Quake, back in the late 90s, would preload assets for all entities in a level at level load time explicitly to avoid stutter when the entity finally shows up an

Quake, back in the late 90s, would preload assets for all entities in a level at level load time explicitly to avoid stutter when the entity finally shows up and needs to make a noise or whatever. And some games much later didn't. I recall needing to fire off a shot on each new gun I picked up in Far Cry to be sure I wouldn't get a stutter later at a more critical moment.