ARM puts 3D console graphics on mobile phones

FABLESS CHIP FIRM ARM, announced new 3D mobile phone graphics software at the Game Developers' Conference in San Francisco today.

ARM suppies middleware that enables 3D graphics to be used in Java games.

The firm reckons the software gives game developers more artistic freedom and control over the visual appearance of their games. This should mean that graphics mobile phones will look similar to those seen on high-end gaming consoles and PCs, ARM says. The firm hopes this will produce games with more personality, despite the limited display size on mobile phones.

Ericsson Mobile Platforms is the lead partner for the new Mali-JSR297 software, bringing what ARM calls console-class gaming to 2009 phones.

Dr. Jon Peddie, of Jon Peddie Research said, "The software will provide game developers with the resources they need to bridge the graphics divide among various gaming platforms. The software and hardware that ARM is now offering mean that mobile graphics will now quickly approach the quality of a dedicated games device."

The Mali-JSR297 software is the latest addition to the Mali graphics stack, an integrated set of hardware and software IP that supports all the graphics standards a device manufacturer needs.

The ARM Mali-JSR297 software will be released immediately following ratification of the JSR297 standard, with pre-release versions available from ARM in Q3 2008. µ