While much of the focus of Apple's Game Center announcement concerned the impact on the current providers of social gaming networks, it will be interesting to see how it integrates with related programs.
One such is Canadian developer IUGO, which has its own friends' service IUGO VIP.
According to its biz dev director Sarah Thomson, Game Center won't have a negative impact. Rather it will enhance it.
"We're excited about the introduction of Apple's new Game Center network. We wish it had done this a year ago," she says.
"Our program offers a loyalty referral system that's quite different to the features of Game Center. We'll most likely find a way to merge and combine the two for our users' convenience."
Change of habits
With the exact details of how Gamer Center will work still to be released - it's not due live until the autumn - the ability of companies to migrate existing services over to it, and build on top of it, is likely to be vital in terms of how useful the Apple-created social platform is in the longterm.
Thomson says there's likely to be a transition period.
"The potential of Game Center for iPhone gaming, and mobile gaming as a whole, is huge but I think it will take some time for people to integrate its use into their everyday mobile habits," she explains.
"It will happen though. A unified social network is the way to go. It's been done before on other platforms and it works. We're glad to see Apple has made gaming a priority for iDevices."
You can find out more about IUGO's VIP program here.
Interview
Contributing Editor
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.
Top Stories
News
5 hours, 42 minutes ago
Subway Surfers Classic update set to take players back to the game's origins
News
5 hours, 42 minutes ago
A third of developers implementing new payment options in face of Digital Markets Act’s $18 billion opportunity
News
6 hours, 12 minutes ago
More Xbox cutbacks hit ZeniMax with only Microsoft’s mobile ventures now unscathed
News
7 hours, 42 minutes ago
Chinese publisher iDreamSky opens office in Riyadh for first international expansion
News
5 hours, 42 minutes ago
A third of developers implementing new payment options in face of Digital Markets Act’s $18 billion opportunity
Feature
May 7th, 2024
Mobile Mavens: The industry has its say on Squad Busters ability to draw in “untapped audiences” with its “influence from a range of genres”
Feature
May 7th, 2024
Hot Five: Supercell’s Squad Busters supremacy, Brawl Stars bounces back, and a games industry journey at King
Events
Valencia Indie Summit 2024 | Europe | May 16th |
Digital Dragons | Europe | May 19th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Israel Mobile Summit 2024 | Middle East | Jun 6th |
Future Games Show 2024 | Jun 8th | |
PC Gaming Show 2024 | Jun 9th | |
WN Conference Istanbul 2024 | Jun 11th | |
DevGAMM Vilnius 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |