>How do games with huge worlds load the landscape?
Divide and conquer!
>Do they have files for it in some sort of array, and when
>the player gets close enough to almost see it, they load a
>small file portion of it?
Put very simply, yes.
>If this is true, then do they not make the entire world on
>one map editor, but make individual parts instead?
It depends on the tool you use. Generally the developer will build their own tools, so that it enables easy editing.
>Also, how do they handle things like - for instance -
>whether or not a secret door is open or an item has been
>taken? With global variables? That seems rather
>inefficient...
Just as you can load data on the fly, you can save data on the fly.
Andy
Divide and conquer!
>Do they have files for it in some sort of array, and when
>the player gets close enough to almost see it, they load a
>small file portion of it?
Put very simply, yes.
>If this is true, then do they not make the entire world on
>one map editor, but make individual parts instead?
It depends on the tool you use. Generally the developer will build their own tools, so that it enables easy editing.
>Also, how do they handle things like - for instance -
>whether or not a secret door is open or an item has been
>taken? With global variables? That seems rather
>inefficient...
Just as you can load data on the fly, you can save data on the fly.
Andy