Graphics rendering apparatus and method

A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium which stores computer software which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform operations comprising:

• receiving mesh data associated with a virtual element within a virtual environment of a video game, the mesh data comprising a geometry of the virtual element that is comprised within a virtual environment of a video game;
• receiving, from a connected device, one or more input signals to control an action of the virtual element;
• causing the virtual element to perform the action using data representative of one or more of the received input signals;
• determining that the virtual element has performed the action at least a threshold number of times;
• in response to determining that the virtual element has performed the action at least the threshold number of times using the data representative of one or more of the received input signals, identifying one or more predefined mesh deformations associated with the action;
• applying, one or more deformations to the received mesh data, using the one or more identified predefined mesh deformations while maintaining connectivity of the received mesh data, wherein the applied deformations to the received mesh data change a geometry of the virtual element;
• and
• rendering the virtual element based on the applied deformations.

A system comprising:

• one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:
• receiving mesh data associated with a virtual element within a virtual environment of a video game, the mesh data comprising a geometry of the virtual element;
• receiving, from a connected device, one or more input signals to control an action of the virtual element;
• causing the virtual element to perform the action using data representative of one or more of the received input signals;
• determining that the virtual element has performed the action at least a threshold number of times;
• in response to determining that the virtual element has performed the action at least the threshold number of times using the data representative of one or more of the received input signals, identifying one or more predefined mesh deformations associated with the action;
• applying, one or more deformations to the received mesh data, using the one or more identified predefined mesh deformations while maintaining connectivity of the received mesh data, wherein the applied deformations to the received mesh data change a geometry of the virtual element;
• and
• rendering the virtual element based on the applied deformations.