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

Create a ScreenGUI in StarterGUI and rename it to LoadingScreen.
Add a Frame covering the entire screen; set size to (1, 0, 1, 0).
Change background color to gray.
Add a TextLabel for loading text.
- Align it to the center.
- Scale text and set background transparency to 1.
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

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.
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.