1. A computing system networked in a computer networking environment that includes a plurality of computing systems, the computing system comprising: at least one processor; and a memory having stored computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, implement a method for rapidly launching a virtual software application using on-demand file staging, wherein the method includes: an act of accessing a high-level file listing that includes a list of specified high-level data files and directories that are part of a virtual application package; an act of receiving an indication that the virtual application is to be accessed; an act of dynamically creating sparse data files for data files that are to be accessed based on the received indication, the sparse files including file names and file sizes for those data files that are to be accessed, data corresponding to the sparse data files being stored in a data store; and upon determining that the virtual application is attempting to access one or more of the sparse data files, an act of dynamically obtaining the data corresponding to the sparse data files on demand from the data store.