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One of the early companies focusing on Mobile Phones was Fathammer. Initially they started out with a ports of Doom engine based classics; now seem to have a nice collection. I believe the stronger driver of applications on phone platforms is the phone hardware. Java 3D API is one more trial at luring in more applications by providing easy-to-use API. But even if Handspring and Palm were to provide 3D programming API for their Treo series (or anyone else does likewise), it still depends on the hardware. Things one would be bothered about would be battery times and audio which actually adds on to gaming experience (and already no one wants to hear loud ringtones everywhere!)

Nokia airs an ad in India which almost drives in a message saying "phones are for talking" while showing a model with a vidcam and video playback. I wonder how many people find time to use the "other" applications on the phone apart from a PIM (Phonebook/Calendar). Further, with 3D games what about an added issue of people getting something akin to Doom Induced Motion Sickness(DIMS)? I have found controls for a 3D game (on my Treo) pretty difficult to use for a 3D racer game, which kind of kills the experience. I wonder how many people play 3D games on their phones comfortably, and where they get them from!

"The standard Symbian package does not include OpenGL."

And neither does the N-Gage. The 3D-games on the N-Gage are all using software-renderers like f.eks. Fathammer's X-Forge engine.

The N-Gage is simply a standard Series60-phone,(exept that it lacks a camera, and have stereo sound and FM-Radio instead) with a different key layout.

New mobile entertainment platform based on the Palm OS, enhanced with advanced gaming and entertainment features

Fathammer X-Forge 3D Game Engine
Fathammer X-Forge Core APIs

oh, and bad form I know, but it looks like Nokia got RJ Mical, father of the Lynx on camera, and his current company is developing 3D toolkits for mobile systems.. Amigaheads might also recognize the name..

You all seem to forget that this is aimed at things less powerful than the Sharp Zaurus, I've never seen such wonderdul graphics on a Gameboy Advance or a mobile phone before, the pictures at the bottom of this page look pretty damn good to me!

You should check out Fathammer. I've seen these people on various places on the net and their engine looks pretty cool.

In fact you'll notice from some screenshots that this is the engine used in some of the games that the article talks about

You should check out Fathammer. I've seen these people on various places on the net and their engine looks pretty cool.

In fact you'll notice from some screenshots that this is the engine used in some of the games that the article talks about

Fathammer optimizes X-Forge mobile game engine for intel® strongarm* and intel® xscale(TM) microarchitecture

emphasis mine

Someone already mentioned Amiga's take on the mobile gaming platform. But I predict it won't succeed. This, however, I think will: Fathammer Ltd.'s X-Forge gaming engine. Take a look at those iPaq screen shots on their page.

I heard, that when Fathammer's boys went over to Intel and demonstrated what their engine can do with a "simple" 206 MHz processor, the Intel guys' jaws dropped on the table! They just couldn't believe that this was possible! After the initial shock, I believe dollar signs were seen rolling by these guys' eyes.. :)

Always told you, ex-democoders are good when it comes to optimizing and cheating in graphical routines..