Graphics rendering apparatus and method

Abstract

A graphics rendering apparatus, comprising: a first receiving unit configured to receive mesh data comprising a mesh that defines a geometry of a virtual element that is comprised within a virtual environment of a video game; a second receiving unit configured to receive one or more input signals; an animation unit configured to cause the virtual element to perform a given predefined action in response to one or more of the input signals; a determination unit configured to determine whether the virtual element has performed the given predefined action at least a threshold number of times; an identification unit configured to identify one or more predefined mesh deformations associated with the given predefined action if the virtual element has performed the given predefined action at least the threshold number of times; a deformation unit configured to deform one or more subsets of the mesh in accordance with one or more of the predefined mesh deformations, and at least in part thereby generate subsequent mesh data comprising a subsequent mesh that defines a subsequent geometry of the virtual element; and a rendering unit configured to render the virtual element based on the subsequent mesh data.