Apple Confirms Game Center Compatibility: Yes on 2nd-Generation iPod Touch, No on iPhone 3G
Apple has confirmed on its Game Center overview page that the social gaming network will be available for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and second-, third-, and fourth-generation iPod touch models when the feature debuts in iOS 4.1 later this week. The iPhone 3G, original iPhone, and original iPod touch are not supported, although of those only the iPhone 3G supports iOS 4 in any form.
Apple had initially deployed Game Center on all iOS 4-compatible iPhone and iPod touch models in its iOS 4.1 betas, but removed support for the iPhone 3G and second-generation iPod touch in a revision issued early last month. It appears that, after further review, Apple has decided to restore the functionality to the second-generation iPod touch but not the iPhone 3G, which has seen a number of performance complaints under iOS 4 with improvements in that regard reportedly coming in iOS 4.1.
Game Center, first announced at Apple's iOS 4 media event in April of this year, offers developers a number of tools to enhance the user experience with social gaming features such as leaderboards, friend invites, challenges, and matchmaking. It aims to bring together a fragmented array of such networks by offering a single Apple-sponsored way to foster interactivity within and across games.
Update: TiPb notes that Apple has also just reset Game Center in advance of the public launch of the feature and iOS 4.1. Developers who have been testing the service have seen their accounts deleted and friends removed.
Top Rated Comments
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19 months ago
You shouldn't have a 3g anywhere near you. Latest and greatest.
"Nah, that's a waste of money".
Have fun with running 4.x on your 3g.
Again, latest and greatest.
(I'm not serious when I post crap like this, but I still love to do it. lol)
"Nah, that's a waste of money".
Have fun with running 4.x on your 3g.
Again, latest and greatest.
(I'm not serious when I post crap like this, but I still love to do it. lol)
19 months ago
Doesn't 2nd gen and iPhone 3G has essentially the same hardware?
I guess not if game center doesn't work with the iPhone 3G
19 months ago
Doesn't 2nd gen and iPhone 3G has essentially the same hardware?
2nd gen iPod Touch was significnatly faster.
arn
19 months ago
Doesn't 2nd gen and iPhone 3G has essentially the same hardware?
Yes true but the iPhone 3G has a lower clock speed I believe.
2nd generation:
ARM11 620 MHz (underclocked to 533 MHz),with internal ARM7 core for Jazelle acceleration
Samsung 32-bit RISC ARM 1176JZ(F)-S v1.0 620 MHz
Underclocked to 412 MHz
Might have something to do with it...or AT&T :)
19 months ago
Is this because it uses significant RAM above and beyond what each game needs? You’d think these basic functions COULD have been done in a way that doesn’t need a lot of RAM, or CPU speed, or whatever. These shouldn’t have to be high-performance features.
Well, I don’t care a lot about these gaming networks (the whole concept never clicked for me) but I suppose this will keep OpenFeint around!
But this is a problem for developers, not just users. I have an iPhone game I’m building in my spare time, and as a developer, supporting Game Center is not that appealing if it will limit my market size! Maybe I could build in an alternative (OpenFeint) just for certain users, but that sounds like a pain, and not a great solution for users either.
I wish Apple would release a basic version of Game Center that may lack some features or eye candy, but runs at least on all iOS 4 devices. The iPhone 3G (as the bottom model) only stopped selling a couple of months ago! I don’t think developers can ignore the 3G without facing lost sales.
Luckily I don’t much care whether GC succeeds or fails! I’ll do whatever seems best for my game sales. Maybe I’ll use it, maybe I won’t. As a user, I like to have at least a local high score list, but I don’t much care about the other community stuff. (Like I’m really going to make any headway on a worldwide leaderboard!)
Now, a standard matchmaking system for getting multiplayer gamers together IS badly needed, and lacking in OpenFeint, so I do have some hopes for that. (I’m glad my game is single-player so I don’t have to deal with any of that yet.)
Well, I don’t care a lot about these gaming networks (the whole concept never clicked for me) but I suppose this will keep OpenFeint around!
But this is a problem for developers, not just users. I have an iPhone game I’m building in my spare time, and as a developer, supporting Game Center is not that appealing if it will limit my market size! Maybe I could build in an alternative (OpenFeint) just for certain users, but that sounds like a pain, and not a great solution for users either.
I wish Apple would release a basic version of Game Center that may lack some features or eye candy, but runs at least on all iOS 4 devices. The iPhone 3G (as the bottom model) only stopped selling a couple of months ago! I don’t think developers can ignore the 3G without facing lost sales.
Luckily I don’t much care whether GC succeeds or fails! I’ll do whatever seems best for my game sales. Maybe I’ll use it, maybe I won’t. As a user, I like to have at least a local high score list, but I don’t much care about the other community stuff. (Like I’m really going to make any headway on a worldwide leaderboard!)
Now, a standard matchmaking system for getting multiplayer gamers together IS badly needed, and lacking in OpenFeint, so I do have some hopes for that. (I’m glad my game is single-player so I don’t have to deal with any of that yet.)
19 months ago
If you have an iPhone 3G. Just upgrade already.
Sure thing pal. Will you write the check?
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