Loading And Mission Briefing Screen

Desperados 3

Status: Released
Year: 2020
Genre: Strategy
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

1. Summary

Non-diegetic frontend loading and mission briefing interface used between menu/mission selection and playable content. It has a minimal black loading state with bottom-center progress feedback and a mission briefing state that places a narrative carousel over a parchment-style map with a bottom-center Continue action.

Overview

The loading and mission briefing screen appears between frontend mission actions and playable content. It has two observed variants: a minimal black loading screen with bottom-center progress feedback, and a mission briefing screen for Troublemakers in Flagstone that overlays a dark narrative carousel on a parchment-style regional map.

Mission briefing screen context showing the left briefing card and bottom Continue button

The briefing card is the primary reading surface. It contains the mission title tab, a location/mission illustration, carousel slide count with arrow controls, a slide headline, and body copy explaining the mission setup.

Close crop of the Troublemakers in Flagstone mission briefing card

The separate black loading state removes all narrative/contextual art and keeps only a small status group at the bottom center: LOADING... above a horizontal progress bar.

Close crop of the black loading screen's LOADING label and progress bar

Job Story

When I start or continue a mission, I want loading feedback and a short mission briefing, so that I know the game is progressing and understand the narrative setup before control is handed to me.

Classification

diegesis: Non-diegetic
functional_type: Frontend shell
component_type: Progress bar/slider

Wireframe

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| parchment mission map background                                                |
|                                                                                |
|  +------------------------+                                                     |
|  | TROUBLEMAKERS IN       |                                                     |
|  | FLAGSTONE              |                                                     |
|  | [mission thumbnail]    |                    map landmark / region art        |
|  | <  1/3                >|                                                     |
|  | ONCE UPON A TIME       |                                                     |
|  | briefing body copy     |                                                     |
|  +------------------------+                                                     |
|                                                                                |
|                                  [ CONTINUE ]                                   |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Black loading variant:
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                                |
|                                                                                |
|                                  LOADING...                                     |
|                              [ progress bar ]                                   |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Components

Full-screen background layer: black for minimal loading, parchment map for mission briefing.
Loading status label: LOADING....
Horizontal loading progress bar.
Mission briefing card with dark ornamental frame.
Mission title tab, e.g. TROUBLEMAKERS IN FLAGSTONE.
Mission thumbnail illustration.
Slide count, e.g. 1/3, plus left/right arrow controls.
Slide headline and narrative body copy.
Bottom-center CONTINUE button.

Parameters & Audio

Parameter	Value	Type	Notes
Loading progress uses a compact horizontal fill bar with high contrast against black.	Loading progress uses a compact horizontal fill bar with high contrast against black.	Text	—
Mission briefing uses parchment texture, muted sepia map art, and a dark left card to separate readable text from the background.	Mission briefing uses parchment texture, muted sepia map art, and a dark left card to separate readable text from the background.	Text	—
Continue button uses a beveled dark plate with bright centered uppercase text.	Continue button uses a beveled dark plate with bright centered uppercase text.	Text	—
No unique audio cue is visible in the inspected evidence; any transition audio should be treated as part of the surrounding frontend/menu flow rather than a required element of this UI spec.	No unique audio cue is visible in the inspected evidence; any transition audio should be treated as part of the surrounding frontend/menu flow rather than a required element of this UI spec.	Text	—

Dependencies & Logic

Current mission identifier determines the briefing title, thumbnail, map region, slide text, and number of slides.
Loading state depends on asset/scene streaming progress.
Continue availability depends on the briefing state being ready and, for pure loading, on load completion.
Input mode must route focus to carousel arrows and the Continue button in the briefing state.

BDD Scenarios

Scenario: Black loading progress is shown

Given: the player has started a mission or triggered a load
When: the next scene is still loading
Then: the screen shows a black background
And: the bottom-center area shows `LOADING...` above a horizontal progress bar

Scenario: Mission briefing is shown before mission entry

Given: the selected mission has briefing content
When: the mission briefing screen opens
Then: the parchment map background is visible
And: the left briefing card shows the mission title, thumbnail, slide count, headline, and body text
And: the bottom-center `CONTINUE` button is available

Scenario: Briefing carousel content changes

Given: the mission briefing card shows multiple slides
When: the player activates a carousel arrow
Then: the slide count, headline, and body text update
And: the briefing card remains anchored on the left

Scenario: Continue exits the briefing

Given: the mission briefing screen is ready
When: the player activates `CONTINUE`
Then: the UI transitions toward the mission cinematic or gameplay

Edge Cases

If loading takes longer than expected, the black loading state should remain readable and not appear frozen; the progress bar should continue to represent progress where possible.
If mission briefing content has fewer or more than three slides, slide count and arrow availability must match the actual content set.
Long localized briefing text must fit the left card without overlapping arrows, slide count, or Continue navigation.
If a user changes input device, focus/highlight should remain recoverable for carousel arrows and Continue.
If a mission lacks briefing text, the flow should fall back to a clear loading/continue state rather than showing empty panel content.

QA Notes

Verify both variants: pure black loading and parchment mission briefing.
Check LOADING... and progress bar placement at 16:9 and any supported ultrawide/safe-area settings.
Confirm the left card remains readable over the map and preserves contrast for title, headline, slide count, arrows, and body text.
Confirm carousel arrows change slide content and do not move the panel.
Confirm CONTINUE is bottom-centered and exits to the expected next state.
Run localization checks against the briefing body and title tab.

Mechanic Links

Trial-and-Error Save Iteration Loop - Loading and mission briefing screens are used when quickload, manual load, restart, or mission entry transitions return the player to a saved or reset state.

References

1.
Desperados III (L34-44 of 283)
2.
Desperados 3 Let's Play Gameplay Walkthrough Pt 2 Troublemakers In Flagstone [1440p w/ Commentary] (0:02-0:48)