Poll: Elevators or loading screens? Poll.

[Ilikemilkshake]

Elevators... i think its worked much better in both ME and Portal with Elevators, it gave you a sense of connection between the places you were going. Although in ME2 the loading screens did actually load so quick i could never read the tips, so less waiting was alright.

Portal 2 having loading screens was pretty unnecessary seeing as most of the time loading took place after getting into an elevator.
although:

Spoiler

the aperture science logo changing depending on who's in control/what period of history the test chambers are from was a nice touch

 

[Zhukov]

Loading screen.

On the PC the loading screens take about half as long as those bloody elevators. I usually found my self using the citadel rapid transit things for precisely this reason.

They don't really take me out of the game. I've been playing long enough to completely take them in my stride.

 

[googleback]

I wonder why Portal 2 didn't just load in the elevators?

 

[ZehMadScientist]

I prefer the elevators, but yea theer is always room for improvement. I'd say a loading screen with tips that aren't stating the obvious and meybe a bubblewrap minigame or sumthin'

 

[Alfador_VII]

Elevators, so long as we have some good lift musak, like Girl from Ipanema.

Actually avoiding them altogether would be better, but that's technically very hard.

 

[Jaime_Wolf]

Both Portal 2 and ME2 felt like a step backwards when it came to loading screens. Sure the elevators were relatively boring and the party chatter was repetitive, but at least it wasn't a screen that basically said DID YOU FORGET YOU ARE PLAYING A COMPUTER GAME? BECAUSE YOU ARE PLAYING A COMPUTER GAME. Not the best thing for immersion.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I recently played Mass Effect 1 and I quite like the elevators the whole thing felt very seamless and immersive rather than the big orange loading screens of ME2. I particularly like the fact in ME1 you could go on and off the ship rather than doing the mission then having to redock which made no sense. Granted the probably took less time than they did for people originally as I have a great pc but I definately preferred them.

The coversations between Wrex and Kaiden made me chuckle 'So who would win in a fight between you and Shepard' xD

Oddly DA: Origins was a nightmare to load for me (no idea why) on the same machine as DA2 which was really fast. It was kind of a relief really.

 

[Jesus Phish]

I was talking about this to a friend just the other day. The only problem I have thus far with Portal 2 is the bloody loading screens.

Now I know in Portal 1 just before you got out of the elevator there was a little "loading" icon in the middle of the screen, but it was quick and you hardly noticed it. The loading screens in Portal 2 take away from it, it makes you feel less connected to the character and the world.

Of course, it only counts when it fits into the game, such as portal and mass effect (in parts).

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

Elevators. I really despised how long it always took to load even the most simplest level in Mass Effect 2. I dreaded my own ship because of that, always trying to figure how how I should get around most efficiently, despite having it installed on my HDD [ Xbox360 ]

Loading screens in Mass Effect 2 did serve a purpose, allowing you to see the action between the two spots.

It took the same amount of time for the elevators to reach their destination, the only difference is that ME2 didn't try to hide the fact that the game was loading. That's why I prefer the loading screens because I'd rather the game be straight up with me about it, plus with the elevators I never knew exactly how long it was going to take.

 

[Spoon E11]

I liked assassin's creed's loading screens where you can just fuck about in a great abyss of nothingness.

 

[Luk3us]

Elevators, maintains immersion, plus you get some nice squad banter or some news updates.

The 'tips' during the ME loading screens were terrible. "Talk to Yeoman Chambers to keep up to date", yes because Mass Effect 2 was SO complicated. lol. ^_^

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Elevators, maintains immersion, plus you get some nice squad banter or some news updates.

The 'tips' during the ME loading screens were terrible. "Talk to Yeoman Chambers to keep up to date", yes because Mass Effect 2 was SO complicated. lol. ^_^

I never talk to Rebecca Kelly ''village of the damned'' Chambers if I can help it /shudder.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

I kinda miss the ME1 elevators. Really, bring those back and allow us to talk to our teammates during these times and I will be a happy man.

 

[Jyggalag]

I'd rather still have control over my character at all times than be taken out of the game to watch a bar move across my screen. Elevators are one solution that works well. If this is the only solution it will soon become cliche'.

 

[WanderingFool]

Elevators for two reasons.

The first is that the elevators had something happening at least. With the loading screens, I was got bored incredibly quick, and with the number of loading screens, really broke up the gameplay, IMO, while the elevator and the like actually kept it feeling like everything was happening continuously, if this makes any sense.

Second, I refer to a Extra Punctuation article about ME2 (if someone could link it if it hasnt already been). In it, Yahtzee says that the loading screens broke the immersion of the game by breaking it up. With the elevators, you actually could feel like you were leaving the Normandy or traveling between points on a map. His article says this point much better.

There is also a kinda third reason that really fits with reason 1, I just feel that even if the loading screens took less time, they felt longer than the elevators. In fact, I feel the elevators were pretty short when compared to the loading screens in most games.

 

[matt87_50]

I would say elevators, but I LOVED the evolution of the logo through the time periods as you were digging your way through the old chambers! (as with the evolution of all the equipment and stuff) I LOVED the 70s one... sooo 70s!

 

[scw55]

I prefer 'elevators' as it gives the illution of travel. A loading screen sorts of takes you out of immersion briefly.

Dragon Age Origins was sort of nice. It *was* a loading screen of sorts when on the world map but the red dotted line gave the illution of travel.

 

[Sir Prize]

Elevators, they made it feel more interesting.

 

[Griphphin]

It depends on the type of game for me. Some games provide good info/tips about their games and the mechanics in loading screens. Others have fun little diversions that you can do to pass the time.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I liked the Elevators in ME1 okay. Except when they froze up.

I actually liked the loading screens in ME2 a lot too - particularly at first. I liked seeing the plans for my ship, the mass relays, the shuttle, other parts of my ship, the various levels of my ship.....

Several hours later, I was bored with the loading screens and missing the elevators.

So, um... I don't know. **shrug** Both? Have the game sometimes (or in some locations) use the loading screen, and at other times/places use the elevator? Too much to program?