Codeplay Launches Offload 2 Compiler

Author: by Staff

Edinburgh-based technology company Codeplay announced the launch of Offload 2, a new version of its game acceleration and optimization toolkit for PlayStation 3 developers. Offered through several paid licensing options and a free Community edition license, Offload's compiler technology is designed to simplify SPU programming, hide complex APIs, offer easy access to PPU globals from SPU, and generate optimized SPU code for PS3 projects while preserving performance on other platforms. Some of Offload 2.0's additions include a Turbo Memcpy feature that promises to deliver "over 10x speed-up when DMA'ing aligned data", a "dynamic size fast caching system with full control on how big or small cache is for Offload block", and "safe patching of outer PPU pointers to local SPU pointers". "Codeplay’s mission over the last five years has been to address the technical challenges of the game production process," says Codeplay's managing director Andrew Richards. "Working closely with game developers, we have developed supporting technologies that work with developers’ complex code and streamline cross-platform development." Richards continues, "For developers and publishers the benefits are clear - shortened game development times, reduced need for late stage optimization, and the ability to easily manage existing game code over multiple platforms."