This is exactly games news., however, its is news on something that could be quite important for games in the future. It the first real news on the 3D library that Haage & Partner have been working on called Warp3D. Below is the press release that has been issued by Haage & Partner.
Project Warp3D
The
'Warp3D' (W3D) project is a piece of software that allows applications access to
3D hardware. The software
comes with a driver package (similar to the Picasso96
graphics driver
software) that allows access to any 3D hardware that is
available. Warp3D provides a well-defined interface between
the application and
the driver, implemented as a shared library. This enables every application that
uses the Warp3D-API
to operate on any kind of 3D hardware for which a driver is
available, including 3D hardware that will only become
available in the
future.
We intend to support every 3D hardware for the AMIGA which
means that drivers will be developed as soon as information
on the respective
hardware becomes available.
Warp3D will work on both CyberGFX and
Picasso96 systems and will be available for 68K- as well as PPC-applications.
The PPC version will also be a shared library and can be used by WarpUp
applications.
We wish to stress that W3D is not an OpenGL
implementation (like some rumors suggested). However, Warp3D will allow
OpenGL
implementations to benefit from the 3D hardware acceleration
Currently the OpenGL-compatible 3D graphics library 'StormMESA' is being adapted
to Warp3D and will finally bring
hardware-accelerated OpenGL to the AMIGA. The
StormMESA
implementations (GL, GLU and GLUT) will be provided in the form
of shared libraries.
The combination of PPC, 3D hardware, OpenGL and
a 3D driver package will enable the AMIGA to reach a performance
in
three-dimensional graphics applications that is currently
reserved for PCs
and game consoles.
Planned release: November 1998.
Warp3D will be freely available under the single condition that Warp3D must not be utilized by software that was created illegally by unauthorized persons. Piracy is theft
© 1998 HAAGE & PARTNER Computer - http://www.haage-partner.com