When Apple launched a speedier version of the iPhone and iPod Touch earlier this year, it opened up the door for game makers to create more advanced titles. The newer hardware is quite a bit speedier than older models both in its processing power, and how much memory it has. It's also capable of running a more advanced graphics API called Open GL ES v2.0 that lets game developers use textures and lighting effects that won't run on older devices that use the v1.1 specification.
Another problem is that the two versions of Open GL ES are incompatible with one another, meaning that game makers either have to make two different versions of their app, or code a single one that includes both in one package. As a result, few have gone through the effort to make this happen.
Most game developers have worked hard to create titles that play well
on both platforms, so as not to keep potential buyers from being able
to purchase their works. There are also some who have begun using some Open GL ES 2.0 effects in their titles, or programmed in certain graphics modes that just don't run that well on older hardware. We've rounded up 13 notable titles that do both. Click through to see them.
Note: All screens were captured on an iPhone 3G and a third-generation iPod Touch, the latter of which is sporting the newer hardware. For the simplicity of these screenshots, we've noted it simply as a 3GS since it's otherwise identical in terms of how the games are rendered.
Photo by CNET
Caption by Josh Lowensohn
