While looking for a, I2C-based LED driver for my Tetris game, I came across this part at Digi-Key: [TCA62724FMGC It provides 16 PWM steps per color, resulting in 4096 total colors. It has a current range of 5 to 150 mA, set via an external resistor and connects via an I2C bus. The only downsides that I can see to this are that 1.) it has a static address, and thus only one chip per bus (could be reading this wrong through) and 2.) it only comes in a SMD package. Still, it would allow for a relatively low component count to control the RGB LEDs.](Electronic Components and Parts Search | DigiKey Electronics)
While it appears relatively inexpensive, it only manages 3 channels, i.e. one RGB LED. It is intended for the cell phone backlight/flash control. You would need one for each pixel of your game. Now it is becoming much more expensive than the Maxim chips.
muntron:
While it appears relatively inexpensive, it only manages 3 channels, i.e. one RGB LED. It is intended for the cell phone backlight/flash control. You would need one for each pixel of your game. Now it is becoming much more expensive than the Maxim chips.
What Maxim chips?