PlayTime Allows Android & iOS to Play Together
Now Android and iOS owners can really see who rules the mobile world.
In the wake of Steve Job's Game Center presentation on Wednesday, developer Aurora Feint revealed a social gaming network of its own: cross-platform, real-time multiplayer gaming between iOS and Android-based devices.
Called PlayTime, the new infrastructure is slated to launch later this year as part of the OpenFeint 3.0 update. PlayTime will provide "Casual" and "Core" packages while also supporting voice chat across both platforms (via an embedded VoIP client). PlayTime will also offer achievements, leaderboards, lobbies, matchmaking, and more.
"The most successful games have one thing in common: they bring people together, said Aurora Feint CEO Jason Citron. "Whether a simple board game or a stunning 3D console game, games are always better when shared with family or friends. Traditionally, multiplayer technology has been accessible only to top tier developers. It's just too complicated and time consuming. So we invented PlayTime, which literally takes one day to integrate into a casual game."
On the Apple side, PlayTime will piggyback with the new Game Center service. The platform will even replace human players with AI opponents whenever the service goes down or a signal is lost.
To sign up for Aurora Feint's private beta, head here.
- Prepaid DROID, BlackBerrys, Palms to Hit Verizon
- Apple Announces Apple TV, Three New iPods Designs, Social Network in iTunes
- Sony, Amazon Said to Be Prepping Media Services
- LIVE BLOG: Apple's San Francisco Music Event
- Mercedes Luxury Machine Applefied by Brabus
- Canon Develops 120 Megapixel CMOS Sensor
- Check Out the New Improved Xbox 360 Controller
- Unhappy Digg Users Flood Site with Reddit Links
- Nintendo Drops the Price of the DSi and DSi XL
- Samsung Unveils Galaxy Tab
- Verizon Teases Android Skype Users with Wi-Fi
- TV Networks Not Keen on Apple's $0.99 Rentals
- Augen Says It's Working on Next-Gen Tablets
- Samsung Reveals New Android ''Honeycomb'' OS
- Microsoft Officially Unveils the Arc Touch Mouse
- Windows Phone 7 is Finally Officially Finished
- Google Responds to Steve Jobs' Activations Gibe
- Sony Delays PS3 3D Blu-ray Support Until October
- Gunman Demands Discovery Channel Save Planet
Seems interesting enough, I wonder what side will have a higher winning percentage?
the side with the better signal
Not sure if the AI will be good enough...
I like the whole replacing players with AI, that's pretty nifty. I wish other games would do this too (like Left 4 Dead). Nothing like being a couple minutes away from helicopter rescue and having the internet go down.
Still, is this an actual, approved app, or will Apple say no because it duplicates the functionality of their calendar app or some lame excuse like that?
Hmm, I wonder if the disconnected player would resume their spot once they regained their connection? Probably not, I see that as becoming a huge nightmare trying to keep the state of the game correct.
This does sound really interesting though. I hope some quality games will use this so we can really get some good feedback on the Android vs iPhone gaming prowess!
That's great news! I can finally play with friends that own Android devices.
Android is in the iphone ass kicking business...and business is about to get really really good!
This really sounds like something that would never make it past Apple's approval process. Guess it'll have to be Android users vs jailbrakers instead.
This really sounds like something that would never make it past Apple's approval process. Guess it'll have to be Android users vs jailbrakers instead.
Yeah, I agree. Steve Jobs has demonstrated a desire and a willingness to keep Apple users isolated from non-Apple users; so it wouldn't surprise me one bit if this doesn't get his blessing.
I can just see the headlines now...
"Apple rejects PlayTime application due to control guidelines.
In related news, Steve Jobs releases 'iPlay', a cross platform social gaming application which allows multi-network platform interactivity in the mobile gaming market.
iPlay will retail for $29.99 with a $9.99 per month convenience charge.
Analyst speculate this will revolutionize modern mobile game play."
Meh, its a good idea, but I still haven't found any games worth playing on a phone.
Misleading title. My first thought after reading the title was something like BootCamp to dual-boot with iOS and Android on your iPhone.
Meh, its a good idea, but I still haven't found any games worth playing on a phone.
Cosigned; why not implement this for say...the PS3 and Xbox 360? Just a thought...
I read this article and at first thought "cool!', but then I realized that no sensible developer is going to waste its time on an OS that drops support for phones that are < 1 year old and takes six months to get a version for the handsets it actually does support!
It makes no sense to waste time on a joke of a platform that is dominated by really boring nerds and people who don't have AT&T and wish they could get an iPhone, when you can spend the time and resources developing it for a much better platform that actually supports its devices longer than 6 months.
Multi platform, multiplayer, VoIP etc.
I wish these guys luck.