In every interview I've had with anyone from the iPhone social gaming network companies over the past 12 months, my default question has been, so what happens when Apple does this in the next iPhone OS?
Everyone's laughed it off, talking about how they talk to Apple regularly, perhaps even suggesting that should such a thing happen, they'd be the company Apple bought to make it happen.
Well, now it's happened.
Cut off at the knees?
In the preview of the iPhone 4.0 OS SDK, Apple CEO Steve Jobs revealed its social gaming platform Game Center.
Including features such as matchmaking, leaderboards, achievements and friends invitations, what's crucial is that these will be available to all iPad, iPhone and iPod touch developers, and hence integrated into all products.
Significant for players will be the unified log-in system, which means you'll be able to hook up with all your friends who play iDevice games without worrying about what their user name is for each networks.
Where this leaves the likes of OpenFeint, Scoreloop, Plus+, Agon Online and Chillingo's Crystal remains less clear however.
Scoreloop is already touting its cross-platform abilities with support for Facebook, MySpace and Android, while Plus+ and OpenFeint (through its OpenFeint X tech) are becoming MMOG platforms, offering many advanced features that won't be covered by Game Center.
Hence, ironically, Game Center might be the best thing that ever happened to these companies, providing them with a unified base layer to build on and the incentive to specialise in other areas.
News
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
Jun 11th, 2024
King and Flexion partner to bring Candy Crush Saga to App Gallery and more alternative app stores
Feature
Jun 11th, 2024
Mobile Mavens: Are today's everlasting, live ops games holding back new innovation?
Feature
Jun 11th, 2024
The key takeaway from Apple's AI-laden WWDC keynote? It's time to buy a new iPhone
Events
Tribeca Games Festival 2024 | North America | Jun 5th |
Steam Next Fest: June 2024 Edition | Jun 10th | |
WN Conference Istanbul 2024 | Jun 11th | |
GamesForum Hamburg 2024 | Europe | Jun 11th |
ESI London 2024 | Europe | Jun 13th |
Game Con Canada (GCC) 2024 | North America | Jun 14th |
Indie Dev Play 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |
DevGAMM Vilnius 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |
Popular Stories
Interview
Jun 5th, 2024
A galaxy far, far away… Why Star Wars: Hunters took six years to hit the target
Interview
Jun 7th, 2024