Accelerated Console-Quality Game Development for Mobile Phones with New Platform from Texas Instruments and Ideaworks3D

Accelerated Console-Quality Game Development for Mobile Phones with New Platform from Texas Instruments and Ideaworks3D

October 23, 2006

Integrated Game Development Platform Based on TI's OMAP(TM) Processor with Ideaworks3D's Airplay(TM) will Bring Gamers New Capabilities

    LONDON, UK AND DALLAS, TEXAS, Oct. 23
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- A new gaming development platform
from Ideaworks3D Ltd, and Texas Instruments Incorporated
(TI) (NYSE: TXN) brings console-quality 3D games to mobile
handsets. With the new gaming platform based on
Ideaworks3D's Airplay(TM) and TI's OMAP2430 processor,
developers will be able to create games targeting a broad
range of mobile handsets. The OMAP Gaming Platform allows
developers and publishers to create a portfolio of mobile
games tied to new handset releases with significantly
reduced time and monetary investments.
 
    The combined solution from TI and Ideaworks3D changes
the current mobile gaming development process by allowing
developers to create one game which runs on leading open
operating systems, including Symbian OS(TM), Linux(R) and
Windows Mobile(R). As part of this effort, Ideaworks3D will
optimize and integrate its industry leading Airplay game
software development kit (SDK) for TI's OMAP2430 processor
which benefits TI's extensive OMAP(TM) ecosystem of leading
game publishers and developers, serving handset
manufacturers and mobile operators worldwide. 

    "The case for next generation mobile games rests
on the ability of our industry to provide integrated tools
and platforms that help developers diffuse their content
across the widest range of mobile phones, without
sacrificing game performance along the way," said Alex
Caccia, CEO, Ideaworks3D. "By joining forces, TI and
Ideaworks3D can now offer a fully integrated software and
hardware environment that provides the optimal launch pad
for tomorrow's killer mobile games."

    TI's OMAP2430 processor integrates advanced 3D graphics
hardware acceleration enabling mobile game developers to
extract new levels of performance and enhance the game-play
experience.  The new OMAP Gaming Platform with Ideaworks3D
allows developers to take full advantage of the powerful 3D
graphics capabilities of the OMAP architectures for popular
mobile operating systems. 

    "Mobile games are starting to emerge as a killer
app with some analysts reporting as much as 66 percent
revenue growth for the mobile gaming industry quarter over
quarter," said Richard Kerslake, worldwide general
manager for TI's 3G and OMAP processors business unit.
"The OMAP Gaming Platform with Ideaworks3D
demonstrates TI's commitment to provide developers with
powerful tools for creating content that unleashes the
capabilities of the OMAP entertainment architecture,
including cool games for consumers who want gaming on the
go." 

    TI's Mobile Gaming Development Platform

    TI's OMAP2430 processor-based mobile gaming platform is
a complete hardware and software package that will enable
developers to optimize performance-, timing- and
memory-related design factors early in the game development
process. Using TI's mobile gaming platform, developers will
be able to create the majority of a game before new
handsets are available on the market, enabling prompt
availability of games on new mobile phones as they enter
the market. 

    TI's mobile gaming website provides additional
resources for developers, handset manufacturers and
operators. The site contains information on all of TI's
mobile gaming developments and includes downloadable SDK
and tools, and market and standards information.  Visit
http://www.ti.com/omapgaming to learn more about how TI is
changing the mobile gaming market.

    Airplay: 3rd Generation Game Tools and Middleware

    Ideaworks3D's Airplay is an end-to-end software and
service solution that enables mobile developers and
publishers to create, connect, and deploy high performance
native mobile games across multiple platforms and operating
systems. Airplay, developed for over six years by
Ideaworks3D Labs, is the industry's leading 3rd generation,
commercially battle-tested game SDK, powering more 3D and
connected mobile games than any other middleware solution
in the market.
 
    Designed to speed deployment across multiple software
environments and hardware architectures, Airplay SDK
incorporates Airplay System(TM), a cross-platform
portability technology and run-time execution environment
that delivers binary compatible game code across
ARM(R)-based mobile devices. The resulting game can be
deployed over-the-air to multiple operating systems and
run-time environments without further porting or any
requirement for additional embedded software or resident
game engines on the mobile device. 

    Availability

    The OMAP Gaming Platform, featuring the Ideaworks3D
Airplay 3.0 SDK, is expected to be available in Q1 2007.

    About Ideaworks3D

    Ideaworks3D is a privately held technology and game
development company headquartered in London. Founded in
1998 with a strong Oxford and Cambridge computer science
and electronic engineering pedigree, the company has an
unparalleled track record of creative innovation and
technical leadership in the field of high performance
mobile gaming. Ideaworks3D's Studio is the recipient of
multiple industry accolades including two consecutive BAFTA
Games Awards in 2005 and 2004 for best handheld and mobile
games. More information can be found at
http://www.ideaworks3d.com .

    Texas Instruments - Making Wireless TI is the leading
manufacturer of wireless semiconductors, delivering the
heart of today's wireless technology and building solutions
for tomorrow.  TI provides a breadth of silicon and software
and over 15 years of wireless systems expertise that spans
handsets and base stations for all communications
standards, wireless LAN, Bluetooth, A-GPS, mobile TV and
Ultra Wideband.  TI offers custom to turn-key solutions,
including complete chipsets and reference designs, OMAP
application processors, as well as core digital signal
processor and analog technologies built on advanced
semiconductor processes.  Please visit
http://www.ti.com/wirelesspressroom for additional
information.

    About Texas Instruments

    Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP
and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world
signal processing requirements.  In addition to
Semiconductor, the company includes the Educational &
Productivity Solutions business. TI is headquartered in
Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales
operations in more than 25 countries.

    Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located
on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ti.com .

    Trademarks

    OMAP is a trademark of Texas Instruments. Airplay,
Airplay System and Segundo3D are trademarks of Ideaworks3D
Ltd. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.

    For more information, please contact:

     Alex Wood (Ideaworks3D)		
     Tel:   [phone]	
     Email: [e-mail]

     Marisa Speziale (TI US)		
     Tel:   [phone]	
     Email: [e-mail]

     Daniela Koeppe (TI Europe)	
     Tel:   [phone]	
     Email: [e-mail] 

SOURCE  Texas Instruments Incorporated