It’s pretty amazing how much thought is put into title sequences, what thoughts they provoke in the viewer, and how much they have evolved over time. Massive differences can be found between the techniques used for earlier title sequences and more modern ones. Some aspects of change that stood out to me most were the use of color and the length and complexity of the sequence.
The earlier title sequences featured a short-lived title sequence many times utilizing bright, neon flashing colors, drawing the viewers attention to the title itself. The title sequence didn’t seem to serve a massive purpose here, except to reiterate what game is being played and to subtly set a tone or mood for the game. I would describe the earlier title sequences to be noisy, drawing all of the viewers focus to the words, as opposed to graphics.
Over time, as the techniques involved, I noticed a clear implementation of techniques that are used in film. Much heavier emphasis was put on the graphics of the game, and the titles became simpler, many times featuring a white title with crisp typography. The purpose of the title in these later examples drastically changed. With these, the clear purpose of the title sequence is to introduce to viewer to a new virtual world, the characters involved, and the overall feel of the game. It set the tone for the story that the gamer was going to embark on. It focused more on acquainting the gamer than merely presenting the title.
I think the techniques have evolved for the better. Providing the user with a setting and introducing them to a new virtual world instills excitement and a connection with the game. This is certainly true and utilized greatly across other media including movies and TV shows. It serves many purposes including introduction to the characters, time and place of the game. It sets necessary expectations and provides the user with cues for what they are about to experience.