Informative Loading Screens Concept

Gidorick

This is a pretty simple concept. ZOS should add some links to the loading screens so that players can view the latest news, announcements, art & media, patch notes, development posts, community posts, and their lore library (once they earn it, and after they have selected a character) while the loading screen churns away.

The menu shouldn't be intrusive so players can enjoy the art on the loading screens.


Selecting the menu should bring up the same information that can be found here:
http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/category/announcements


The Lore Library, once earned, should allow players to read the various lore looks they have found



Once loading has completed (including the loading of textures of other characters - doing away with silhouette-men), the Uroburos will stop spinning and change to an enter command and players are given the option to enter the game at their leisure.


Player's characters shouldn't enter the game until they initiate entrance. This would help with the issue of loading into death.

Anyway. That's about it. Give players something to do other than watch the spinning logo, twiddle their thumbs, or decide to play something else.

TequilaFire

They should also serve refreshments!

Chieve

I actually think this is a really cool and good idea

Are you using an addon or are you supErica good at photo shop

I'm a console player so addons don't exist

Gidorick

Those are all just concept Mockup screens @Chieve.

PinoZino

Gidorick wrote: »

*snip*

Anyway. That's about it. Give players something to do other than watch the spinning logo, twiddle their thumbs, or decide to play something else.

Nice idea, @Gidorick. Constructive and from a usability point of view absolutely correct.

@The_Other_People: That's how you all should talk about issues.

Soulshine

As long as loading up and opening additional elements such as this would not cause yet additional loading up time and interfere with the main job at hand..... ok

Gidorick

Soulshine wrote: »

As long as loading up and opening additional elements such as this would not cause yet additional loading up time and interfere with the main job at hand..... ok

It would have to since it's not only pulling data from the internet but also using the CPU to load. That would be the choice of the player. Kind of like using multiple tab browsing. I would venture to guess that a player who pulls up some articles and reads the latest news or reads through some lore books would find their wait much less tedious than someone who doesn't, even if the wait is a bit longer.

Mojmir

cool idea, but its a bandaid. fix the loading screen issues. this idea however would be put to better use during updates,patches.

Soulshine

Gidorick wrote: »

Soulshine wrote: »

As long as loading up and opening additional elements such as this would not cause yet additional loading up time and interfere with the main job at hand..... ok

It would have to since it's not only pulling data from the internet but also using the CPU to load. That would be the choice of the player. Kind of like using multiple tab browsing. I would venture to guess that a player who pulls up some articles and reads the latest news or reads through some lore books would find their wait much less tedious than someone who doesn't, even if the wait is a bit longer.

Well, I prefer to just go get a beer myself, hehe

But nice one

Gidorick

Mojmir wrote: »

cool idea, but its a bandaid. fix the loading screen issues. this idea however would be put to better use during updates,patches.

It's not a bandaid... its a diversion.

"Pay no attention to the loading screens behind the news..."

PinoZino

Gidorick wrote: »

Soulshine wrote: »

As long as loading up and opening additional elements such as this would not cause yet additional loading up time and interfere with the main job at hand..... ok

It would have to since it's not only pulling data from the internet but also using the CPU to load. That would be the choice of the player. Kind of like using multiple tab browsing. I would venture to guess that a player who pulls up some articles and reads the latest news or reads through some lore books would find their wait much less tedious than someone who doesn't, even if the wait is a bit longer.

I would not worry about that one. Data transfer is minimal, so is CPU use. And they could preload the data while you're doing nothing.

JD2013

Actually I would quite like some proper lore or game news etc on the loading screens.

I heartily endorse this concept!

Elf_Boy

I like the idea.

To expand it further, I would like to be able to pull up the information anytime.

I have 24gb ram and when I visit areas I have already been to the windows disk cache speeds up load time.

It would be annoying to start to read the screen, have it be something I want to know about and *poof* gone. I already get that with some of the longer text blurbs.

LordSemaj

So the solution to long loading screens is allowing us to read Game of Thrones while waiting?

Because I thought that's what we already were doing.

Aerieth

Really nice idea. +1 Agree. But to be honest, I just Alt + Tab to Chrome while loading. If you haven't already, try Windowed Fullscreen mode. Instant Alt + Tabs for everyone!

