Scoreloop reveals custom integration for social networking

In the increasingly competitive world of iPhone social networking technology, German/US provider Scoreloop has upped the stakes with the announcement of its Core Social and Premium Integration Services.

To date, the standard way to add social networking to an iPhone game has forced gamers to tap an icon which takes them out of the game and into the user interface of whichever social solution the developer has adopted.

The obvious next step is to ensure such features can be accessed seamlessly from within the game and this is what Scoreloop has now enabled for selected partners.

As part of this, the Core Social service will be offered as a white label solution, so developers and publishers can use it without mention of Scoreloop; something CEO Marc Gumpinger says is crucial to drive adoption with the large publishers and media companies who are bringing big brands to the App Store.

"Instead of providing a standalone platform, Core Social allows for integrating as many or as few social features as top tier publishers would like directly into their games," says Gumpinger.

"Publishers can have these features right away - no strings attached - while retaining ownership of their users and their brand experience. In this way publishers don't have to compromise their own plans in this domain and can even licence Core Social as the foundation for their own branded platform."

This can either be carried out by the developer or publisher inhouse, or Scoreloop has set up a dedicated team via its Premium Integration Services.

The first game to use the service was Parachute Panic (right), with developer FDG being Scoreloop's lead beta partner. The game update went live in August.

Thomas Kern of FDG states, "Core Social was our first choice to keep Parachute Panic's unique design experience and integrate valuable social features directly into the game."

Other games that have used the service include Mobilebus' Astro Boy and Happylatte's Pee Monkey Jungle Fire.

To find out more about Scoreloop and the Social Core services - both of which are free - check out its website or follow its Twitterfeed.

Alternatively you can email it at partnerships [at] scoreloop [dot] com.

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17 August 2010 Scoreloop partners with Spring House to serve up cross-platform social gaming

21 July 2010 Good for indie developers, Game Center will be another barrier for publishers says Scoreloop

20 July 2010 Mobile games need to be designed around social interaction says Scoreloop