Loadinloadout

Loadinloadout is a term used in video game development to describe a mechanism for defining and loading a character's equipment and abilities during the load-in phase of a level. The term combines load-in, the process of preparing a level's assets, with loadout, the set of gear a player can use, to emphasize that the loadout is established before gameplay begins.

Purpose and scope: The main goal is to prefetch assets, configure gameplay options, and ensure consistent state across players or sessions. A loadinloadout is usually specified in data files or level scripts and linked to a level, spawn point, or character class. When the level starts, the game loads the specified assets (weapons, attachments, armor, power-ups) and applies the loadout to the player's avatar, sometimes after a brief loading screen.

Implementation: Typical implementations use data-driven definitions (JSON, XML, or scriptable data) and asset libraries. The loadout may include constraints such as ammunition counts, cooldowns, and available cosmetic options. In multiplayer games, the loadinloadout must be synchronized across clients to avoid discrepancies.

Variants and usage: Static loadouts fix the equipment for a level, while dynamic loadouts can adapt based on game state or player progress. Some games support per-class or per-team templates, with overrides for special events or difficulty levels.

Considerations: Benefits include reduced runtime stutter, predictable performance, and streamlined balancing. Trade-offs include longer initial load times and higher memory usage, as well as added complexity for versioning and debugging.

See also: Loadout system, Asset streaming, Level loading.