6 Reasons I Wish Games Still Had Loading Screens
No one can argue that faster loading times in video games isn't a good thing, but I think that the loading screens that were necessary to cover those period when new data was fed into memory were actually cool. Sadly, for the most part, this is one aspect of gaming that's gone, but that doesn't mean I can't reminisce about why loading screens were actually kind of cool.
It Gives Me Time to Breathe
I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to get hyper-focused on my games to the exclusion of everything else around me. The odd loading screen here and there does me the favor of kicking me back to reality occasionally, and gives me some relief from the tension of certain relentless and action-packed games.
Modern games are, more and more, designed to keep your attention at all costs. Having no loading screens means never letting you unplug from the Matrix, even if only for a few seconds at a time. It's definitely a convenience, and makes for more immersive games, but I think there's a downside to it as well.
The best alternative I've found is to set a timer on my smartwatch or phone, to ensure that I get reminded of real life every hour or so!
Cool Art and Lore
One of my favorite things about loading screens is that it gives the game developers an opportunity to slip in bits of lore or cool artwork that pull you further into the game world. One of the best examples has to be the Elder Scrolls series, which shows you interesting information about the game world, and let you look at detailed art or in-game models.
Sadly, there's no real modern replacement for this. Some game developers are quite good at making you discover lore naturally during the course of play, but it's just not the same. I guess I'll have to head over to that game's wiki and read it like some sort of caveman.
Tips and Things I Might Have Missed
It's not just game lore that makes its way to loading screens, but also practical tips. I often simply miss or forget things that the
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