The Genius Game Design of Genshin Impact’s Login Screen - Extra Credits
Vložit
- čas přidán 31. 10. 2023
- 🎮✨Genshin Impact's login screen is a masterpiece just like getting our content 24 hours early, without ads! 🟠 Just go to go.nebula.tv/extracredits for 40% off a Nebula Membership.
Ever noticed how some game elements feel just right, even if you can't pinpoint why? Dive with us into the meticulously crafted world of game design - particularly, the intriguing genius behind Genshin Impact's login screen.
* Watch us ad-free & 24-hour early access on NEBULA go.nebula.tv/extracredits *
* Get exclusive content & 24-hour early access on PATREON bit.ly/EHPatreon *
* Show off your fandom with MERCH from our store! extracredits.store/
*Interested in sponsoring an episode? Email us: extracredits@standard.tv
TWITCH: bit.ly/ECtwitch I TWITTER: bit.ly/ECTweet
TIKTOK: bit.ly/ECtiktokz I INSTAGRAM: bit.ly/ECisonInstagram
FACEBOOK: bit.ly/ECFBPage I HISTORY/MYTHOLOGY: / extrahistory
*Thanks for the high-quality conversations & for following our community guidelines here: bit.ly/ECFansRNice
Artist: Scott DeWitt I Writer: Matthew Krol I Showrunner & Narrator: Matthew Krol I Editor: Aidan Strite & Mac Owens I ♪ "Penguin Cap" by CarboHydroM - bit.ly/1eIHTDS I ♪ "Dreaming in Pixels" by Tiffany Roman I
#ExtraCredits #Gaming #GameDesign - Hry
Looking to support the show? Then why not try our sponsor Nebula. You'll get our episodes Ad-Free & 24 hours early! Just head over to go.nebula.tv/extracredits & get 40% off a subscription! OR Check out Climate Town here: nebula.tv/climatetown?ref=extrahistory
Thanks for Watching!
You guys always make My day 😊😊😊❤❤❤❤
I played so much Dyansty Warriors 2, 3, & 4 that the intro music got me pumped even with the soft visuals. I liked it!
Ok and now I am back after a long... video game and anime intro music break to watch the rest of your video.
@ExtraCredits - MATT
What is your favorite video game intro?
Mine is Suikoden 3 - I have yet to find one that is as powerful or showcases what the game is as well as that game. Give it a watch if you don't know it!
1:18
Every sheet-music-reading musician is screaming at those backwards notes. The emojis agree ➡️🎵🎶 See?
I'm surprised there was no mention of how Genshin actually has 4 different loading screens, depending on when you boot the game up. They have different renditions of the menu theme, and the whole scenery where the infinite bridge is being built changes to match the time of day you're actually playing in (morning/day/evening/night).
Only issue is that at night, you're flash banged no matter what.
I genuinely never hear the morning one.
@@missinkwitch It's probably the least heard one, as most people either get up early to go to work and not play or get up late and miss it. I used to hear it back when I had to catch a train to get to work so I'd log in in the morning to condense resin before going out.
The technological wonders of new videogames...
Yeah, I love the night one, but only get it when I log in right after a patch drops to get an early start. One issue with them is, on PS5 at least, so long as the game does not reboot, you get the opening from the time you last _left_ the game, rather than the time it is right now.
Yu Peng Cheng who composed the login screen theme actually release a video blog explaining the thought process of making the theme song. I think you can find here on youtube.
Honkai Star Rail has a similarly fantastic opening. A train moving through space on ethereal tracks and the warping into the unknown once you start the game while a soothing symphony plays in the background. It's a great way to prime people for a magical space-faring adventure.
Given that both games are made by the same company, I'm not surprised they share a few ideas.
I'd like to add to this. In the first scene, the space train is seen with sparkly particles weaving from its wheels. Under the train, you see a sea of asteroids. Behind the train, you see a planet. It evokes an image of a train moving across a body of water, but in space. With the musical score, it creates an amazing experience. When you're about to start the game, the camera pans to the space train looking like it's about to enter warp speed, its engine lighting up and shining speed lines going down the train. Because of the change of the camera angle, you see that the train is going towards a bright light, an unknown. Then, the camera is left behind as the train jumps into the bright light faster than the camera can keep up, leaving us in the light.
The opening theme in Outer Wilds actually uses a pitch-shifted version your ship's alarm as one of the backing instruments. It's there to subconsciously prime you to get out there and start exploring.
