Press Release

For Immediate Release

HI CORP. and Bandai Networks deliver new version of 3D rendering engine to manufacturers of NTT DoCoMo 505i Series handsets

HI CORPORATION (head office: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Kazuo Kawabata) and Bandai Networks Co., Ltd. (head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; president: Satoshi Oshita) announced that the companies have supplied the new Version 3 of "Mascot Capsule Engine/Micro3D Edition" to the six manufacturers of NTT DoCoMo 505i series handsets (Fujitsu Ltd.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; NEC Corporation; Panasonic Mobile Communications Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation; and Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan, Inc.) in accordance with license agreements executed between Bandai Networks and the manufacturers. HI and Bandai Networks are jointly promoting this 3D rendering engine.

Mascot Capsule Engine Micro3D Edition Ver. 3 which will be embedded in the 505i series introduces the Z axis to enable rendering of background scenes in 3D, superceding "Mascot Capsule Engine/Micro3D Edition Ver. 2" which was previously embedded in handsets for rendering a single character model in 3D.

The new version enables more detailed, complex, and diverse 3D expressions including the development of two or more models in one scene, and the creation of richer features in character models with texture animation techniques. The 505i series of handsets embedded with Ver. 3 enable users to enjoy vastly advanced, console-class 3D games.

Bandai Networks and HI will jointly develop entertainment content by making full use of the capabilities of this 3D engine, and to launch services successively, timed to the release schedule of the 505i series.

The following are data for supplementary information.

  Engine's work memory varies depending on what kind of 3D data is displayed.

Additional featuers available in Ver.3

Perspective view

Perspective projection Parallel projection

- In contrast to the previous parallel projection, the perspective projection enhances depth and enables motion with a realistic feel.

Lowlevel API

- A basic rendering API is provided. Without rendering a 3D model, the API enables lines, points, and triangular and quadrilateral polygons to be drawn.

Flat color polygon

- Ver3 uses the "Flat Color Polygon" to dispense with UV and BMP for single-color parts. This is why it enables more efficient texture production by reducing BMP, inserting texture, and rendering a higher-definition image where it is desired.

→ Ver.1.2 always requires UV and BMP. → Ver.3 does not require the palette for a single color.

Multiple models

- Two or more 3D models can be placed/presented in one scene.

Multi texture

- One figure can be made up with two or more textures.

Texture animation

- Synchronization of action to texture change enables a character to be rendered with rich expressions.

Texture size 256x256 pixel

- While Ver.1/Ver.2 were a maximum of 128~128 in texture size, Ver.3 increases the palette to 256~256. The flat color and multi texture used together keep data at an efficient size, enabling high-quality texture to be rendered.

Ver1. texture sizeF Fixed at 128x128 Ver2. texture sizeF Under 128x128 Ver3. texture sizeF Under 256x256