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Evolution of 3D mobile games development

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Abstract

3D computer graphics have been an important feature in games development since it was first introduced in the early 80s and there is no doubt that 3D based content is often viewed as more attractive in games than the more abstract 2D graphics. Many games publishers are keen to leverage their success in the console market into the mobile phone platform. However, the resource constraints of mobile phones and the fragmented nature of the environment present considerable challenges for games developers. In this paper we consider some of the current constraints together with current and, probable, future developments both in the software and hardware of mobile phones. As part of this process we benchmark some of the latest and most prevalent software and hardware devices to ascertain both the quality of the graphics produced and the effects upon battery life. Whilst our test results highlight that the current market does indeed present challenges, our research into the future developments highlights the fact we are approaching greater standardization, which will be an important factor for the successful development of 3D mobile games.

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Notes

  1. Rendering is the process of generating an image from a 3D model by means of a software program.

  2. OpenGL (open graphics library) is a standard specification defining a cross-language cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 3D computer graphics.

  3. DirectX is a collection of APIs for handling tasks related to game programming on the Microsoft Windows operating system.

  4. Savaje is a relatively new fully featured native Java OS.

  5. A DLL is a file containing executable code and data bound to a program at load time or run time. Several applications can share the code and data in a dynamic link library simultaneously.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the support of Nokia in providing hardware and software to the Mobile Radicals research group in Infolab21 at Lancaster University, upon which much of this research was implemented and tested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Informatics Group, Infolab21, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4WA, UK

    Fadi Chehimi, Paul Coulton & Reuben Edwards

Authors
  1. Fadi Chehimi
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  2. Paul Coulton
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  3. Reuben Edwards
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fadi Chehimi.

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Chehimi, F., Coulton, P. & Edwards, R. Evolution of 3D mobile games development. Pers Ubiquit Comput 12, 19–25 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-006-0129-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-006-0129-9

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