On a similar note, the main instrumental in the main menu theme of Doom 2016 is actually a heavy metal guitar blended with the chainsaw sound effect from the original 1993 Doom.
This is a really cool detail! Thanks for sharing :)
This video immediately made me think of Cyberpunk 2077's main menu and loading screens, and how they nailed their game in much the same way. The menu has futuristic visuals, and exciting electronic music to start thinking "Sci-fi" and get hyped for the fantasy action. Then, the loading screen plays audio news clips with accompanying pictures of things that are happening in the world. Some of it is advertisements for in-game companies, some of it is gossip, and some of it is related to things your character has done in the story. As the story progresses, so do the news clips, and it's really exciting to hear from a third person perspective how your character is changing and shaping the world.
the soundtrack on that menu screen slaps hard
I remember trying Genshin because I thought it was like a free BotW, then I got hooked by the music in the login screen; especially the nighttime version theme
I almost piss my pant when hearing the night theme for the first time, I was looking left and right finding who's singing until I realized the music also changed, I already used to hearing the morning/day time theme
The Kingdom Hearts series is also not a perfect example but definitely one of the most memorable ones in terms of that various amount of ways it tries to set the tone before you even start the game(s).
The title menu music does so much heavy lifting for setting that game's magical tone it's kind of insane.
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory has a jazz rendition of Dearly Beloved, which I thought was gonna suck! But as soon as I heard it, my jaw dropped from how good! it sounded: with my verbal response being "This song has been remixed how many times and it's still good? How is that even possible? I didn't even know I wanted this!"
I've definitely played games that have the feel of "Genshin's opening with Dynasty Warriors theme". It always makes me feel like they didn't do enough work on their loading screen, like something's missing that the music is trying to sell but can't.
The title screen of Pokemon Mystery Dungeons: Explorers of Sky fills me with more of a grand sense of adventure than anything I can imagine. The music and visuals just so perfectly capture that feeling that you're about to go on a grand, epic tale that will be told for generations.
I love how Hades always begins with the menu music being a subtle build-up that sets the Greek mythology themes before hitting hard with the rest of it to remind you you aren't here to enjoy some ambience, you're here to smash some skulls while rampaging through Greek Hell! It gets you in the mood and mindset of Zagreus immediately.
Mhm, at the mentioning of the hades start screen the music from it jumped into my brain immediately. Iconic music.
Normally when I start a new game, I blitz past the title screen and dive right in. However, I actually had to contemplate Genshin's title screen for just a moment longer because of the feeling of awe and wonder the music and scenery instilled in me. The lack of the usual buttons (Start, Chapter Select, Options, etc) also really forced me to soak it in.
That then set me up for what came next when I actually started playing. I still haven't forgotten the first time I saw Mondstadt over the horizon.
The intro for AOE 2 is amazing in how it preares you how to think about the game - two kings playing chess which goes back and forth with gameplay until one of them drops their chesspiece on the battlefield due to injury, implying his loss in "the game of kings"
"Wherever you go, whatever life throws at you... In Teyvat, the stars in the sky will always have a place for you."
Even the loading screens from the very start are not exactly subtle in the vibe they want to sell you on.
The Extra Credits intro will _always_ be jarring to me, since it starts off partway into the melody line.
I'd say C&C Red Alert went further by themeing the setup program as well
See also the "Attract Mode" arcade games liked to do. Even today quite a few fighting games mimic it by simply showing off gameplay demos.
I don't even have to boot up the games to figure out what the openings of my childhood favorites are doing. I think it's a testament to how well each of them did with them. Final Fantasy Tactics has a very martial melody playing over clips of battle promising you the experience of a battlefield tactician. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance has very fantastical music over what amounts to a vintage story book hinting art the fantasy nature of the game in a whole new world born from a child's imagination. Golden Sun has some very epic music over sweeping panoramas of gorgeous landscape which prepares you for the large scale adventure you're about to undertake. Halo has some deep chanting with a space background picturing one of the Halo installments. This gets you ready for the horrific mysteries you're about to uncover and the grandiose scale of the conflict you're about to fight.
Golden Sun was one of my favorite games as a child. I still play sometimes
The Harvest Moon 64 title screen has lived in my head rent-free for over 2 decades now. The twangy bass, the fluttery whistles, the endless field of grass, and the title card carved out of wood all gave the very "homey" expectation for that game.
