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Mobile 3d Graphics Api





GOALS OF M3G


M3G was designed to meet the specific needs of mobile devices, which are constrained in terms of memory, memory bandwidth, and processing power, and which often lack an FPU and graphics acceleration hardware such as a GPU . The API's architecture allows it to be implemented completely in Software or to take advantage of any acceleration hardware present on the device.


M3G IS NOT JAVA 3D


M3G should not be mistaken for Java 3D , which extends the capabilities of the Standard Java Platform . Java 3D is designed for PCs that have more memory and greater processing power than mobile devices. M3G and Java 3D are two separate and incompatible APIs designed for different purposes.


IMMEDIATE AND RETAINED MODES


M3G provides two ways for developers to draw 3D graphics: ''immediate mode'' and ''retained mode''. In immediate mode, graphics commands are issued directly into the graphics pipeline and the rendering engine executes them immediately. When using this method, the developer must write code that specifically tells the rendering engine what to draw for each Animation Frame . A camera, and set of lights is also associated with the scene, but is not necessarily part of it. In immediate mode it is possible to display single objects, as well as entire scenes (or worlds, with a camera, lights, and background as parts of the scene).

Retained mode always uses a Scene Graph that links all geometric objects in the 3D world in a Tree Structure , and also specifies the camera, lights, and background. Higher-level information about each object — such as its geometric structure, position, and appearance — is retained from frame to frame.


OTHER FEATURES


The M3G standard also specifies a file format for 3D model data, including animation data. This allows developers to create content on PCs that can be loaded by M3G on mobile devices.


FURTHER READING

  • Claus Höfele: ''Mobile 3D Graphics: Learning 3D Graphics with the Java Micro Edition'', Thomson Course Technology PTR, 2007, ISBN 1-59863-292-2

  • Carlos Morales, David Nelson: ''Mobile 3D Game Development: From Start to Market'', Charles River Media, 2007, ISBN 1-58450-512-5



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