iPhone game, final touches

Target Platforms Mobile
1

I’ve nearly finished my first iPhone game and now I’ve started to think about all the extra stuff that might be needed. Things like high score tables, posting to facebook wall, etc. and wondered what peoples opinion where on these sorts of added extras.

Are they added extras or will games without these features not sell as well?

I have a local highscore table just about working, but what about a global one? If so, what are the best services like OpenFeint or Agon etc?

Lastly, has anyone used something like PlayHaven, and if so would you use it again?

If it makes a difference, I only have iPhone Unity basic at the moment, so I’m not sure if that limits any of the above.

Thanks,

Richard

2

I would assume so.

Leaderboards and Facebook/Twitter integration is a big plus. People would WANT to show off their high score.

Also, achievements are extremely addictive, and OpenFeint does already have leaderboards with it…

Wouldn’t hurt I guess.

And I’m pretty damn sure OpenFeint comes with a How-To on how to get it integrated into Unity.

3

I’ve used both Agon and OpenFeint.

Agon is MUCH easier to integrate with Unity and is better integrated but OpenFeint seems to have a much bigger user base.

Right now I’m working with OpenFeint but that will change if they don’t do a better job of supporting Unity.

4

Kinda off topic but does agon support things like notifications or annoucements form within the application? The big reason we’re using (or trying i should say) to use openFeint is for these features : Annoucements and the “Other Games” feature. our client wants to be able to push messages to users of the app as well as advertise their own products.

5

Agon lets you query the system for the latest. I like OF better in non-Unity apps. But for Unity its lacking. You can hack together code but I dont like to have to edit generated code, especially since it makes for lots of rewrites.

6

Thanks for the input on this. I’m going to look at open feint first, just because it seems to have bigger games attached to it, but if it’s as big a pain as it seems to be, then I’ll look at agon next.

One more question though, does open feint cost anything for the developer? I was searching for info on it and found a post that (not on unity forums) that mentioned cost, but from looking at the open feint web site it seems to be free. Just checking there are not any hidden costs that will crop up after I’ve got it all working, assuming I do :wink:

Thanks,

Richard

7

@LostLogic

Have u had much success w/changing up the UI in the openFeint menu? I’m not sure we’re heading down the right path for our customer but it seems like OF at least has the features we need, if not a big overkill.

Still trying to get the annoucements system to work… everything else seems to be hooked up : I can create challenges, do Favourite Games etc… but for some reason just can NOT get a popup to happen in game from the openFeint site.

8

I haven’t tried changing their UI. I do have it popping up in my Unity projects just fine though.