|
|
Time is a precious resource, agreed? So this is how I intend to break apart my next hated gaming relic: The "Press Start" Title Sceen.
In the beginning, arcade games created the Start button. No doubt a simple solution to a need to seperate the coin up and demo sequence from the game itself. I'd like to think the conversation went something like this:
Old programmer dude: "So you put the coin in the slot and then the game starts."
Nonprogrammer business guy: "But what if the drunk customers in the bar haven't put their beer down yet? Maybe they need to pick themselves up off the floor after they try to stoop over to put their coin in?"
Old programmer dude: "Fine, I'll make a button they have to press in case they aren't ready. Thank god you have such amazing foresight into the realms of drunkeness. You definately deserve to take all the credit some day and discard me to the dustbin of history."
The transition to consoles was a natural result, whether on the console itself, or later migrating to the controller. At some point in time, this seemingly innocent convention began to stroll down a darker road... press start to access a menu.
Wait, whaaa? The name of the button is start. It says on the screen to press start, but when I comply I have to jump through another hoop before I can actually start playing? Wouldn't it be much simpler to just take me directly to the menu screen? Alright, l'll play along. After all this is a new convention so at some point developers will figure it out. Shouldn't take too long. Not like 25 years or anything...
Of course, we're still suffering from this ugly relic. So back to my first premise. Not only are the developers wasting my time by slogging through an extra screen that serves no purpose other than to make me push a button, they are spending time and resources to have their programmers and art staff create a useless screen. So who benefits? No one. So let's drive a stake through this thing's heart. Let's give the Start button some meaning again!
So are you with me, or do I just have too much time on my hands to think about silly nothings like this?
Recent Entries RFG Dev Log #4 (6/5/2025)
THE GREATEST WORKS - and Me! (4/15/2025)
RFG Dev Log #3 (4/9/2025)
Thoughts on Everhood 2 (4/2/2025)
RFG Dev Log #2 (3/18/2025)
|
A part of the gaming experience for me is the introduction, the teaser demo, the building up before the interaction. I like an RPG to give me a snippet of story if I wait, an action game to give me a taste of what's to come, a driving game to show me a crazy video presentation of wild racing that I'll be in the driver's seat for.
When you were a kid and first saw the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade machine attract video, tell me you weren't drooling at the chance to play what, at the time, looked like playing an episode of the cartoon! I'm sure most of us had an experience like that.
Now, with consoles having to load up data from an optical media source, or even decompressing data from hardwired memory, we need the pause to update us that our game is served, ready to go, and waiting for us.
As for the menus after the start, seeing as how I can't even play FPS/Third Person Perspective games without choosing a SouthPaw option (I get REALLY nauseous otherwise), I prefer using subtitles since my wife is almost 3/4 deaf, I bump text scrolling up as fast as it goes, and enjoy the occasional sound test, I'd say the start menus are made for people like me.
Also, if some games didn't have selectable difficulty, I'd loose interest (both too hard and too easy.)
Then again, I'm one of those odd Americans who stay and watch the end credits at a movie theater too. And a movie's trailer is usually the best part.
| |
@slackur: I certainly wouldn't do away with the menus at the beginning of the game, just the no use filler screen that just says Press Start to take me there. I guess I just see this as inefficiency... one extra unneeded button press.
| |
If the "Press Start"/X/A menus were done away with it would be just like loading up a DVD. You get the videos and what not at the beginning that you might want to watch once and skip every other time. And the bam your already to pick your destination and go.
Start Game
Load Game
Options
Credits
What have you.
But i don't like change. So i say keep it.
|
|
Login or register to comment
|
|
It appears as though you are not a member of our site, or are not logged in.
|
It appears as though you can not comment currently. Becoming able to comment though is easy! All you need to do is register for the site! Not only will you be able to access any other site features including the forum and collection tools. If you are a registered user and just need to login then you can do so here.
Comment! It's easy, thoughtful, and who knows you might just enjoy it!
|
|
|
|
|
Blog Navigation
Browse Bloggers | My Blog
|
We are a community of collectors, gamers and the likes, and some of us enjoy to let the world know what is on our mind. For those members, we have the community blogs, a place where they can publish their thoughts and feelings regarding life, universe, and everything. Some of those members might even choose to write about gaming and collecting! Whatever they write about, you can find it on their blog. You can either see the latest community blog entries in the feed you see to the left, or you can browse for your favorite blog using the menu above. Interested in having your own blog hosted on RF Generation? It's rather simple, first be a registered member, and then click the "My Blog" link that you see in the navigation above. Following those two steps will certainly get you on your way to blogging.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy our entries, rantings, and completely unrelated series of thoughts. We write for you to read, so we certainly hope that you enjoy our material.
|
|
Hot Community Entries
|
|
Hot RFG Blog Entries
| |
|
