Problem Summary

The player needs to wait before the game can be started.

Use When

Games that take some time to load because:

• A large amount of graphics and art need to be loaded from a mechanical device (such as a harddrive or dvd) or from the web. (flash games)
• The game needs to be installed and resources need to be installed locally.
• The game needs to wait for other players to join the game.

Solution

Provide a mini game to entertain the player

Games that can be played quickly such as pong or breakout can be used. The style of the game is usually arcade like. What type of game to offer depends on the amount of time that the user is expected to have to wait. This mechanism is protected by Namco’s patent 5,718,632 but examples of prior art exist.

Recommendations

• The mini game could be themed after the game.
• When users have to wait repeatedly in a game one can choose to offer different games or continue playing a game played before.
• The mini game could be combined with a tutorial that explains parts of the game.

Rationale

Although load times should be avoided as much as possible when designing games, they are sometimes inevitable. Offering the player to play a game is important to keep them immersed and entertained and increases satisfaction. The risk with web-based games when the game takes to long to load the player may abandon the game.

Examples

Flash games - A typical pre loader game found in large flash games.

Super Mario 64 In this platform game one can play a short game while Super Mario loads.

• Broken Sword - This adventure games allows one to play breakout during installation
• The Sims - This popular simulation game allows one to play a sims related game during installation.