other people that the before game loading found in FIFA and NBA Live are a good step forward.

 

[Ollie Pooch]

fzero GX was fantastic, in that if you realised you were going to fail one of the story mode challenges, you could be back at the start of the race within 1-2 seconds.

that sonic video is diabolical.

 

[Battersea Power Station]

DON'T have ****ing loading times. They're obnoxious and unacceptable and I hate you all for settling for them. Developers have more than enough tools and knowledge to eliminate them. I mean Metroid Prime and Wind Waker don't even have loading times. Come on, lazies.

 

[Mejilan]

DON'T have ****ing loading times. They're obnoxious and unacceptable and I hate you all for settling for them. Developers have more than enough tools and knowledge to eliminate them. I mean Metroid Prime and Wind Waker don't even have loading times. Come on, lazies.

Not entirely true.

 

[Pimpbaa]

DON'T copy This... (No, it's not the WWE PSP video, btw)

--If you have ten minutes to waste, go ahead and click it. There is just so much wrong in it and it just... I don't have to comment on it, I believe; a video is worth millions of words, but you'll only have enough consciousness to say "shit". Also if you're masochistic enough, read the comments. But those of us who have played and beaten the game know the truth... oh god do we know the truth...

Is there any decent development teams within sega anymore? There needs to be some massive layoffs for whatever team did this game for sega to regain any sort of integrity for the Sonic series and Sega as a whole. What was in the video was completely and utterly unacceptable.

 

[bluemax]

Don't: leave me with a black screen and nothing to let me know what's going on.

I'm looking at you FFXII Japanese version.

 

[Battersea Power Station]

Not entirely true.

You know what I mean. There's no reason Viewtiful Joe should have a dedicated loading screen between levels when the two games I mentioned do not... other than non-ambitious programming.

 

[Vormund]

That Sonic video blew my mind.

 

[Xavien]

DO
Make loading part of the background, rather then give a loading screen which takes the player completely out of the game, stream loading is your friend (See Metroid Prime/2).

DON'T
Purge the RAM of the system to load the exact same assets for the exact same scene every 30 seconds, the RAM is there for a reason and its a lot faster then the drive!

Zelda TP is great for loading - a few times I've tried to remember whether it has any loading but when I'm playing the game I never remember to check. In other words, I don't notice so it must be pretty good.

I think the only time it loads is when your see that black-to-white or white-to-black fade effect, when entering houses or rooms where bosses and mini-bosses lurk. Another great example of stream loading.