PGC asks a few questions to RayLight Studios, developers of the amazing BlueRoses polygon engine for GBA.
Note: RayLight is based in Italy. Their answers were slightly edited for clarity.
Planet GameCube: What games are you currently developing with BlueRoses?
RayLight: We'll announce them very soon, actually we're going through different games.
PGC: Are you planning to license the BlueRoses technology to other developers?
RL: Actually we do not want to license the technology, but we want to use it to offer the next generation of GBA games to the player.
PGC: When do you believe that this technology will be available to the consumer in a final product?
RL: By the end of this year we'll see the first games based on this technology.
PGC: What have been the most challenging limitations in regards to this technology?
RL: The main lack is the speed of memory access on the AGB and no support of any hardware features for doing 3D. All is done in software, taking care of each line of assembly code to get the best from the little machine.
PGC: Will a 3D game using BlueRoses take up more cartridge space than a 2D game?
RL: Absolutely not, it's the exact opposite. Doing 3d all is computed in real-time, so on the cartridge are "just" stored geometry data information and textures. To give you some numbers: the ratio of space in the cartridge in some can even reach 1:50 compared to a 2d with pre-rendered animated sprites.
PGC: Have you received any responses to BlueRoses from Nintendo and third-party publishers?
RL: Yes, we get a lot of interest from publishers; they're quite impressed with the technology and sometimes they do not believe, but we'll show it running on GBA at E3. This technology has a lot of potential and is growing day after day.
PGC: How can developers ensure decent 3D control with GBA's limited (and digital) buttons?
RL: Great control is not limited to the number of buttons you're using or if you've got a digital joypad. I think great control is something fun and something that allows the player to enjoy the game at its best!
PGC: What aspect of BlueRoses do you consider the most exciting?
RL: Hey, it's true 3D texture mapped... all in 3d!!! :-)
PGC: Thank you very much for your time!
