Android 2.x Devices Getting OpenGL ES
Google's new Android Native Developer Kit supports OpenGL ES 2.0.
I must confess: I love my new Motorola Droid. My wife isn't quite so hip to the new union, calling the device my new "mistress." Indeed, I've spent quite a bit of time getting acquainted with the sexy new smartphone and virtually "moving in," trying to find the right apps that help me through the day on and off the PC.
But in the last few weeks of this relationship, I've come to discover that there's not much to be said in the gaming department save for a few gems like Mystique, Raging Thunder, and Speed Forge. But that may change thanks to the third version of Google's Android Native Developer Kit (NDK), released Monday.
According to Android programmer David Turner in a blog post, applications targeting Android 2.0 or higher can now directly access Open ES 2.0 features. "This brings the ability to control graphics rendering through vertex and fragment shader programs, using the GLSL shading language," the blog states.
The Apple iPhone 3GS also supports OpenGL ES.
The new support won't only apply to game development: other apps such as Mozilla's Firefox for Android will make full use of Open GL ES. "We're planning on switching our rendering on Android to go through an OpenGL path soon, and full ES 2.0 support will allow us to accelerate that even more," Mozilla told CNET.
On another note, Quake III Arena and Quake 2 simply rock on the Droid.
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You dropped the iPhone? I think that's bigger news than select Android devices catching up to the iPhone and the Palm Pre.
I hope they make porting the iPhone games over as easy as Palm is doing with it's PDK. More games on more phones, yay!
"On another note, Quake III Arena and Quake 2 simply rock on the Droid."
No they don't!
If a quaker wrote that he should be ashamed of himself, quake is for PC only and requires expensive/pro gaming gear mice/pads/keyboard. If a noob wrote that, please play quake for about 5 years until you can rocket jump until it's easier than taking a walk just learn what that game is about.
Quake on any mobile device is just a gimmick. I'm an old gamer that has played all version of quake. Quake is a "PC" game by definition. It's all about reflexes, skill, movement and aim, also called: "deathmach".
"On another note, Quake III Arena and Quake 2 simply rock on the Droid."No they don't!If a quaker wrote that he should be ashamed of himself, quake is for PC only and requires expensive/pro gaming gear mice/pads/keyboard. If a noob wrote that, please play quake for about 5 years until you can rocket jump until it's easier than taking a walk just learn what that game is about.Quake on any mobile device is just a gimmick. I'm an old gamer that has played all version of quake. Quake is a "PC" game by definition. It's all about reflexes, skill, movement and aim, also called: "deathmach".
Agreed. However, for killing boredom on a long trip having Quake with some bots should be fin
wow, someone is taking quake waayyy too seriously. its a gimmick, but its fun and it fits in your pocket... that sounds wierd.
About freaking time they added OGL ES 2.0 support to their native dev kit. Now maybe we'll start seeing some more real killer apps - games!
Man, everyone talking about iphones and droids stuff not having some features but really you should look for people like me who have a phone which doesnt even support flash player
just be happy with your phone
My Droid still has so many things it can do that I haven't found out about yet! I would really like to see a flash player but that has been a discussion on the Iphone forums for years now, i wont hold my breath! As for the OpenGL I think people will install a cool game or two but only for showing off what the phone can do, nobody plays phone based games for any long period of time, just for eye candy!
The home run derby game is awesome. You should try it.
Agreed. However, for killing boredom on a long trip having Quake with some bots should be fin
Shut your pie-hole, I too have played these games from their inception as a genre and I enjoy playing Q3 Arena on my Droid. It's a great way to kill time waiting at the docs office or a million other places I have to wait. So get over yourself, your purist BS, and think about something beyond your narrow view of what these games can be.
Ha, I didn't know games were still popular on phones (other than the iPhone). Anyone who has unlimited internet on their phones tends to browse the web in 'free time' than play games. Myself included...