logic behind "press a key to continue"

[artoodeeto]

something that utterly befuddles me is launching a game, it goes through it's opening sequence, then settles on a screen that says "press any key to continue." Maybe it's just me, but does this seem utterly pointless to anyone else? Just wonderin.... (specifically, Mass Effect and Grid are the 2 I've been playing recently that do this)

[HackSore]

I have always wondered this too, hopefully someone will be able to provide an answer!

[PauL]

Because the developers want to make you feel engaged in the game right off the bat. Truely though, I dont know. Doesnt bother me too much, but I also dont really see the reason

[Luke122]

I think it might also have something to do with loading.. if the game pauses while waiting for an input, it has time to do some background loading..?

I know I'd be mad if I powered on a game, and went to get a drink, then came back and realized that I had died twice because my character was standing there doing nothing while I was away from it.

[altec]

I like having them in the game itself. For Lukes reason. So I can get something to drink, or take a leak.

But I assume you are talking about when you start the game itself. Not between the intro to the main menu. Now that is confusing.

[mDust]

A lot of games are ported from one console to another console to PC to smart phones...all because the publisher is looking to maximize profits without having to invest much money in developing a different game.
Due to different programming languages and hardware requirements, artifacts can be introduced when code is not changed properly. Say there was a screen on 360 or PS3 that required you to hit a button on each controller to select the number of players. It's cheaper to modify existing code than to completely rewrite it, so if the code stopped and waited for input on one console, they just ported that same code to the copy you are playing even though it serves absolutely no purpose anymore.
This is just one possible scenario as to why there is a break where it doesn't make sense. There are many different types of artifacts in many different games, so the next time something happens that just doesn't seem to make any sense, this may be why.

[artoodeeto]

aaah...that makes sense. That's probably exactly what is, especially since Mass Effect started out as a console game, and I'm sure Grid was intro'd on consoles and PC's simultaneously.
altec, I was referring to the game loading, then showing a screen that says "press a key to continue" which then takes you to the menu screen.
It doesn't really bother me that much, it was just one of those things that made me think gee...why would they waste programming time putting this useless screen in? But seeing it as a modified version of "press a key on each gamepad so I know how many players there are" makes a lot more sense.

[simon275]

It is a console game thing. Also a courtesy thing as it allows you to go to the bathroom during loading screens and not get dropped into the game and killed.

[Spawn-Inc]

It is a console game thing. Also a courtesy thing as it allows you to go to the bathroom during loading screens and not get dropped into the game and killed.

that's what i use it for :)