Android News
Android games will have better graphics thanks to Android NDK r3
March 8, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka
Android OS
The quality of games on Android has greatly improved on 2.0 devices, and users can count on even more advanced games thanks to the latest release of the Android Native Developer Kit (NDK). The Android NDK can be used to target Android devices with 1.5 or higher, and includes a number of enhancements; however, what’s really exciting is that developers building apps for 2.0 or higher will get “direct access to OpenGL ES 2.0 features” like controlling the way graphics are rendered.
To put it more plainly, the Android NDK r3 gives developers more options to take advantage of an Android device’s powers, especially in the graphics department. Android runs apps created in Java through a virtualization process, but the NDK lets developers build their apps in native code, which is faster and provides higher-quality graphic capabilities. You’ve probably noticed a difference in the speed and quality of graphics on some iPhone games compared to Android, but that gap can be closed with the right talent utilizing the NDK.
Native programming will open Android to more developers who may not be familiar with Java or would prefer to build apps using tools like OpenGL that are already familiar to them. You won’t see any payoffs of this right away, but this is something to look forward to in the near future. It looks like Google released the new NDK just in time for the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.
For now I don't see many android games utilizing hardware acceleration, so most games have bad graphics and can't compete with iphone apps. Hopefully this will change in the future.. My recent post Bebbled
nothing will ever compete with iphone games, even the original ipod nano games put em to shame and i hate to say that but its only my opinion, hopefully we will see a huge change in android apps and games and maybe then they'll compete otherwise the latest android phones would just be a waste of money, the specs are already higher than the iphone yet no games have been made to put apple to shame so why people bother.. i really dont know sorry to say
couldn't disagree more. i met a bunch of devs at I/O and com2us (iphone), gameloft (iphone), and more were able to show off incredible 3D games. the NDK has done wonders for gaming, and on a device like the Evo, it will definitely catchup
yes i've seen one or two of there upcoming improved games but truth be told those games like crusade of destiny are already on the iphone itself lol, i have a htc hero and an ipod touch and to be honest my ipod touch has been my rock when all else seems let me down
Love the games available on Android, however I have a tablet and not an Android phone and the graphics look great on a larger screen. http://freeandroiddownloads.co.cc/