Genshin Impact doesn't deliver nearly as many lightsabers as the login screen promises.
lol I loooove the RLM reference. Nice and obtuse.
"You might not have noticed it... But your brain did."
Poor Mike. lol
Never thought I'd see Rich Evans drawn as an EC bean person.
There's aslo a good example of good intro that perfectly prepare player, for example half-life when player goes explore whole facility before all accidents occure, the game shows main antagonists at the begining of game by teleporting player to xen dimention for a breef moment and basicly show all stages of this game before game even propely starts giving a hint of what would be inside the game
Fingers crossed you don't get a DMCA when this goes public 😅🤞🏻
Mihoyo isn't Nintendo.
Mihoyo doesnt copyright any of genshin’s music and content - infact they encourage fans to use them. Case in point: they give out 3d character models for free in their website for anyone to download
Actually, I clicked on your video because I make it a point to watch all of them. Even back before you were the narrator. I just thoroughly love the job you guys do ❣
I love Genshins music so much. It's made with love and straight up with a full orchestra. ♥ A great mix of traditional instruments from different countries mixed in with more contemporary music when they need to turn up the energy.
A fond example of a video game that preps you beforehand is Red Alert 2 with just their game installation process acting like a military briefing.
The original XCOM: UFO Defense (UFO: Enemy Unknown abroad) from the early 90s does this really well.
When TUNIC starts up, I can hear what sounds like a heartbeat whenever its RGB Triforce appears on-screen. Then the title screen appears with the tune "To Far Shores" playing while both the game title and a mysterious sword are on-screen. Then you start up a new game and you hear the tune "Memories of Memories" playing while the cute little fox you play as wakes up with a yawn and a stretch, gets up, and then adventure ho! Needless to say, TUNIC knows what it's doing right from the very start: and I *LOVE IT!* 😄💖
I feel like this idea also relates to stuff like ads & openings of shows/movies (even videos on CZcams - not just clickbait thumbnails, but also how someone starts a video/what they say at said start). Priming you to buy things (in the case of ads) or priming you to feel a certain way going into a specific episode of a show (to prepare you for that episode's plot). This also opens up the discussion of the negatives of such priming, like notorious ads, misinformation spread, or in the case of in-game microtransactions, over-spending.
Genshin AND Xenogears being mentioned in a EC video?! Y'all spoiling me.
Actually, I think of Roller Coaster Tycoon 1 and 2... booting up the game and hearing a very whismal theme-park organ-inspired theme as the title screen shows you all of the possibilities and the scenarios you are going to jump into, the sounds and excitement of the peeps riding rides and everything.
Definitely primed me to get stuck into building miniature railroad 1 and many more rides as a little kid in the late 90's in front of the parent's Gateway PC with the full boston acoustic speaker system (Which we still have in the house and it still works).
I always loved the Braid opening. Throws you right into it without you noticing it at first. Moody music. Background art stunning but also hinting at what is to come. And then you choose the first world, labeled as "World 2". What is going on?
3:38 I loved the combination even if they clash
I'm kinda agree with the video BUT the reason people flocked to GENSHIN was it being a a very good BOTW clone. after that the first 30-60 minutes of the game are so good it's no wonder players stuck around and continue playing. it's a good combination of very good publicity and an amazing game(not to mention it being free to play).
Good point! And for being botw that can run on a ps5, many different PCs, and most modern mobile phones, having it be something botw like is amazing. Plus, Mihoyo had made a name for itself with Honkai stuff before, and they've only gotten stronger.
I'd also argue the very important part of a good hook to get people into the game is not just the initial bite, but prepping you to get back into it again and again. The music definitely helps set the mood each time.
It wasn’t so much a BotW ripoff.
The devs of Genshin were really, really inspired by Zelda, and knew probably by heart why the game worked so well.
That’s why this game wasn’t so much of a ripoff.
That jarring moment where you cut from the Genshin login screen to your intro is exactly the problem with CZcams's midroll ads. Back in the day, when I watched broadcast TV, shows would be written around the ad breaks, so you were eased into ads, then back into the show, which prevented the ads from being jarring. CZcams shows, however, are almost never set up this way, which makes midroll advertisements extremely jarring and thus unpleasant.
“That is not a crafted experience…” really? Made me feel like I was playing Sonic 06
And now I have to mention the Vagrant Story pre-game cut scenes that only happen when you don't touch the controller for several minutes at the very start.
