26 messages I’d like to see on video game loading screens
A version of this story appears at my industry shop talk site, CodeWritePlay.
The number 1 game in the 21st century is the waiting game. Since we started packing hard drives with massive texture files and high-end audio clips, we’ve spent more time staring at inactive screens than we used to spend playing games at all.
This nearly became unbearable when we started to see rotating messages about “charging the hyperdrives” and “injecting extra FUN” while the game loaded the next level. Look, I understand these screens are inherently an afterthought, but I’m finding myself resenting games before I actually get to play them.
As a public service to my fellow developers, I’ve put together a list of messages I’d love to see on a loading screen. Please, run with these. I’d love to run into one in the wild one day.
- Press X to continue. Just kidding, we’re not ready.
- It’s the audio files that really start to add up.
- Skipping exclusive Blockbuster pre-order level…
- Twitch viewers: The player switched to Easy during the ad break.
- This next level goes out to all the Jeremys.
- It’s dangerous to go alone. We’re looking for a memory leak in the solo campaign.
