Following the announcement of RIM's social gaming hub Games, Google could be developing a native Android app similar to Apple's Game Center according to a source closely involved in the project.
Google's software will include a social achievement system awarding players to overcoming in-game challenges, as well as leaderboards.
It's also suggested that a friend-finding feature is likely to integrate the company's social network Google+.
Apple's Game Center currently boasts over 67 million users with a guestimated conversion rate of a third of iOS users setting up accounts.
Though third-party solutions such as OpenFeint/GREE and Mobage currently exist for Android developers, Google hopes a Game Center-style service native to Android games will enable more virality, community and discovery.
A bite of the Apple
"They are starting to really understand all of the needs and wants to make a game really successful," said the unnamed source.
"As recently as even a year ago, that really wasn't part of their institutional DNA, But I think they're getting there."
The same source also suggest Google is also looking to imitate Apple in more ways than one by fixing its payments system to run as smoothly as the App Store.
[source: Business Insider]
News
Fresh out of the packaging, Tom joins Pocket Gamer with a chip on his shoulder and a degree in Journalism. Naively, Tom believes there's a star-studded career in video games and has penned words across the internet in between praying to the almighty Nintendo gods.
Related Articles
News
Jun 10th, 2024
Google hit by £13.6 billion lawsuit over alleged "self-preferencing" and anticompetitive behaviour
News
Jun 2nd, 2024
Supercell's Squad Busters goes global and why Steam does discoverability better than mobile | Week in Mobile Games podcast
Top Stories
News
4 hours, 6 minutes ago
King and Flexion partner to bring Candy Crush Saga to App Gallery and more alternative app stores
News
5 hours, 1 minute ago
Zynga’s Game of Thrones: Legends is open for pre-registrations with a July 25th release date
News
5 hours, 35 minutes ago
BBC Studios hires former Bossa Studios CEO Marina Mello as first global director, gaming and interactive
News
6 hours, 16 minutes ago
The top games for downloads are shifting as new stars rise and puzzle games conquer Japan
Feature
7 hours, 23 minutes ago
Mobile Mavens: Are today's everlasting, live ops games holding back new innovation?
Feature
8 hours, 51 minutes ago
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
as
Feature
Jun 3rd, 2024