Of all things, i didnt expect you to make video about this game. Great works as alwasy
Only one opening screen of a game has ever wowed me and stuck with me and that was Catherine for the 360
Mad respect for putting that reference to the WoW title screen, those are always the best...just magical, better than playing the game even.
That climate town recommendation is gold.
Shadowbringers's menu screen is telling you to crank up the music volume to max while playing, yes.
i had 2 games that immediately came to mind when i watched this episode
-Guardian Tales: the intro has this exciting theme of adventure and excitement, the title taking up the entire screen and footage of different bits and pieces of the earlier segments of act 1 running behind the title, setting the mood of adventure and influencing you to try other characters and see what they do
-cyberpunk 2077s "good morning night city" opening, with loud thumping synths and footage of insanity happening throughout the city. that plus the loading screens, depending on what part of the game you are, have newscasters discussing recent goings-on, usually related to the things that youve done in the story, catching you up on the story so far from your last sitting.
I laughed so much when you switched the calm Genshin intro music for Dynasty Warrior theme.
The first intro which came up my mind is the one of Secret of Mana back on the SNES. The music and the way how the screen slowly reveals the mana tree and the three protagonists stuck in my head until today.
honestly thinking about it, my favorite game Celeste does this as well, ituses a calm theme to establish the games theme of taking things one step at a time, (also the piano feels right with the snowy environment)
LOVE your content guys 😊😊😊❤❤❤
The Dynasty Warriors music doesn't match the Genshin opening, but I *am* suddenly in the mood to tear apart a battlefield because of it.
I actually clicked on this video for an unmentioned third reason: I like your content, and was curious enough to watch the video.
Okami is a pretty good example. The opening really just captures the beauty of the game, without showing content that isnt in the game. It prepares you for the whole game. When you finish the game, and look back at the title screen cutscene, you kinda feel a rush of nostalgia. All of those moments you went through, all shown in a long, but entertaning serving. Personally, i might be biased, but i played through the game around 13 times (which is probably excessive)
As a genshin player I'm so happy that they made a video on it
Edit: they didn't mentioned that loading screen may have lore behind it. There is a popular theory that loading screen is actually celestia from the inside and the door is exit from Teyvat or the truth behind that world
"Hoyoverse, please don't DMCA us"
Huh. Pretty sure a lot of us came in to this video thinking this was sponsored by Genshin Impact.
The opening music reminds me of how final fantasy music starts which is a hook for the older audience who are older and have more income
I have the intro music on several Spotify playlists, and haven't even played the game for a couple years now.
This is like how the backrooms has a "basic survival guide" at the beginning that says things like - "keep an ear out for suspicious sounds! If you hear something, it's probably already too late as it has certainly heard you!"
I think one of the best "Opening screens" in games is Just Cause 3's. The main menu screen with Rico on a beach in a lounge chair holding a drink while watching an oil rig explode in the background is just, the real Medici experience.
I am automatically on guard with any trailer or promotional video that doesn't show gameplay. It feels like they are _hesistant_ to show the actual gameplay. Usually a bad sign.
Well, it's a gacha game, so good instincts.
You can check for actual gameplay on CZcams, it's smooth and satisfying
@@felixgonzalez8478 I don't think I ever even saw promotional material from this game.
I was talking "in general".
Start screen of Kingdom Hearts immediately comes to mind.
Great video. Lots to think about
My mind went immediately to Red Alert 2's main menu, "Grinder". The telegraph beeps in the background get you in the mood that you are in the command center being relayed encoded information about the events on the ground. And then the hammer drops and it's Go Time. God, I love that game.
I just commented about that game's predecessors. 🙂 They certainly knew how to do an intro and get you into the mood. RA 1's intro song (the Hell March) was perfect, and so was the way they stepped up from the understated tone of the intro video with Einstein into the explosive bombast of that song. I loved the early game's installers, too.
The intro had the desired effect... My husband sitting next to me was like 'Wtf was that' when it cut away 😂
Watch the opening of my favorite game series, eh? WHEN YOU WALK AWAY-
Larian does this very well too. Every main manu screen in DOS, DOS2 and BG3 just invites you to take it in and prepares you.
This reminds me of Detroit: Become human. Without trying to spoil anything, in that game, the woman in the main menu staring right at you is clearly there to make you think about what happened last time you played, and her mood changes accordingly.
4:01 well jokes on you, I'll use that to adjust my expectations and enjoy the games even harder
All I know about Genshin Impact is it having the nickname Waifu Simulator. Also, I only just realized that in Wario Land 3 the opening cutscene is the only time Wario lifts his head upwards and grabs onto something without actually picking it up. Pretty interesting.
