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Patience, Grasshopper - On Long Load Times For Games
Thanks to GamerDad for its editorial discussing the thorny, still present problem of long videogame loading times. Although the author points out "It used to be worse than it is now. I do count some of my blessings", he still argues: "I know that optimizing load times is probably low on the list of priorities when developing a game... [but] if you load the game so quickly that no one knows it's happening, or keep it streaming in chunks to not interrupt the flow of play, the player will be far more immersed in what's happening in your game and less likely to ever put it down until forced to do so." In conclusion, it's even suggested that a return to game cartridges might be a good thing: "You just can't beat that instantaneous gratification of playing games you just plug in, turn on and play. When the capacity is there for today's games, a return to carts would make me one happy gamer."
I realize that cartridges are better for loading times, but take a look at the N64, the most recent console cartridge system. It had a much smaller storage capacity than any of the other CD-based consoles that came out around the same time.
Cartridges also cost a LOT more to make than a CD or DVD, which would create a problem for game prices. Either they'd have to raise the price of the console to defray the cost of keeping the cartridges at about the same price as a current CD/DVD/GCNdisc (whatever the hell that thing runs on), or they'd have to raise the average price of a game by $10-$20 to make the same amount of money. The average cart, IIRC, costs about $10 to make, while a CD/DVD costs a few cents.
I realize that cartridges have faster load times, but from an economic standpoint, it's not likely that any game company is going to revert to them any time soon.
Having low load times is something Nintendo is very good at (and was the main reason the 64 used cartridges). Playing a Gamecube game it's rare to see a load time of more than .5 seconds.
Hide it behind a short (as short as possible) cinema like Metroid Prime does when you ride an elevator.
Like Ratchet and Clank, when you're going in between planets. You get to see your ship fly around in space. Even in DBZ Budokai 2, you get to twirl your analog sticks around to make the little loading icon move. As long as you're DOING SOMETHING during the loading screen, it makes it a lot less painful.
How about long console load times? When i turned on a playstation i have to sit and watch a sony playstation graphicfor an annoyingly noticable amount of time, as well as on the playstation 2. Why do they need an ad on a playstation for a playstation? Why can't the console just boot the damn game? I have to wait for the game to load, repeatedly, at least sony's next system should not make me wait before I have to wait some more.
Only if you make it optional. A big part of the consoles' popularity is that you can just pop in a game and play; having to install a console game would be a bit too PC-like for a lot of console gamers.
Rob
The little disks Nintendo uses for their games spin faster and have lower seek times than a comparable full-sized DVD. Sometimes it's good to be small.
The ______ Agenda
Too bad Nintendo spend 5 seconds to display their logo on their cartridge-using GBA, when they could have made it instant-on.
I'd prefer a loss of much of the FMV in modern games. They tend to break the feel of the game by being too different from the rest of the game.
;)
Besides, I prefer gameplay in my games
The hard drive could be made optional, and act as a cache for whatever game you insert - no need for installation of uninstallation. You have to sit through the loading screen once, but it gets a lot shorter later on.
But when Final Fantasy Origins came out it was a different story. They made more improvements this time around including better graphics. The load times were still there, but it wasnt too bad
Basically, in the case of re-releases of old games, there is a trade off. You have to put up with load times, but at the same time you get a more reliable medium (memory card) to save your games on. I played FFIV for the playstation because i had lost my saved game too many times on the cartridge.
"Damn TV, you've ruined my imagination, just like you've ruined my ability to -- to, um...uh...oh well."
Actually with Jak II I assumed that the "airlock" areas when entering/leaving the city were just cleverly disguised loading screens. While they didn't boot me out of the game itself, I can hardly call waiting for a huge door to cycle a "totally smooth" transition.
Still, you're right that developers can learn a thing or two from them. Being able to still have control of my character while I wait is worlds better than being stuck staring at a loading screen.