Loading screen
Encyclopedia
A loading screen is a picture shown by a computer program
, often a video game, while the program is loading or initializing.
, faster than previous magnetic media, but still include loading screens to disguise the amount of time taken to initialize the game in RAM.
Because the loading screen data itself needs to be read from the media, it actually increases the overall loading time. For example, with a ZX Spectrum
game, the screen data takes up 6 kilobyte
s, representing an increase in loading time of about 13% over the same game without a loading screen.
or a timer countdown
to show how much data has actually loaded.
The Metroid Prime
games disguised loading screens as elevator sequences when Samus
moved between major areas. The Ratchet & Clank series
uses a similar method. Much more recently, Mass Effect
uses exactly the same technique to hide loading time.
Loading screens sometimes double as briefing screens, providing the user with information to read. This information may only be there for storytelling and/or entertainment or it can give the user information that is usable when the loading is complete, for example the mission goals in a game.
s in their loading screen, notably Skyline Attack for the Commodore 64
and Joe Blade 2 on the ZX Spectrum
.
One well-known loader game was Invade-a-Load
.
Namco
has used playable mini-games during a loading screen. Examples include variations of their old arcade games (Galaxian
or Rally-X
for example) as loading screens when first booting up many of their early PlayStation
releases. Even to this day, their PlayStation 2
games, like Tekken 5
, still use the games to keep people busy while the game initially boots up.
EA Sports
Games have "warm up" sessions, for example Fifa 11
has the player shooting free-kicks solo, NBA Live 10
has 2-player shootouts, while the game loads.
have videos that give an introduction to the level while the game loads in the background. Normally, when the level is fully loaded, the remaining video can be skipped. It should be noted that the video doesn't necessarily apply to what is happening in the level, as Red Faction: Guerrilla
sometimes shows news reports foreshadowing
events that will become important
later on, or that give tidbits about the game's universe.
Computer program
A computer program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute...
, often a video game, while the program is loading or initializing.
Loading times
Loading screens that disguise the length of time that a program takes to load were common when computer games were loaded from cassette tape, a process which could take 5 minutes or more. Nowadays, most games are loaded from optical discOptical disc
In computing and optical disc recording technologies, an optical disc is a flat, usually circular disc which encodes binary data in the form of pits and lands on a special material on one of its flat surfaces...
, faster than previous magnetic media, but still include loading screens to disguise the amount of time taken to initialize the game in RAM.
Because the loading screen data itself needs to be read from the media, it actually increases the overall loading time. For example, with a ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
game, the screen data takes up 6 kilobyte
Kilobyte
The kilobyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. Although the prefix kilo- means 1000, the term kilobyte and symbol KB have historically been used to refer to either 1024 bytes or 1000 bytes, dependent upon context, in the fields of computer science and information...
s, representing an increase in loading time of about 13% over the same game without a loading screen.
Artwork
In early video games, the loading screen was also a chance for graphic artists to be creative without the technical limitations often required for the in-game graphics. Drawing utilities were also limited during this period. Melbourne Draw, one of the only 8-bit screen utilities with a zoom function, was one program of choice for artists.Loading screen variations
The loading screen does not need to be a static picture. Some loading screens display a progress barProgress bar
A progress bar is a component in a graphical user interface used to convey the progress of a task, such as a download or file transfer. Often, the graphic is accompanied by a textual representation of the progress in a percent format....
or a timer countdown
Countdown
A countdown is a sequence of counting backward to indicate the seconds, days, or other time units remaining before an event occurs or a deadline expires. Typical events for which a countdown is used include the launch of a rocket or spacecraft, the detonation of a bomb, the start of a race, and the...
to show how much data has actually loaded.
The Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime is a video game developed by Retro Studios and Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube, released in North America on November 17, 2002...
games disguised loading screens as elevator sequences when Samus
Samus Aran
is the protagonist of the Metroid video game series. Introduced in the 1986 video game Metroid, Samus is a female ex-army soldier bounty hunter usually fitted with a powered armor suit with weapons that include beams and missiles...
moved between major areas. The Ratchet & Clank series
Ratchet & Clank (series)
Ratchet & Clank is a series of platform video games. The franchise was created and developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PS2 and PS3 consoles, with the exclusion of Size Matters and Secret Agent Clank, which were developed by High Impact Games for the PSP...
uses a similar method. Much more recently, Mass Effect
Mass Effect
Mass Effect is an action role-playing game developed by BioWare for the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows by Demiurge Studios. The Xbox 360 version was released worldwide in November 2007 published by Microsoft Game Studios...
uses exactly the same technique to hide loading time.
Loading screens sometimes double as briefing screens, providing the user with information to read. This information may only be there for storytelling and/or entertainment or it can give the user information that is usable when the loading is complete, for example the mission goals in a game.
Minigames
Some games have even included minigameMinigame
A minigame is a short video game often contained within another video game. A minigame is always smaller or more simplistic than the game in which it is contained. Minigames are sometimes also offered separately for free to promote the main game...
s in their loading screen, notably Skyline Attack for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and Joe Blade 2 on the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
.
One well-known loader game was Invade-a-Load
Invade-a-Load
Invade-a-Load was a loader routine used in software for Commodore 64 computer. It was used in commercial games that were stored on cassette tape and loaded using the Datassette...
.
Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
has used playable mini-games during a loading screen. Examples include variations of their old arcade games (Galaxian
Galaxian
is an arcade game developed by Namco in 1979. It was published by Namco in Japan and was imported to North America by Midway in 1980. A fixed shooter-style game in which the player controls a spaceship at the bottom of the screen and shoots enemies descending in various directions, it was designed...
or Rally-X
Rally-X
Rally-X is a maze driving arcade game that was released by Namco in 1980. It runs on Namco Pac-Man hardware, and was the first Namco game to feature "Special Flags", which would become a recurring object in later games .It was the first game to ever feature a "bonus round." The object is to...
for example) as loading screens when first booting up many of their early PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
releases. Even to this day, their PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
games, like Tekken 5
Tekken 5
is the sixth installment in the popular Tekken series. It also marks the tenth anniversary of the series. It was updated for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3 as Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection and succeeded by Tekken 6.- Story :...
, still use the games to keep people busy while the game initially boots up.
EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
Games have "warm up" sessions, for example Fifa 11
FIFA 11
FIFA 11 is the 18th title in Electronic Arts' FIFA series of football video games. Developed by EA Canada, it was published by Electronic Arts worldwide under the EA Sports label...
has the player shooting free-kicks solo, NBA Live 10
NBA Live 10
NBA Live 10 is the 2009 installment in the NBA Live series, developed and published by Electronic Arts. Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic is the cover athlete. It was released on October 6, 2009. This is the final game to be known as NBA Live...
has 2-player shootouts, while the game loads.
Videos
Some games like Call of Duty: World at WarCall of Duty: World at War
Call of Duty: World at War is a first-person shooter video game developed by Treyarch and published by Activision for PC, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360. It is generally considered to be the fifth mainstream game of the Call of Duty series and returns the setting to World War II. The game was...
have videos that give an introduction to the level while the game loads in the background. Normally, when the level is fully loaded, the remaining video can be skipped. It should be noted that the video doesn't necessarily apply to what is happening in the level, as Red Faction: Guerrilla
Red Faction: Guerrilla
Red Faction: Guerrilla is an open-world third-person action video game developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ. It was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in June 2009 and for Microsoft Windows in September 2009...
sometimes shows news reports foreshadowing
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing or adumbrating is a literary device in which an author indistinctly suggests certain plot developments that might come later in the story.-Repetitive designation and Chekhov's gun:...
events that will become important
Chekhov's gun
Chekhov's gun is a literary technique whereby an apparently irrelevant element is introduced early in the story whose significance becomes clear later in the narrative. The concept is named after Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, who mentioned several variants of the concept in letters...
later on, or that give tidbits about the game's universe.