What this guide calls the "Startup Screen" is a concept that has gone by many other names such as: boot screen, startup sequence, logo animation, boot animation, system chime, startup sound and perhaps others.  This is a short clip usually 20-30 seconds or less that is played when the console or device first boots up. Modern ones often include both audio, and some visual component like an animation or some flashy demo that previews the hardware's graphics capabilities. It's very common to include logo's or other branding for the console or company that created it. Originally these were fully functional in nature serving as a way to communicate status about the boot up process. Eventually device manufacturers and their marketing departments realized the opportunity provided by this first impression real estate.

Over the years different consoles have taken different approaches on audio. Many early devices used a beep or two. Short memorable sound effects and jingles are one popular archetype, a few others are chiptunes style soundtracks, and rich effects filled with ambiance no doubt intended to sound stunning on surround sound and other fancy audiophile and home theater setups. 

Not only does this give the player something to see and hear while the device is loading it's operating system and booting up. It also gives the gives the manufacturer a chance to show off the hardware's capabilities, and provides a branding opportunity with the prominent and recognizable sights and sounds that players see countless times. When you heard that jingle or tune from the other room you knew instantly that it was time to grab a controller and show your friends or siblings whose virtual racing skills were supreme. 

Game Console Examples

If you don't happen to still have your favorite console, or you just want to branch out and experience some that you may have missed, YouTube has several videos that have archived them. Here is one such video that contains all console startup screens from 1977 to 2020. In the video description there are timestamp links that are handy if you're looking for a specific console.

Mac Examples

Personal computers also have a rich history of startup screens and sounds. You can observe the design philosophy evolve over the years at Apple by looking at all of their many iconic startup screens. From the hypercard stylized welcome messages, through blue overlaid smiling faces, and onto the minimalist logo and progress bar of today. Here are some videos containing the mac startups.

Mac Startup Screens

Mac Startup Chimes

Former software architect at Apple, Jim Reekes told the story of the iconic Mac chime in this piece from Business Insider.

Windows Examples

Windows is in a bit of a different ballpark because it most typically runs on hardware manufactured by 3rd parties. The BIOS is the first thing that runs, it is often accompanied by a splash screen with a logo or basic animation. But motherboard manufacturers and their software teams and partners are a little less focused on branding and flashy first impressions. These screens are often just a logo and if your lucky a reminder of which keys to press to enter various non-default boot up modes. 

After the BIOS does it's thing and launches Windows is when we get to the windows loading and startup screens which are more akin to the game console, and Mac ones discussed above. Here is a video showing the the different variations of Windows startup screens over the years.

Games Apps & Beyond

Game and program developers have to contend with the same issue of needing to load various things when they are first getting started, so it's common for them to have their own startup screens as well. While they may not get seen and heard as frequently as the console or computer system ones they still get plenty enough repetition to be instantly recognizable and bring back nostalgic memories for those that experienced them during formative times. 

Mobile apps evolved the same concept into splash screens which often show app or developer icons and branding first thing when the app is launched. They serve the same purpose of occupying a bit of time to distract the user from the fact that relatively boring loading of assets needed by the app is taking place.

Some devices incorporate interaction and Easter eggs into the startup screen as well. The Nintendo Gamecube startup has a fun animation of a cube rolling around in 3D to greate the Gamecube logo. If certain buttons are pressed on the controller it will change the sound effects played during the startup animation. Nintendo has also carried this fun tradition forward with the brand new Switch 2 console allowing players to access a few variations of the Gamecube startup screen if they hold the joystick or other buttons correctly when launching a Gamecube title on the console.