This really refers to improving efficiency or performance.
This really refers to improving efficiency or performance.
The article likely covers what optimization truly means in gaming, referencing examples like Dying Light. It touches on different technologies such as DirectX 12 and Vulkan, while summarizing the broader concept of optimization.
In general software creation "poorly optimized" refers to a situation where a developer, for any reason, selected an inefficient way to implement code, resulting in higher resource usage than necessary. These situations can arise from various causes and aren't inherently negative: sometimes the code only needs to execute once (like a script converting an old file), there may be time pressure (when deadlines force shortcuts), or the developer might simply be careless without a valid justification.
Consider scenarios where a single piece of code performs well on one system but struggles on another, requiring you to maintain compatibility across different environments.
Generally, game optimisation focuses on lowering graphics quality through several methods. Console games often sacrifice detail by: - Lowering resolution and upscaling to HD. - Using simpler ambient occlusion techniques like SSAO instead of more complex HDAO. - Employing cheaper anti-aliasing such as FXAA rather than MSAA. - Applying deferred rendering to handle more lights but limiting hardware capabilities like MSAA. - Rendering shadow maps at a much lower resolution. - Reducing quality in light shafts, particle effects, and lighting. - Decreasing tessellation which affects model clarity. This is essentially the usual trade-off in games—making graphics look less sharp. Occasionally developers tweak algorithms to improve performance, but the outcome remains similar. When players ask for optimization, they usually expect lower visual fidelity rather than a polished experience. Some titles appear to cut performance too much, making their visuals look less smooth without necessarily improving the underlying rendering quality. Adjusting post-processing settings can help, but overall results tend to be noticeably lower.