RF Generation.  The Classic and Modern Gaming Databases.RF Generation.  The Classic and Modern Gaming Databases.




Posted on Jul 14th 2010 at 07:13:18 AM by (Duke.Togo)
Posted under game mechanics, title screen, press start

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?


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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