HL2: Great game so far, but god damn the loading

[PingSpike]

Its actually pretty cool how its all sort of one level. But couldn't they have come up with some sort of dynamic loading sequence to make the transition smoother? Or at least had it scale for more memory to reduce the amount of loads?

But my main gripe is the locations of the load points. One in particular sticks in my mind. After pulling off particularly awesome log jump into the partially open dam gate with that jet boat...I see that I'm way the hell up in the air. I actually shout "wwooooo!" in anticipation of the badass splash landing thats coming...

LOADING....

....

....

"WTF?!"

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Its actually pretty cool how its all sort of one level. But couldn't they have come up with some sort of dynamic loading sequence to make the transition smoother? Or at least had it scale for more memory to reduce the amount of loads?

But my main gripe is the locations of the load points. One in particular sticks in my mind. After pulling off particularly awesome log jump into the partially open dam gate with that jet boat...I see that I'm way the hell up in the air. I actually shout "wwooooo!" in anticipation of the badass splash landing thats coming...

LOADING....

....

....

"WTF?!"

lol yeah I remember that part. Damn that ticked me off. Its funny I remember all the load points at the beginning of the game but towards the end I don't recall as many. Probably just forgetting them though.

 

[Fern]

Interesting..

I'm currently doing some work on game loading times. Although not a programmer, I've noticed differences in how D3, Far Cry and Painkiller handle "game loads". I'm, in the first instance, checking the effects of 512MB of cas 2.0 ram vs 1 gig of slower value stuff on intial loads (boot up pc, start game and load last game) and then reloads (some within the same level, others of a diff level).

I just got HL2, but have not yet played it so I don't have any saved games I can run benchies on (If I stop to play it now, it'll be a long time b4 my benchies are done )

Got any saves you can email me? I'd like to include HL2, and the Steam Engine, in with D3, FC and Painkiller

Fern

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: JBT

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Its actually pretty cool how its all sort of one level. But couldn't they have come up with some sort of dynamic loading sequence to make the transition smoother? Or at least had it scale for more memory to reduce the amount of loads?

But my main gripe is the locations of the load points. One in particular sticks in my mind. After pulling off particularly awesome log jump into the partially open dam gate with that jet boat...I see that I'm way the hell up in the air. I actually shout "wwooooo!" in anticipation of the badass splash landing thats coming...

LOADING....

....

....

"WTF?!"

lol yeah I remember that part. Damn that ticked me off. Its funny I remember all the load points at the beginning of the game but towards the end I don't recall as many. Probably just forgetting them though.

They're wicked annoying at first, but then you sort of get used to them, and thus, probably forget them. I like the concept, but I think they could have handled it a bit better is all.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Fern
Interesting..

I'm currently doing some work on game loading times. Although not a programmer, I've noticed differences in how D3, Far Cry and Painkiller handle "game loads". I'm, in the first instance, checking the effects of 512MB of cas 2.0 ram vs 1 gig of slower value stuff on intial loads (boot up pc, start game and load last game) and then reloads (some within the same level, others of a diff level).

I just got HL2, but have not yet played it so I don't have any saved games I can run benchies on (If I stop to play it now, it'll be a long time b4 my benchies are done )

Got any saves you can email me? I'd like to include HL2, and the Steam Engine, in with D3, FC and Painkiller

Fern

I believe it autosaves at every load point, so yeah I should have one for each point in the game so far. I'll try to remember this thread for when I get home.

 

[Whitecloak]

You havent played Vampires The Masquerade : Bloodlines, then? I spent more time waiting for the levels to load than in actually playing it.

 

[mundane]

I found the Painkiller load times nearly unbearable (really liked the game, though). The gladiator level in the expansion pack had a 'jumping puzzle' (I think it was a running repeated jump, gotta time it right), which annoyed the hell out of me. That's where I quit.

The load times on D3 and HL2 didn't quite bother me. Probably part of that had to do with upgrading from 512 to 1 GB of ram. Far Cry was too long ago, and I gave my copy away once I had beaten it a few times.

 

[SonicIce]

How much ram do you have? I upgraded from 512MB to 1GB and it helped load times and the pauses when new stuff happens. It also helps alot when you alt-tab, you don't have to wait 10 seconds before you can move the mouse.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: diegoalcatraz
I found the Painkiller load times nearly unbearable (really liked the game, though). The gladiator level in the expansion pack had a 'jumping puzzle' (I think it was a running repeated jump, gotta time it right), which annoyed the hell out of me. That's where I quit.

The load times on D3 and HL2 didn't quite bother me. Probably part of that had to do with upgrading from 512 to 1 GB of ram. Far Cry was too long ago, and I gave my copy away once I had beaten it a few times.

D3 seems the most effiecient engine of those that I have tested (hopefully I'll get someone's game saves and include HL2 when I post my other results). D3 is fine with only 512MB

FC and PK showed marked improvement when going from 512MB to 1 gig. In my benching, PK actually had some load times in excess of 2 minutes with 512MB!

The PK/BoOH pit thing is, to a great extent, the cause of my complaining on these boards about load times and the benching I am now doing.

Fern