PGR3 isn't great, but i'm confused as to how one example of bad loading (a full long race with max cars at that) some how reduces the impact of bad loading on another game.
I appreciate that we get to play longer and therefore it's less of a percentage, but an initial install followed by 2 minute~ waits for the game is still a pain IMO.
I dunno, mandatory installs coupled with installs between games have no place in console gaming.
I was only using it as an example.
There are multiple ways of handling loading and I believe the proper method was selected for MGS4. Games which constantly present loading screens to the players become more frustrating than games that only occasionally hit you with a more lengthy loading screen.
Hell, from what I can tell, there isn't really any loading when you recover from a game over. That's yet another advantage. UE3 games, for instance, seem to have just a single major load when starting up (no more than 20-30 seconds either), but you have to sit through that same 20-30 second load screen every single time you die. That's much more annoying as it constantly interferes with the game. Do you see what I'm saying?
I'm sure MGS4 is paced in such a way that each of the 5 or so major loading points will be used at a point in which you will not be bothered. Looking again at Half-Life 2, there is a point when using the boat where you must launch yourself over the side of a massive dam. Unfortunately, they decided that it would be wise to place a loading point somewhere in mid air which kind of kills the jump. In comparison, one of these lengthy MGS4 loading points is likely to occur following an important scene just prior to a completely different scenario. They won't leave you in the middle of something and then suddenly toss up "now loading".
There are plenty of games which suffer from near constant load times that completely interfere with the experience. A 2 or 3 minute load screen every few hours is nothing in comparison. Everyone seems to think MGS4 is getting a pass on this, but in reality, it seems to be the opposite (people are harping on it due to the fact that it is MGS4). Do you honestly feel that such a thing will interfere with your experience?
You do realize that what MGS4 is doing basically amounts to what we saw in many XBOX games, right? The data is larger so more time will be required for copying, but it's still very similar. The original Halo would copy data to the HDD prior to each misssion, for instance. What of those other games that would "install" themselves during startup? Doom 3, Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, and plenty of others all have required installation procedures that last a couple of minutes (they install beneath an FMV that you can't skip). Again, the time required is less due to the lesser data requirements, but it's the same idea and it's a good one.
On a side note, does anyone know if it is simply a static loading screen or does the game attempt to entertain you during this with some sort of dialog or text?
