Optimizing graphics and rendering
Graphics often consume a significant portion of a game’s performance budget. This section covers optimizing graphical assets and the rendering pipeline in Unity, discussing techniques such as level of detail (LOD), culling, batching, and the use of performance-optimized shaders and materials. Real-world examples, such as implementing a LOD system, provide valuable insights.
LOD and asset optimization
LOD is a technique that’s used to reduce the complexity of 3D models when they are far from the camera, thereby conserving resources while maintaining visual fidelity up close. This method is essential for optimizing performance in games, especially in large, open-world environments.
The following figure shows three versions (LOD0, LOD1 and LOD2) of the same bottle made up of differing numbers of triangles:
Figure 12.3 – Each progressive LOD model has fewer triangles
In the preceding figure, the...
