What exactly is the point of a 'Press Start' screen on games?

[Ben Legend]

Because the controller has a start button? If controllers had a 'kaboom' button, the screen would say press 'kaboom'
Get me?

 

[Trekologist]

Controllers. To see which controller you're going to use. You can have GTA IV to have a 'press start' screen if you have two or more people signed in to see which profile you want to use. Virtually every game, if you have two controllers turned on, and you press start on one controller, the other obviously, won't work to play the game, unless it is more multiplayer oriented.

 

[dark_taint92]

i have to ask. how have you got the yahtzee badge when you only joined today?
OT: guess because most games have them there the social norm now really

 

[Mr.PlanetEater]

It serves some purposes, one to signal hey the game's loaded. Second, to provide the title of the Game, three give copy right credits, four because it's tradition.

 

[Beastialman]

Pokemon Blue and Red technically don't have one.

Continue
New Game
Options


That's like a menu if I'm not mistaken.

 

[VintageElise]

i have to ask. how have you got the yahtzee badge when you only joined today?
OT: guess because most games have them there the social norm now really

I've been lurking for ages. So I did the quiz a few times and got the badge.

 

[Davey Woo]

I don't mind them, what I do mind is when they say "Press Start" and you can actually press any button, what's the point in saying press start?

 

[MrDarkling]

The start button just wants to feel special 3:

 

[SilentHunter7]

Most games I play these days all have these screens and there seems to be no purpose to them what-so-ever. Does anyone here know why they are still included?

Most games use it to determine the active controller for menu browsing and such if more than one is plugged in/synched. The first controller to press Start is the one the game uses. It's more convenient than switching controllers.

 

[Utarefson]

To let the game know, which one of the 4 wireless controllers is the one you're going to use as the first player

 

[Hussmann54]

Its like a butler to the main game. "It says 'welcome to so and so, Please make yourself comfortable. May I take your real world stress from you and offer you a getaway from it all for a brief time? (May I take you hats, your coats, and you swastikas?)

Cookies for him who names that movie reference.

 

[VintageElise]

Thanks for the answers guys.

 

[Tomsky]

I hate them so much.

..may I ask why?

Of course you may. Doesn't mean you'll get an answer.

Seriously though it's just irratates me a lot as it seem so pointless. Also one of the first time I picked up a controller I didn't realise you had to press start and I thought I had broken the game so I got really upset and cried.

 

[Chancie]

Because it looks pretty...? I have absolutely no idea, actually. xD

 

[EliteFreq]

I'd say that it's tradition. Like having lives and credits for games that aren't coin operated, along with Game Over screens, the Konami Code, etc.

 

[USSR]

I hate them so much.

..may I ask why?

Of course you may. Doesn't mean you'll get an answer.

Seriously though it's just irratates me a lot as it seem so pointless. Also one of the first time I picked up a controller I didn't realise you had to press start and I thought I had broken the game so I got really upset and cried.

Oh my o.o

..that is quite a traumatic childhood experience..

 

[Tomsky]

I hate them so much.

..may I ask why?

Of course you may. Doesn't mean you'll get an answer.

Seriously though it's just irratates me a lot as it seem so pointless. Also one of the first time I picked up a controller I didn't realise you had to press start and I thought I had broken the game so I got really upset and cried.

Oh my o.o

..that is quite a traumatic childhood experience..

You can say that again. Touched kids haven't got anything on me.

 

[USSR]

You can say that again. Touched kids haven't got anything on me.

Damn straight, you're right!