The startup screen is a console’s way of introducing itself to the game-hungry masses. This digital vignette must accomplish two important tasks in just a few seconds: showcase the system's brand ...

Mark has been thinking and writing about games since a Gameboy Pocket and a copy of Link's Awakening was first placed into his tender, seven-year-old hands. Since then, he snagged a creative writing ...

First impressions are important. That’s true both in people and video game consoles. The first time you boot up a new gaming system can be a magical moment when done right. There’s always a built-in ...

Nothing triggers memories quite like sounds do. A couple of bars from a popular song from your childhood can take you right back to being a little kid, just like a few notes from a different song can ...

It's easy to dismiss the startup sound for a games console as a fleeting irrelevance, but they're actually hugely important. Those few seconds tell you more about a console, and who it's for, than any ...