Japanese middleware provider Hi Corporation has announced the iPhone-optimised version of its mobile game engine MascotCapsule was used in the production of Capcom's Resident Evil 4: Mobile Edition.

The game was well reviewed and is currently in the US App Store Top 50.

Named MascotCapsule eruption, the new technology uses the OpenGL ES 1.0 and 1.1 rendering standards.

Compared to previous versions of MascotCapsule, such as V4 and V3, developers using eruption to make iPhone games can take full advantage of the device's 3D hardware to boost the graphical look and framerate of their games.

For example, MascotCapsule V4 includes a 3D software rendering path to support feature phones that don't have dedicated 3D hardware, while MascotCapsule V3 has a software-only renderer so doesn't support 3D hardware at all.

Hi Corporation claims the MascotCapsule family are the leading technology in Japan. Globally, MascotCapsule engines have been embedded in over 500 million units.

The engine technology market for making iPhone and iPod touch games is getting more competitive however. Rival companies include Danish outfit Unity with its Unity 3D engine, and UK-based Ideaworks3D with Airplay.

You can find out more about MascotCapsule at Hi Corp's English website.