I don’t like game launchers. These are the multiple layers of windows that I have to look at and interact with in order to get into a game. Splash screens, credentials screens, character selection screens, loading screens, etc. It’s the same sort of stupidity as 10 minutes of movie credits, or the advertising mania that we’re gripped by today.
As an example, consider ARMA 3. As much as I enjoy the gameplay, their launcher is atrocious.
- Double click the ARMA 3 icon
- Wait for Steam to fire up and log in
- Get the ARMA 3 launcher
- Press the PLAY button
- Wait for ARMA 3 to appear
- Press the PLAY button
- Press the MULTIPLAYER button
- Wait for the server list to populate
- Double click my usual server
That’s insane. I want a shortcut on my desktop for the server I go to. I would double click that and go straight to the server. All that other stuff has to happen behind the scenes, but ultimately all I want is my desktop staring me in the face, perhaps with a small progress bar until the game is ready to show me entering the server of my choice.
The number of steps is one thing. The co-opting of my screen is another. I really don’t want the game publisher’s crap on my screen while I’m waiting. I’d rather be looking at my desktop or a browser window while I wait for the massive machinery to grind into action behind the scenes.
I know that you guys are extremely tight on development time, but this is the sort of thing that is fairly impossible if the software isn’t designed for it. Don’t fall in love with your ability to push artwork in the face of a player. Provide the service of getting to a character spot on one of your game servers. If I have three characters on the American server, let me have three icons on my desktop so that I can start with whichever one I want.
Keep the multi-step UI for people who are going to create new characters or who like to just start The Game instead of jumping into a character, but if you can manage it, please give me the ability to double click a character icon and get a streamlined experience to reach that character.