Nvidia's AndroidWorks Aims To Make Android Development Easier
Nvidia updated its company blog with news that the GameWorks developer toolset has been expanded to Android. Named AndroidWorks and based on the Tegra Android Developer Pack, Android developers now have something other than the Android SDK to create games and other experiences on all Android devices, not just ones based on the Tegra SoC.
"AndroidWorks reduces the complex process of configuring an Android development system down to a single click," the blog said. "It also integrates with Microsoft Visual Studio through Nsight Tegra, Visual Studio edition. So game developers can work in their favorite environment."
Nvidia has tested AndroidWorks on six devices so far including the Nexus Player, the Asus Memopad, the Nexus 6, the Nexus 7 (2013), the Huawei CL-10 and the Galaxy Tab S T800. Note that all devices listed here sport ARM-based processors, save for the Asus Memopad and the Nexus Player, which are based on the x86 architecture.
According to the blog, the first version of AndroidWorks includes Nsight Tegra 3.0, the Tegra Graphics Debugger, the Tegra System Profiler and the PerfKit. Nvidia also mentioned support for multiple APKs, NDK r10d, fast redeploy and the addition of Nvidia's Component Manager for easier upgrades of components and tools.
Nvidia's GameWorks was first introduced back in early 2014. The Android aspect includes the Tegra Android Development Pack, Nsight Tegra Video Studio Edition, the Tegra System Profiler, the Tegra Graphics Debugger, texture tools for Photoshop and the Nvidia PerfHUD ES. In addition to the Android tools, GameWorks also includes sample code, the Core SDK for Nvidia hardware and more.
What this all means for device owners is (presumably) better experiences in both games and standard apps for Android. Nvidia's blog said that the company wants to "unshackle developers from the constraints of the Android software development kit" and "unleash" the full potential of Android hardware with the launch of AndroidWorks.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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ragenalien Nice! This should hopefully increase both the quality of android games and the number of pc to android ports.Reply -
alidan thankfully nvidia has such a low foothold in this market that anyone who uses it would shoot themselves in the footReply -
Shankovich This won't be proprietary like Gameworks will it? Because that would make no sense on the Andriod platformReply -
sbudbud Works on all "vendors"*Reply
*Only fully supported on "Nvidia chips"**
**Only the latest chipset is "compatible"***
*** Nvidia reserves the rights to gimp any and everything related to us without disclosure -
Marcus52 ReplyWorks on all "vendors"*
*Only fully supported on "Nvidia chips"**
**Only the latest chipset is "compatible"***
*** Nvidia reserves the rights to gimp any and everything related to us without disclosure
Wrong.
None of those things were said in the article, and the items tested included ARM products designed by other vendors and even Intel X86.
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alidan Reply15955339 said:Works on all "vendors"*
*Only fully supported on "Nvidia chips"**
**Only the latest chipset is "compatible"***
*** Nvidia reserves the rights to gimp any and everything related to us without disclosure
Wrong.
None of those things were said in the article, and the items tested included ARM products designed by other vendors and even Intel X86.
see gameworks and how it ... i was going to say works, but ill go with "functions" as thats a better way to describe it. -
Crevarius It's not Nvidia's job to make shit work on their competitor's chips. It's their job to make their products more attractive, and this will absolutely accomplish that. What's stopping their competitors from doing the same? Nothing, besides being unwilling to do so. Sounds to me like only one of these companies cares about gaming enough to put in the time and money...Reply