System and method for dynamically loading game software for smooth game play

摘要

A system and method are disclosed for dynamically loading game software for smooth game play. A load boundary associated with a game environment is identified. A position of a character in the game environment is then monitored. Instructions corresponding to a next game environment are loaded into a memory when the character crosses the load boundary, such that game play is not interrupted.

主权项

1. A method for dynamically loading game software, the method comprising:
generating a display of a current game environment, wherein the current game environment is associated with a plurality of next game environments; determining a load time for each of the plurality of next game environments, wherein the next game environments are not yet displayed; identifying in the current game environment a plurality of different load boundaries that are each associated with loading one or more of the plurality of next game environments, wherein the location of each load boundary in the current game environment is based on the load time of the associated next game environment; identifying that a character has crossed a load boundary in the current game environment associated with one of the plurality of next game environments; determining a direction in which the character has crossed the crossed load boundary; identifying one of the next game environments for loading based on the crossed load boundary and the determined direction in which the character has crossed the load boundary, wherein the next game environment associated with the load boundary is identified for loading when the character is determined to have crossed the load boundary moving in a forward direction toward one of the next game environments associated with the load boundary, and a different next game environment is identified for loading when the character is determined to have crossed the load boundary in a backward direction away from the one of the next game environments associated with the crossed load boundary; and loading instructions corresponding to the identified next game environment into a memory prior to the character entering the identified next game environment, loading of the instructions commencing when the character crosses the load boundary in the current game environment in the determined direction such that game play is not interrupted by loading instructions for display of the identified next game environment when the character enters the identified next game environment.