Why Smooth Games Depend on Frame Timing
Why Smooth Games Depend on Frame Timing
A high frame-rate average can hide interruptions that are easy to see during a camera pan.
The display presents a series of frames over time. If one frame takes much longer to render than its neighbors, movement can appear to pause and jump even when the average rate remains high.
Shader compilation, asset streaming and a busy processor can all create spikes. A frame-time trace can show whether the interruptions happen during new scenes or continue throughout play.
Test a repeatable sequence that includes motion and a scene transition. The shape of the trace and the feel of the controls tell more about smoothness than the average alone.
