A question I was curious to know is will there be loading screens in Diablo 3, and how/when will they be displayed? I know that in WoW the loading screen showed up everytime we entered a new zone, and it would always be 1 of 4 (I think) different loading screens.
I have 2 questions regarding the loading screens:
1) How often do they appear (will D3 have almost-seemless loading like in WoW?)
2) Will they be simple, or an actual wallpaper? (this could detract from the whole 'immersion' thing people like to complain about).
I think there should be the least amount of loading screens possible to keep the continuity of the game's flow, and to keep the user on his toes at all time. If the loading screen is too epic and a little off-point to what's currently happening in the game, the user may lose 'immersion' (personally I don't care, but I'm all for simple loading screens).
My idea for a loading screen would be a pentagram, that has it's 5 points lit one by one as a flame travels along the outer circle. Once complete, the pentagram ignites into flames and the loading screen closes.
-Skulls (Witch Doctor)
-Skellington (Necromancer)
Bashiok
Blizzard Poster
1. Re: Loading Screen in D3 06/30/2009 10:09:35 AM PDT
There aren't any loading screens. Personally I think it's amazing and I don't understand the magic the programmers have worked, but the game is instant or near instant. The same is true for initial game load. Start up the game, create a character, click a button and the game world shows up. No waiting and no real discernible pause. Mileage may vary slightly of course, but it would (from what I've seen) be in the realm of a second or two second pause at most.
Cypherviii
USEast
3. Re: Loading Screen in D3 06/30/2009 10:18:13 AM PDT
Q u o t e: The keyword is to load stuff dynamically in a VERY optimized way :-D
And to load in the background, instead of screwing up like dungeon lords did and pause while loading textures every few feet...
A lot of newer games are doing this seemless world loading, as long as it is done well it won't slow down any machine capable of playing the game. I guess if your PCs arcitecture is more than 5 years old now...but then would it meet reqs?
I often type too fast so forgive any mispelled words.
Insanity is just a matter of public opinion. "world is round" once = insane.
Bob_the_evil
USWest
7. Re: Loading Screen in D3 06/30/2009 10:47:13 AM PDT
Wow, that's pretty awesome. I was hoping that it would have the same feel of going into a dungeon quickly like Diablo 2 had, and it looks like it will be that way. Nice! :D
Lol, I remember my D1 days, waiting for the loading screen for a level, listening to the disc spinning demonically in my CD drive.
Akaitsuki
Europe
11. Re: Loading Screen in D3 06/30/2009 11:30:34 AM PDT
Q u o t e: There aren't any loading screens. Personally I think it's amazing and I don't understand the magic the programmers have worked, but the game is instant or near instant. The same is true for initial game load. Start up the game, create a character, click a button and the game world shows up. No waiting and no real discernible pause. Mileage may vary slightly of course, but it would (from what I've seen) be in the realm of a second or two second pause at most.
Whoah, that's amazing... But it basically means we're wasting processing power for constant memory management, but from what i've seen there is plenty left for an amazing game ^^
Dragoonwraith
USWest
13. Re: Loading Screen in D3 06/30/2009 01:03:08 PM PDT
Interesting... this brings up one question and one observation:
Question: Will there be no cutscenes then? Because I like me some cutscenes between acts :D
Observation: Since the only times there were loading screens in D2 were between acts, is it safe to assume you've played versions of this game where you've had to jump between multiple acts? Mayhaps a clue as to the game's progress? ;)
[ Post edited by Messierny ]
Messierny
USEast
16. Re: Loading Screen in D3 06/30/2009 01:41:53 PM PDT
There would be no significance to there being "no loading screens" unless Bash had played a version of the game where you might expect loading screens to appear. Thus, we can conclude there is a version playable amongst them where travel between acts (or equivalent) is enabled.
Don_guillotine
Europe
17. Re: Loading Screen in D3 06/30/2009 01:49:25 PM PDT
There would be no significance to there being "no loading screens" unless Bash had played a version of the game where you might expect loading screens to appear. Thus, we can conclude there is a version playable amongst them where travel between acts (or equivalent) is enabled.
You could also expect a loading screen when you enter a dungeon, it being a heavy 3d game and all. So your point has no ground to stand on, it's hardly any hinting towards the progress of the game. Even if Diablo 2 had loading screens only between acts does not necessarily mean the imaginary loading screens in Diablo 3 could only be in the same places.
[ Post edited by Don_guillotine ]
Demon-chan
Europe
19. Re: Loading Screen in D3 06/30/2009 01:53:37 PM PDT
There would be no significance to there being "no loading screens" unless Bash had played a version of the game where you might expect loading screens to appear. Thus, we can conclude there is a version playable amongst them where travel between acts (or equivalent) is enabled.
Leave town: no loading scene (wow: got one)
Enter cave: no loading scene (wow: got one)
So it will be just like D2.
There can still be acts, with loading scenes. Or when you finish acts for the first time there will just be the cinematic video without a loading scene and that's it.
