Game Center is an online multiplayer social gaming network released by Apple.^[3][4] It allows users to invite friends to play a game, start a multiplayer game through matchmaking, track their achievements, and compare their high scores on a leader board.^[3] Game Center was originally announced on April 8, 2010, and became publicly available with the release of iOS 4 on September 8 of that year. With a major update to the service in October 2011, it is officially available for iOS devices capable of running iOS 4.2 or later. The service now comes standard with the current iOS.

On February 16, 2012 it was announced by Apple that Game Center would be integrated into the latest version of Mac OS X, Mountain Lion, set for a summer 2012 release.^[5]

History[link]

Gaming became a major part of the iOS platform when Apple launched the App Store on July 10, 2008.^[6] Unlike the console systems that were currently on the market, Apple had no unified multiplayer and social system for their platform. This gap was soon filled by third parties, such as, OpenFeint, Plus+, AGON Online and Scoreloop. These third parties had control over the online gaming environment and with multiple third parties involved, it left a non-unified experience.

Game Center was announced during an iOS 4 preview event hosted by Apple on April 8, 2010. A preview was released to registered Apple developers in August.^[3] It was released on September 8, 2010 with iOS 4.1 on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 2nd generation through 4th generation, and is included with iOS 4.2 on the iPad.^[7]

An updated version of Game Center was released with iOS 5 that featured the addition of turn based gaming, player photos, friend suggestions, and achievement points.^[8]

Features[link]

From within Game Center, players can connect with friends, send friend requests, start playing games and organize online multiplayer games. Some games may feature achievements, where for completing a certain task, the player is rewarded points. Depending on the game, a leader board may be present where a player can compare his or her score with friends or the world.^[9]

Some iOS games are connected to Game Center, but not all of them feature multiplayer play.

User information[link]

Nickname[link]

A nickname is the player's username on Game Center. Nicknames must be unique, but are allowed to be changed by the player in account settings at any time.^[10][11] A nickname can be used as a search term for a player when another player is performing a Game Center friend search.

Apple ID[link]

A player must establish an Apple ID to associate with a Game Center nickname. A player has the option to create an Apple ID from within Game Center if he or she does not already have one. Only one nickname may be associated with an Apple ID at any given time.

Points[link]

Points are awarded to players as a part of Game Center's achievement tracking system. Players can earn points by meeting specific in-game challenges.

Profile[link]

Each player is assigned a profile in Game Center. A profile consists of the player's nickname, the number of Game Center-compatible games the player owns, the number of friends the player has, the number of achievement points a player has, and an optional photo and player-defined status.

Devices[link]

Game Center on iOS is supported on iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad running iOS 4.1 or later. The devices that can run iOS 4.1 are iPod Touch 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation; iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S;,both models of the iPad and OS X Mountain Lion ^[9]

There is no support for the iPhone 3G and original iPhone. However, Game Center is unofficially available on the iPhone 3G via jailbreaking.^[12] The developer preview of OS X Mountain Lion includes Game Center and will also be included in the official release.^[13]

See also[link]

• Social network game, online games played through social networks.

References[link]

v t e iPhone Generations Original 3G 3GS 4 4S Features iBooks iBookstore iCloud iTunes Store iMovie iMessage iPod (Music) Mail Maps Safari (versions) Siri Spotlight SpringBoard Newsstand Find My Friends App Store Game Center iAd Push Notifications Cards FaceTime Notification Center YouTube Supporting software Cocoa Touch Core Animation iOS (version history) iTunes SDK VoiceOver WebKit Discontinued MobileMe Accessories Bumper Dock connector Earbuds 300-page bill FairPlay History iFund Jailbreaking

v t e Apple Inc. History Outline Founders Steve Jobs Steve Wozniak Ronald Wayne Board of directors Current Bill Campbell Millard Drexler Al Gore Tim Cook (CEO) Andrea Jung Arthur D. Levinson (Chairman) Ronald Sugar Bob Iger Former Jerry York Executives Current Tim Cook Eddy Cue Scott Forstall Jonathan Ive Bob Mansfield Peter Oppenheimer Phil Schiller Bruce Sewell Jeff Williams John Browett Former Ron Johnson Mark Papermaster Bertrand Serlet Sina Tamaddon Hardware products Apple TV iPad Original 2 3rd iPhone Original 3G 3GS 4 4S iPod Classic Nano Shuffle Touch Mac iMac MacBook MacBook Air MacBook Pro Mini Pro Discontinued products Accessories AirPort Thunderbolt Display iPod accessories Mighty Mouse Magic Mouse Magic Trackpad Keyboard Time Capsule Software products Aperture Bento FileMaker Pro Final Cut Studio GarageBand iLife iOS iTunes iWork Logic Studio Mac OS X Server QuickTime Safari Xsan Stores and services Developer AppleCare Apple Specialist Apple Store online App Store Certifications Game Center iAd Genius Bar iBookstore iTunes Store Mac App Store iWork.com MobileMe iCloud One to One ProCare Companies Braeburn Capital FileMaker Inc. Acquisitions Emagic FingerWorks Intrinsity Lala NeXT Nothing Real P.A. Semi Silicon Color Siri Spruce Technologies Related Advertising 1984 Think Different Get a Mac iPods Slogans Design IDg Typography History Community Criticism Litigation Book Category Portal Project Commons Template