Rendering method and system

A computer program comprising computer executable instructions adapted to cause a computer system to perform a method for rendering a virtual environment, the method comprising:

• identifying one or more static elements in the virtual environment;
• determining, for a first frame having a first virtual camera position, a geometry of the static elements in the virtual environment;
• storing the geometry of the static elements for the first frame;
• determining, for a second frame having the first virtual camera position, a geometry of at least part of the virtual environment based, at least in part, on the stored geometry of the static elements for the first frame;
• and
• determining, for the second frame, lighting for the at least part of the virtual environment at least in part based on the geometry of the at least part of the virtual environment determined for the second frame, to render the at least part of the virtual environment.

A system for rendering a virtual environment, the system comprising:

• an identification processor configured to identify one or more static elements in the virtual environment;
• a first geometry processor configured to determine, for a first frame having a first virtual camera position, a geometry of the static elements in the virtual environment;
• a storage processor configured to store the geometry of the static elements for the first frame;
• a second geometry processor configured to determine, for a second frame having the first virtual camera position, a geometry of at least part of the virtual environment based, at least in part, on the stored geometry of the static elements for the first frame;
• and
• a lighting processor configured to determine, for the second frame, lighting for the at least part of the virtual environment at least in part based on the geometry of the at least part of the virtual environment determined for the second frame, to render the at least part of the virtual environment.