3D modelers optimize mobile game models by reducing polygon counts, simplifying textures, and adjusting geometry to meet mobile hardware constraints.
Key techniques include: - **Polygon decimation**: Removing redundant polygons to lower vertex count, as mobile GPUs handle fewer polygons efficiently. - **Texture compression**: Using formats like ASTC or ETC2 to reduce texture file sizes without significant quality loss, saving memory. - **LOD (Level of Detail)**: Creating multiple model versions with varying detail; distant models use lower-poly versions to reduce rendering load.
These steps balance visual quality and performance, ensuring smooth gameplay on devices with limited processing power and memory.