While waiting for the dreaded loading bar that always seems to creep across the screen, have you ever wondered why loading screens exist? Specifically, what exactly happens during the loading of a video game?
Loading Screen
Often, the loading screen is one of the first things you encounter when opening a video game. It usually is an image displayed by a computer program while the game is being prepared or “loaded”.
Some loading screens include a timer or progress bar to show the amount of data that has been loaded. In fact, modern loading screens have become aesthetically appealing and provide an opportunity for artists and game developers to be creative.
Loading screens are also commonly used to provide important information about the next stage/challenge, or convey tips and tricks related to the game.
What Happens in the Background During Game Loading?
This entirely depends on the game in question, as different games have different methods. As a general rule, the size and level of assets (sounds, graphics, etc.) affect the amount of data that needs to be loaded, and the computer’s hardware determines the duration of the loading.
Furthermore, as the quality of the game increases, the basic requirements of the game engine also increase. Modern and advanced game engines are “heavy” and need to be loaded as well. This increases the loading time of the game.
The Real Work Behind “Loading” a Game:
When a game developer creates and tests a game, they do so in its entirety, but they need to know the best or most efficient way to deliver that game to you, the players. So, they “divide” the game into pieces and compress it into a tightly wrapped package. ZIP and JAR files are good examples of that.
Before starting the game, data (stored on the hard disk) is transferred from the slow hard disk to the faster computer memory (RAM) and video card memory. Then, the data is decompressed from its highly compressed format (which takes up less space on the drive) – a computationally difficult task – to uncompressed formats that are relatively easy to access.
In short, the game is loaded into the computer memory after a few steps, which takes some time (from a few seconds to a few minutes). However, with the increase in processor speeds, the emergence of solid-state drives (SSDs), and the presence of high-capacity RAM, game loading times have significantly decreased. I can say from personal experience that when you replace the traditional hard drive in your computer with a solid-state drive, games load at least 30 to 40% faster than before.
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Article by: Walid
