Method and apparatus for enhanced graphics rendering in a video game environment

A method for graphics rendering dynamic terrain areas in a gaming environment, the method comprising:

• accessing, via a processor at runtime, a world level map of the gaming environment, wherein the world level map correlates each of multiple locations of the gaming environment with a corresponding dynamic terrain type;
• determining, via the processor, for a given location within the gaming environment, a corresponding dynamic terrain type based on the world level map of the gaming environment;
• storing for a later time, via the processor, where the given location is not proximate a virtual camera, record of marks left on a surface of the given location within the gaming environment by characters within the gaming environment;
• updating, via the processor, where the given location within the gaming environment is subsequently determined to be proximate the virtual camera, a trail map of the given location within the gaming environment, wherein the updating utilizes the stored record, and wherein the updating is based on the determined dynamic terrain type;
• selecting, via the processor, where the given location within the gaming environment is subsequently determined to be proximate the virtual camera, for the given location within the gaming environment, a surface shader based on the determined dynamic terrain type;
• and
• rendering, via the processor, where the given location within the gaming environment is subsequently determined to be proximate the virtual camera, the given location within the gaming environment with the selected surface shader, wherein the rendering includes a depiction of the trail map, and wherein the given location within the gaming environment is rendered with a first surface shader where the world level map specifies a first dynamic terrain type for the given location, and wherein the given location within the gaming environment is rendered with a second surface shader where the world level map specifies a second dynamic terrain type for the given location.