Free: Difference between revisions

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In game design, an '''free''' entity/effect/function/whatever is one that does not have any impact on run-time performance at all.
In game design, a '''free''' entity/effect/function/whatever is one that does not have any impact on run-time performance at all.


This is only the case when an operation would be carried out anyway; where rather than ''adding'' data, your actions ''replace'' that which already exists. The best examples of this in Source are static, un-named [[Lighting|lights]] and [[Skybox_(2D)|2D skyboxes]].
This is only the case when an operation would be carried out anyway; where rather than ''adding'' data, your actions ''replace'' that which already exists. The best examples of this in Source are static, un-named [[Lighting|lights]] and [[Skybox_(2D)|2D skyboxes]].

Revision as of 10:20, 11 October 2011

In game design, a free entity/effect/function/whatever is one that does not have any impact on run-time performance at all.

This is only the case when an operation would be carried out anyway; where rather than adding data, your actions replace that which already exists. The best examples of this in Source are static, un-named lights and 2D skyboxes.

See also