The iPhone 3GS, being the fastest iPhone yet, is also a decent platform for handheld games and it shows through more and more developers flocking towards the lucrative App Store by churning out title after title.This might be good in terms of choice, but when it comes to quality games, it is another question altogether. Could the iPhone 3GS be flooded with shovelware in the end? Time will tell, but at the moment, we do have a new title from Eurocenter that aims to rock iPhone 3GS owners with a game that boasts high quality graphics, known as Adrenaline Golf Online, where it will feature full support for the advanced iPhone 3GS graphic extensions. This means players on the iDevices will be able to see OpenGL shader effects in real time on their device for the first time, where one is able to enjoy highly detailed golf courses and features beautiful water reflection effects throughout the entire game. Some of the environments will include a relaxing beach atmosphere, Amazon forests mirrored in green water, night scenes with a reflected moon and a volcano theme including lava.
The developer has revealed some interesting information about the difficulties of writing an engine that uses the full features of the iPhone and iPod touch. Unlike games on PC or Mac, the iPhone OpenGL ES 2.0 requires the developer to write a completely new engine to utilise the new features. Everything that you know about OpenGL, including camera placement, streaming object vectors and setting up light effects, needs to be rewritten to incorporate the new OpenGL shader programs. On top of that, to not lose compatibility with existing iPhone devices or iPod touch, applications need to actually support two distinct 3D engines. When the game starts, it detects which device it is running on, and chooses the appropriate engine. Besides the stunning graphics, Eurocenter also used its experience in online games to provide a unique gaming experience. In Adrenaline Golf Online, players can compete worldwide against other players, collect stars and send bonuses to other players much like in Mario Kart. Players can compete in 72 completely different courses and play in a realistic 3D environment which features a real-time physics engine to support moving platforms, cannons and other obstacles.
Guess this is yet another reason for one to purchase an iPhone 3GS if portable gaming is their cup of tea. Would you make the jump, or are you the type who would prefer to stick to dedicated handheld consoles instead?