Is loading some parts of the map worth it?

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#1

I was wondering, if loading sections of the map only if there is a player there was worth the hassle - Will it be efficient?

Context: There are some interiors to buildings in my game, but there will generally not always be people inside these interiors.

There were a few different ways I was thinking of doing this

  1. Client loads sections as required - sections stored in ReplicatedStorage. If the section is stored in RepStorage, the Client is receiving it at the start anyways, so is it worth loading it like this then?
  2. Server checks if a player enters a specific area, and then loads the interior from ServerStorage into the view

Will this prove useful in loading a detailed map, as the player doesn’t have to deal with parts it won’t be entering (at least for the latter)?

(PS: Not asking on how to do it, just if its worth doing it)

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#2

If you have a large and detailed map with several areas, I would probably pursue sectional loading for the sake of trying to improve performance over anything else. If it’s nothing too big or detailed, I’d just leave it alone and avoid the trouble of trying to make some kind of area loading system.

As far as building interiors go, I don’t do any kind of loading. I like to keep the parts of my maps all connected and for player experience not to be interrupted at all. However, if you teleport players to the interior of a building (sort of like how MeepCity handles their buildings), then I would definitely look into an area loading system relative to the client’s location (load only areas they should be seeing or are within).

#3

Thanks for this insight.
Out of the two options I suggested in the OP, which one would you personally recommend? Or do you have another suggestion altogether?

#4

If you were pursuing this system and had to pick one of the two, I would definitely go with the first one. Considering the system should be completely based on the client, you also want it to have access to everything it needs to accomplish its task. The server should not be involved in area loading - if it needs to be, then very minimally.

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