Do loading times wreck your gaming experience?

[CatalystiCam]

I ask this as a curious question, and more of a specific scenario. It comes to mind due to a PS1 port of a game that I have originally off SNES.

So put yourself in a scenario where your favourite classic game is available to you only on a disc-based console. Let's use Super Mario Bros. 3 as an example since everyone can pretty much relate to that. On this disc based console, it takes 5 seconds at least to load every level including mushroom houses, and hammer-bro levels. Let's say this is your only means of currently playing the game. Does this wreck the game for you? Would you stop playing entirely? (Remember this is assuming that it is your only means of playing said game)

Now platformers today tend to load each level anyways today, so that would be no surprise, except for the fact that it is SMB3 (A game not known for having to load). Let's take an RPG. Now this RPG (Originally without loading times), takes 3 seconds to load every single possible fight, and takes 8 seconds to bring up the overworld menu. Would this wreck the game for you, or would you push through being that it is your only means of playing that game, once again.

Just curious to see the response on this. So, let's hear it!

[warghoul]

Slightly off topic but ironically I read this while waiting for a load screen in Skyrim and it made me think of this video.

Francis Hates Loadscreens in Skyrim on the 360 - YouTube

[Bith]

Lol. Boogie2988 is in my World of warcraft guild. He does not play much anymore but he is a funny guy. And a pretty bad warrior tank.

[Kugyince]

Complaining about a 5 second load screen is a bit pathetic. Five seconds....


Also, SMB3 has a load screen, it's just cleverly hidden and fast. Fist five seconds of this video; fade out, "Mario start", fade in. Game is loading the level during those sequences.

Super Mario Bros. 3 - Kuribo's Shoe - YouTube

[Kong]

I hate load screens and wont play games that have them unless I am extremely into the game.

I am addicted to the fast forward button for blowing past load screens. I normally use it so much that I accidentally hit it during the game play and die. :/

[Slime Slayer]

I hate load screens with a passion. I went to try out the Vita at a kiosk at Best Buy, after standing there for 10 seconds of load time I walked away.

[Seahawk]

I ask this as a curious question, and more of a specific scenario. It comes to mind due to a PS1 port of a game that I have originally off SNES. Let's take an RPG. Now this RPG (Originally without loading times), takes 3 seconds to load every single possible fight, and takes 8 seconds to bring up the overworld menu. Would this wreck the game for you, or would you push through being that it is your only means of playing that game, once again.

I bet you're talking about the PS1 version of Chrono Trigger, aren't you.

In any case, for me its more important that the game makers dress it up as something else, rather than pasting on a static "NOW LOADING" screen, leaving me doing nothing.

[samejamesbond]

I don't mind them, they're simply a minor inconvenience.

[RU Joe]

I'm glad you brought this topic up, Cam.

http://www.retrouprising.com/img/2012_07/1120.jpg

Mafia on the PS2 is a great game which could be described as Grand Theft Auto 3 set in the 1930's, it has a great variety of different missions, an interesting storyline with complex characters and a mystery that keeps you guessing right till the end, BUT

The load times are among the worst I've ever tolerated.
Certainly there are other games with atrocious load times but this is one of those cases where I like the game too much and so I put up with it.
The problem is that certain levels are a bit difficult to get through in one try {like the alley chase scene, for example} so it's quite likely it would take a person a few tries, which of course means waiting yet again for it to load the level .. but wait, it gets even worse with Mafia ..

Because the map was large and spanned 3 major areas using bridges and tunnels, every time you had to move from one area to another it would require yet more loading for each area in turn.
You learn about this during the 'Taxi Driver' mission, so in a way I suppose it's a good thing this little 'flaw' is revealed early on, leaving you to decide whether or not you're into the game enough to continue on.
Again, this is only the PS2 version I'm talking about and I don't know if other versions have this problem.

[CKF]

Pffft, you guys and your 5 or 10 second loading times...back when I was a kid playing games on my Commodore 64, sometimes it took up to 10 minutes to load games off of the tape drive. Ones that were on disc were alot faster, but if it required reading/writing to the disc during the game, it still could take up to a minute or more.

(gets out his cane and yells at the kids to get off his lawn)

[Kong]

Which would you choose?
A. Amazing graphics and frequent long load times.
B. Poor graphics but no load times.

[Kugyince]

Pffft, you guys and your 5 or 10 second loading times...back when I was a kid playing games on my Commodore 64, sometimes it took up to 10 minutes to load games off of the tape drive. Ones that were on disc were alot faster, but if it required reading/writing to the disc during the game, it still could take up to a minute or more.