Casdha

I think this could be a cool idea as long as they put a "press to continue" button on screen when the load is done.

It gives the person who actually starts to read the option to finish and

It doesn't give the developers a reason to build in long load times for server relief with the excuse "so folks have time to read".

Bhakura

Better yet, add a minigame while loading, like tetris, pong or bejewelled or something silly.

Ackwalan

Don't give them any ideas. We don't need loading screens to turn into commercials. They are long enough by accident.

AbraXuSeXile

They could put a dictionary on the loading screen and you would be finished by the time it ended.

DerpyShadowz

Id read the lore books in the loading screens tbh ^_^

Gidorick

Good thinking @Elf_Boy. It would be nice to have a way to access this in game.

I actually play with dual-screen monitors @Aerieth. I keep the internet up on the second screen... Netflix or the imperial library... or the forums. The concept is also considering Console players. My original concept was just for the lore books but then I thought about those that haven't unlocked eidetic memory yet... what would they read?

I actually addressed your concern about the screens going away before you're ready in the OP @Elf_Boy & @Casdha

Gidorick wrote: »

Once loading has completed (including the loading of textures of other characters - doing away with silhouette-men), the Uroburos will stop spinning and change to an enter command and players are given the option to enter the game at their leisure.


Player's characters shouldn't enter the game until they initiate entrance. This would help with the issue of loading into death.

Funny that you mention this @Bhakura ...

Bhakura wrote: »

Better yet, add a minigame while loading, like tetris, pong or bejewelled or something silly.

For the past 20 years Namco has had the patent for Loading-Screen mini-games... I bet you've wondered why more companies don't do this. The patent runs out this year. Unless Namco re-ups the patent we may see more loading screen minigames in our future.

http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-point-the-patent-that-gave-us-20-years-of-load/2300-6423024/

MaxwellC

Lol the loading time has gotten so bad that people now have to find ways to make use of the horrendous 1 to 3 minute loading screens.

13igTyme

I usually go to the grocery store.

Alucardo

Great idea +1

I still think it's sad that it came to the point where we have to read news and lorebooks during loading screens, but this is definitely a good solution, and much better than staring at wallpaper with repetitive and non-informative text

Gidorick

Alucardo wrote: »

Great idea +1

I still think it's sad that it came to the point where we have to read news and lorebooks during loading screens, but this is definitely a good solution, and much better than staring at wallpaper with repetitive and non-informative text

I usually get distracted... then get booted because I'm off doing something else.

Alucardo

Gidorick wrote: »

I usually get distracted... then get booted because I'm off doing something else.

Haha yeah - I've been there a few times. Then you have to log in and sit through the loading screens again! But at least we could have news/patch notes and lorebooks to keep us entertained so we don't walk off and forget the game again

Gidorick

Alucardo wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

I usually get distracted... then get booted because I'm off doing something else.

Haha yeah - I've been there a few times. Then you have to log in and sit through the loading screens again! But at least we could have news/patch notes and lorebooks to keep us entertained so we don't walk off and forget the game again

Game design 101... keep the player engaged and interested in the game while they are playing... or was that Game Theory 311... I forget.

Enodoc

This is a great idea, and if nothing else I really like the only-load-in-when-actioned suggestion.

Gidorick wrote: »

Once loading has completed (including the loading of textures of other characters - doing away with silhouette-men), the Uroburos will stop spinning and change to an enter command and players are given the option to enter the game at their leisure.

Player's characters shouldn't enter the game until they initiate entrance. This would help with the issue of loading into death.

Sausage

Not bad idea.

Gidorick

Enodoc wrote: »

This is a great idea, and if nothing else I really like the only-load-in-when-actioned suggestion.

Gidorick wrote: »

Once loading has completed (including the loading of textures of other characters - doing away with silhouette-men), the Uroburos will stop spinning and change to an enter command and players are given the option to enter the game at their leisure.

Player's characters shouldn't enter the game until they initiate entrance. This would help with the issue of loading into death.

lol. yea. The benefits of loading only when ready actually outweigh the whole concept that lead to that suggestion. :lol;

Gidorick

With players experiencing these kinds of loading screen times...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NEEDKZDRri4

I think this sort of functionality on the loading screens is sorely needed.