Game Center

The Game Center is a gaming network for iOS devices from Apple and for Apple Macs with OS Mountain Lion.

History

After Apple had introduced the App Store in March 2008, the iPhone and the iPod touch have been through the great selection of games very quickly to " mobile game consoles ." However, there was, in contrast to real games consoles no network for players, such as in the PlayStation to the PlayStation Network or Xbox with Xbox Live.

Some companies like OpenFeint or Plus offered developers of interfaces to which they could embed the games in their own games networks; by the multitude of different networks and interfaces it was confusing for users and also inconvenient to have to log into any network; also were not logged on all networks all friends.

At the launch of iOS 4.0 on April 8, 2010, Apple announced a "social network for games ", which Game Center; it would be " later this year " available. However, all devices are Game Center was not shipped with iOS 4.0, but only with iOS 4.1 on September 8, 2010 Powered. Touch up on the first generation of the iPod and the iPhone, and the iPhone 3G.

Since November 22, 2010 Game Center, along with iOS 4.2 for the iPad available.

At WWDC 2011, Apple announced new features for Game Center in iOS 5.0 on, among other things, user pictures, games and friends suggestions, and support for turn-based games (like Scrabble ).

Since the release of OS X Lion Mountain Game Center is also available on Macs.

Functions

The user logs in with his Apple ID and gives himself a nickname under which it occurs in the Game Center. Each user has a status option, he can change, and a profile image, it can change (similar to the avatars from Xbox Live).

Two key elements that are present in each of the games networks are highscore tables and Achievements ( "achievements "). Each game in the Game Center can have multiple highscore tables (eg for different level or levels of difficulty ); the user can see at which point they are and where their friends are. Achievements can be unlocked in the game when the player does something specific (eg find something or done); sure he gets between 0 and 100 points.

You can add people as friends, either through their nickname or e- mail address. Once they have confirmed the friendship, you can compare them scores and position in the highscores, or invite them to multiplayer games.

Criticism

End of November 2010, Apple changed the terms and conditions (GTC ) of Game Center; in the friend requests, the complete name of the user was sent by default from there. However, you can change the invitation text before sending.

In March 2011, Apple changed the terms and conditions again. In the Friends list from now on the complete name of the user is displayed in addition to the nickname.