Great video!
This, and also how cool the animation for wishing is, it makes you want to do it more, to spend more money. Truly, a "One More Pull" moment. (Song by the chalkeaters)
The most immediate example due to my recently playing it is LOTR: Return to Moria.
The opening cutscene with its narration by John Rhys-Davies reprising Gimli, the LOTR Title Graphic reminiscent of the films, the rendering using the in game engine with characters designed using the character creation of the game, and the maps of Middle Earth, all leading to the shot of the entrance to Moria.
It really does put yoy in the mindset for the journey of the game.
Oh yeah! I love getting blinded each time I open the game! This is so great!
Evil Genius is the best example of this. Absolute art
Reminds me of the baldurs gate 3 start up screen
mihoyo: uhh would've sponsored it, but you do you!
"Fun" fact about the ruins you see in Genshin's intro screen: Those floating pillars are called "Needles of Retribution" and they're basically divine nukes that the gods drop onto any civilization that gets a little too atheist for their tastes.
The juxtaposition of the chill music and pleasant scenery and the knowledge that you're basically walking through an arsenal of LITERAL "Rods From God" really matches Genshin's themes of Fridge Horror and it's story about the beautiful, idyllic world of Teyvat being a pleasant lie told by the gods, masking the existential horrors just underneath the surface. It lures in new players with the happy, sparkly beauty of it, and keeps long time players hooked by confronting them with one of the story's core mysteries whenever they log in: What happened to the Gods of Celestia? Why is their city in ruins? Stay tuned to find out! (in Version 7.4 probably 🙄)
this kinda reminds me of FF11's title theme
it starts on Drums, as the game loads, then as the title screen appears the trumpets start playing, as if welcoming you. as various sweeping scenery spots cycle in the background. with these Scenery spots having their in game SFX included
It's an evolution from its older sister-game, Honkai Impact 3rd - which mimics an elevator going up and opening to the bridge of the ship you captain. Of course, Genshin Impact does it better. There's also Honkai Starrail that does a variant on it too. It's really lovingly crafted by the designers. Special mention that it tracks time of day and weather and the ambience is changed to suit too.
I sure loved the dynasty worriers music with the load screen. It felt like it worked.
i clicked this because im a junior game level designer and hoping to find more inspirations
The intro to ocarina of time is permanently impacted on my brain...or pokemon red
Wasn't there an idle game that started with chopping wood, slowly added more mechanics like an explorable map, and then ended with building a spaceship or something. I swear it was on EC and they called it an unpacking or unboxing game or something.
@4:00 I've been watching this channel since before it was on CZcams, I picked up that curse a LONG time ago lmao.
Zelda OoT opening scene is still my favourite
Evidence of the login screen's excellence: I paused the video to take a screenshot of it.
The mainline pokemon games along with kegends arceus are another great example! They are usually set with the title screen along with intro music and ambiance.. I enjoy your guy's videos and listening you nerd out!!
I clicked on this video to say that whatever you have to say about genshin is irrelevant because what sucks me in is cute anime boys and cute anime girls rendered in wonderfully styled 3d
Onimusha 3 Opening lives rent free in my head,
but also the FF3 DS opening always gives me chills
Soft piano as the main character or characters overlook a major landmark of their world... This basically describes all 3 main Xenoblade games, their expansions... and also CrossCode.
But of them, I specifically want to draw attention to Xenoblade 2. Xenoblade 2 has several different title screens depending on how far into the game you are. Most of the time its of the area the current chapter is focused on, sometimes with major characters visible but blurred out, but before starting the game, it's completely different. There's _no_ music then; just distant thunder, with nothing on screen except the insides of some dark clouds, and a prompt to press start. After doing so (and selecting a difficulty), the title screen seamlessly transitions into the opening cutscene as music starts playing and building up, before reaching the climax right as the camera emerges from the clouds to show a bright blue sky. It's probably my favourite opening to any video game.
Look at Afterimages intro, it's pure breath taking art. Really sets the play up for how gorgeous their entire game is.
Civ 6 intro is so good
This video got me to subscribe 😮
I love how your videos assume the viewer has no frickin clue themselves and you're opening their mind.
Something I find interesting is that the main menu/loading screen of Halo, a genre defining FPS shooter, has more in common with Genshin than Dynasty Warriors. The music and visuals prime the player more for a space opera.
genshin also have 4 different main menu depends on your current time in day.