(gets out his cane and yells at the kids to get off his lawn)

I remember playing those cassettes on the IBM Tandy and C64. Man fun times. Even little arcade-style games like Space Taxi took quite some time to load. If you were cool and playing something like Wazardry or Ultima, forget it.

Such awesome memories.

---------- Post added at 07:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:07 PM ----------

Which would you choose?
A. Amazing graphics and frequent long load times.
B. Poor graphics but no load times.

Neither load times nor graphics are important.

C. Long load times and poor graphics for great gameplay.

[Kong]

Assume the gameplay is equal either way. Which would you choose?

[warghoul]

My love of Final fantasy would make me say poor graphics but my love of Elder Scrolls makes me say long load times so I got a draw on that one.

[RevJ]

I would choose B. Poor graphics but no load times.

But the load times on RU don't bother me at all. (And the speed-up button is a dream)


Neither load times nor graphics are important.

C. Long load times and poor graphics for great gameplay.

Haha! Awesome.

[OmegaShadow]

Depends on what you mean by poor. If the graphics are constructed specifically for a lower resolution system, then I would defenitely take the "poor" graghics. If the graphics are simply downgraded without them being reworked in the slightest then I'll take the long load times.

[Dudebro]

I came here to say what CKF said, you little punks and your 5 second loading screens. I remember when the loading screen meant you had time to get a drink, smoke a cigarette or take a dump. Patience is a virtue.

[Kugyince]

Assume the gameplay is equal either way. Which would you choose?

I'll take better graphics over shorter load times if gameplay was unchanged.

[CatalystiCam]

Complaining about a 5 second load screen is a bit pathetic. Five seconds....

I tried to put it in an example that doesn't really work initally.

I bet you're talking about the PS1 version of Chrono Trigger, aren't you.

Indeed. You see, now this is a game where fights are frequent, and is a much better example. RPG's in general are a much better example. Think about it, yeah. 3 seconds per fight, but how often do fights come up in an RPG? Often! Believe me, it really gets to you to have to wait all the time. What got to me the most when playing this was the menus. 8 seconds to press pause... 8 seconds... Not only this, but selecting different tabs in the menu took additional time.

Now, over the past 2 years, I've bought 2 PS1 games: Final Fantasy chronicles, and Final Fantasy Anthologies. Why? Final Fantasy IV, V & VI are on these, and pretty good versions. I also like the Playstation feel to RPG's with the controller, and just playing on your own TV is nice in general, at least for me.

Chrono Trigger happened to come with Final Fantasy IV in the same case. I heard good things, so I figured I'd try it out. I heard reviews that the PS1 version has long loading times, but let me tell you. Loading times don't usually bug me. Man! Did these frequent loading times get to me though. That's what sparked the curiosity of this thread. My dislike of the loading times was enough to make me not want to play it, on PS1 anyways (remember I much prefer the actual console).

Interestingly enough, Final Fantasy IV, V, and VI on PS1 have No loading times in game! I find that very strange. (Edit: I should mention that it loads your save file at the start which takes all of 10 seconds, then no more). Same company, similar games, yet loading times for a simple battle in one of these 4 (Chrono Trigger)? I have thoroughly enjoyed Final Fantasy IV so far, as well as V & VI on PS1.

---------- Post added at 06:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:07 PM ----------

I came here to say what CKF said, you little punks and your 5 second loading screens. I remember when the loading screen meant you had time to get a drink, smoke a cigarette or take a dump. Patience is a virtue.

Point was my interest to see if frequency of loading in games way too often was enough to wreck some of, if not all of the enjoyability.

While were at it though, you're right. I didn't have a commodore 64, I didn't deal with those loading times. I'm kind of curious about this as well now however (somewhat related).

What's worse?

A. Long Loading screen at the start of the game, then no more?
B. Scattered frequent loading screens

[Dudebro]

I never let loading screens bother me, it just means the game is working to bring you it's contents.

[DrunkN]

As long as you can play around with the loading screen, all is forgiven. (usually)

[ZedIsDead]

@Cam: You may want to look into the DS port if you want to play CT without those ridiculous load times.

[RU Joe]

Kong:
Which would you choose?
A. Amazing graphics and frequent long load times.
B. Poor graphics but no load times.
It depends on my mood, and often the sounds of the game are just as important as the visuals, and can be a deterrent just as easily {as in games with repetitive annoying sounds for example}.. so for me it's a whole package deal but I tend to lean towards better graphics .. unless it's got good gameplay .. AAAAAAAAGGGGGG!!

This is too difficult for me to answer.

[Incubator]

the only game where load screens really annoyed me was Postal, as i remember it had lots of loading screens, and they were long...