API puts mobile phone users on the game

TTPCom has developed a new platform it says will deliver an unrivalled gaming experience to all parties in the mobile phone community.

TTPCom has developed a new platform it says will deliver an unrivalled gaming experience to all parties in the mobile phone community - users, games developers, handset manufacturers and network operators.

The Wireless Game Engine (WGE) is an open application programming interface (API) that opens up the entire feature set of a mobile phone to the creativity of games developers, enabling them to create a new generation of wireless games which offer an exciting, rich experience to mobile users.

Gael Rosset, Head of Technology at TTPCom Denmark commented, "For the first time, using WGE, developers will be able to use high quality 3D graphics and sound effects in the development of exciting games for mass market mobile phones".

He continued, "The new engine will bring all the power of 2.5 and 3G networks to wireless gaming - allowing the downloading of new games to the handset, exchange of SMS messages between players and creation of multiuser content and games".

Current game architectures for mobile phones are limited to script language executed on virtual machines, which offer poor performance and require a level of equipment only available on top tier products.

WGE will open up the gaming experience to a truly universal mobile audience.

TTPCom's experience in the development of mobile communications platforms has benefited the WGE project considerably.

The company has drawn on its skills in software and hardware optimisation to integrate better quality graphics in lower cost handsets - giving the user stunning 3D in addition to traditional 2D graphics.

The WGE takes advantage of all available input modes such as keypad, micro-trackballs and touch-screens, so the playing experience is also more dynamic.

Handset manufacturers who license the platform will be able to offer handsets that are truly customisable by the user - enabling them to download games and other applications from third-party developers.

"Not only games but also a very wide range of applications, including those suited to 3G can be enabled with the WGE on our 2.5G technology", said Morten Iversen, Head of TTPCom Denmark.

"WGE is the first step towards an open and safe TTPCom wireless application environment - in the future we will see mobile phones that are truly individual devices, and have been customised by the user".

To complement the handset solution TTPCom offers network servers, where, for example, through the use of WAP applications, games players can download new games, consult their score rankings or interact with other players through multiuser games.

Network operators can integrate WGE servers into their infrastructures and generate traffic through contests, gaming communities and by developing compelling content such as tips and league tables.

For developers the WGE contains game engines for "shoot-'em-up", 3D maze and arcade type games, these can be used as a reference from which more complex games can easily be built; alternatively games developers can port their own engines to the WGE.

The modular design of the WGE allows developers to decide the level of abstraction they want to use and adjust it to their requirements and the clean API provides a platform that is easy to code for.

WGE comes with a complete software development kit, which includes a hardware emulator, a complete toolkit and full documentation, enabling developers to create games for different platforms within a safe environment.

TTPCom is working in partnership with world leaders in games development, service providers, handset manufacturers and network operators.

TTPCom expect WGE enabled handsets to hit the streets early in 2002.

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