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Creating Custom Loading Screens in Roblox

Jul 13, 2024

Lecture Notes: Creating Custom Loading Screens in Roblox

Introduction

  • The lecture focuses on creating custom loading screens in Roblox using the ReplicatedFirst service.
  • Emphasizes the importance of loading screens for a professional look and a smoother gaming experience.

Key Concepts

Loading Screens

  • A loading screen shows the progress of the Roblox game loading before gameplay begins.
  • Enhances the user experience by hiding background asset loading processes.

ReplicatedFirst vs. ReplicatedStorage

ReplicatedStorage

  • Used to contain assets like module scripts, remote events, and functions that need to be accessible by both the server and the client.

ReplicatedFirst

  • Prioritizes replicating its contents to the client as the first step before anything else gets loaded.
  • Ideal for pre-loading assets such as loading screens and sounds.

Implementation Steps

Setting Up the Loading Screen

  1. Create a ScreenGUI in StarterGUI and rename it to LoadingScreen.
  2. Add a Frame covering the entire screen; set size to (1, 0, 1, 0).
  3. Change background color to gray.
  4. Add a TextLabel for loading text.
    • Align it to the center.
    • Scale text and set background transparency to 1.
  5. Add a LoadingBar.
    • Insert another Frame for the loading bar and adjust size and position.
    • Add a TextLabel inside this frame for the bar, set its background color to green, and initial size to (0, 0, 1, 0).

Scripting the Loading Functionality

  1. LocalScript in ReplicatedFirst
    • Reference the Players service and ReplicatedFirst.
    • Disable Roblox's default loading screen: ReplicatedFirst:RemoveDefaultLoadingScreen()
    • Reference the player's PlayerGui and clone LoadingScreen into it.
    • Reference the Frame, TextLabel, and LoadingBar.
  2. Preload Assets with ContentProvider
    • Use ContentProvider to preload assets before the game starts.
    • Loop through assets and show progress: ContentProvider:PreloadAsync({asset})
    • Update the loading text and bar size based on progress.

Sample Loading Bar Script

local players = game:GetService('Players')
local replicatedFirst = game:GetService('ReplicatedFirst')
local contentProvider = game:GetService('ContentProvider')
local assets = game:GetChildren()
local player = players.LocalPlayer
local playerGui = player:WaitForChild('PlayerGui')
replicatedFirst:RemoveDefaultLoadingScreen()
local loadingScreen = script:WaitForChild('LoadingScreen'):Clone()
loadingScreen.Parent = playerGui
local frame = loadingScreen:WaitForChild('Frame')
local loadingText = frame:WaitForChild('TextLabel')
local bar = frame:WaitForChild('LoadingBar'):WaitForChild('Bar')
for index, asset in pairs(assets) do
    contentProvider:PreloadAsync({asset})
    loadingText.Text = 'Loading ' .. asset.Name .. '...'
    local progress = index / #assets
    bar.Size = UDim2.new(progress, 0, 1, 0)
end
loadingScreen:Destroy()

Advanced Implementation: Tween Service

  • For smoother loading bar animations and color changes, use TweenService.
  • Challenge: Implement tweening on the loading bar for smoother progress and color transitions.
    • Suggested changes include using TweenService to animate Size and BackgroundColor3 of the loading bar.

Conclusion

  • Understanding ReplicatedFirst and ContentProvider is crucial for creating effective loading screens.
  • Practical implementation of loading screens enhances the user experience in Roblox games.
  • Encourage practicing the challenge for bettering tween animations.

Full transcript