Mihoyo is very good at this, although I can only speak to three of their games right now. Chronologically:
The loading screen for _Honkai Impact 3rd_ places the player inside the main elevator of the flying battleship _Hyperion_ , and the space in front of you has an indication of scale as well, since you're shown passing working crew as the elevator continues ever upward. Click and log-in, and once things are loaded, the elevator jumps to a stop, and the door opens. The player steps forward to the words "Captain on bridge!" , and as you look out the forward window, your bridge-selected Valkyrie turns to greet you and says a few words (you can change who it by clicking on her, and then selecting the rotating arrow icon. It can be anyone on your roster).
The loading screen for _Genshin_ is the Celestial walkway, resolving to a doorway, that you whoosh through into a flashbang.
The loading screen for _Honkai: Star Rail_ is a side view of the Astral Express making its way through space on a sparkly track. Click, and once things load, the view rotates until you're third-person to the train. Click again, and it whooshes into a jump.
But the first time you load into these games, you don't just go to the bridge of _Hyperion_ or into the world, you get a short cutscene, followed by the first section of gameplay, where you start to learn the very basics. In both _Genshin_ and _HSR_ , play is along a continuous plane within the world, except when you teleport. But since _HI3_ was built as a mobile game, the bridge is your hub screen. Every time you complete a mission section, you can return to the hub, and you automatically return there once a feature is unlocked due to you leveling up enough. It's simple but effective design. Of course, the UI is now considered cluttered and confusing, but 7.2 will carry some overhauls to the UI to make things easier, just ahead of the big release of Part 2.
Other openings include _DOOM_ and _DOOM Eternal_ , which launch you straight into gameplay, followed by a short intro with the title, and then back into gameplay.
_Star Trek Online_ starts with character creation, a setting-based cinematic for your faction, and then your tutorial begins. Each faction has their own unique tutorial and space, except for _DISCO_ captains, whose tutorial is mostly copy-pasted from the Standard Starfleet version. It's a shame, since every other faction was given something unique. Given all _DISCO_ missions can be experienced as framed as holodeck missions, there's nothing except the uniforms (if you like those) to recommend making a _DISCO_ character. Contrast that to Romulan Republic, Klingon Defense Force, and TOS Starfleet especially, all of whom have unique stories to start them off.
The loading sequence for _STO_ takes you through some zoom-ins to the character selection screen, accompanied by a new score based largely on the _DS9_ score.
Haven't played, clicked because I want to know more.
As a Veteran Genshin Impact Player(just what I think my self at least) There is nothing to what you said I gonna disagree. But the reason why we love this game is similar to why we love the Anime. miHoYo or Otaku/Weebs like us, and they really know what's an Otaku needs. They give us the unique world as is not limited to explore, they give each character a personality that we really want in a 2D Waifu(Loli and Hasbando are different story😅) And they give us lore or story in the game that really hooks up. miHoYo is one of us. That is what we believe.
Baldur's Gate 3. If you played you know what I am talking about.
Of course, the intro screen doesn't have to match the game's action to be good. Sometimes the reverse is wanted. In Nier Automata, a generally high-energy action game, the start screen is calm, with gentle, even contemplative, music. It's a "calm before the storm" moment; plus it hints at the more philosophical intentions behind the action.
You suggested going and thinking about how our favourite games do this and the first thing that came to mind was C&C: Red Alert. The weird intro video with Einstein, then the moment the Hell March first hits, through to the missiles exploding then the fade to the menu screen. For its day, the early C&C games did this better than anything else I'd seen before - and their installers did this too, building up the world and your anticipation early. So much more than a boring install wizard or simple progress bar. Installers are one piece of art that we've lost in the day of digital downloads.
(Arguably, C&C 1 deserves the real credit for starting this, but I started on the series with RA. Going back and watching the C&C 1 intro video now, while it's hammy and dated, you realise they nailed a bunch of stuff we've seen actually play out - such as media manipulation, fake news, people who'll just watch TV while the world is burning, pretending an ecological crisis doesn't exist, etc. It's weird how much they got right).
Left 4 Dead has a great opening since it uses the opening cutscene to teach you the game. You aren't just learning what the genre it is, you're learning who all the special infected are and how they work. It's such a great way to introduce a person to a game!
just feeding the algorithm but
I clicked the video because Extra Credits always means an interesting video