Some questions regarding Mobile games, setting up a server backend database, and more!

[Stoven]

I apologize if this is a repeat question!

I have a lot of questions. A lot of these questions may seem ‘noobish’ and I completely admit I’m a noob when it comes to the Mobile world and setting up Databases (though I will get some help with this task).

I’m asking the Unity community primarily because the questions are very much relevant to how I’m going to integrate the appropriate functionality for my needs with a game I’m developing using Unity. I also trust that many people here have run into the same situation at some point and time and I want to seek advice from anyone with experience =)

Okay so here we go!!!

1. What can I use to interact with the database to get Player Profile information? After getting some advice from others, I was recommended to have my own validation and storage of a users data such as purchased consumables and whatever else. Should I use WWW/WWWForm classes to talk to my database? Is it secure? Should I use Best HTTP from the Asset Store, or is that overkill?

2. According to Apple’s guidelines for in-App purchases:

There are a handful of important guidelines to keep in mind as you design your application:
• You must deliver your digital good or service within your app. Do not use In-App
Purchase to sell real-world goods and services.
• You must make your In-App Purchase items available to all of the devices
registered to a user.
• You may sell credits or virtual currency provided they are used within the app and
do not have a time limit imposed upon them.
• Items you offer for purchase may not contain, or relate to, pornography, hate
speech, defamation, or gambling (simulated gambling is acceptable).
• In-App Purchase items cannot be shared across applications.

I’m specifically concerned about the last part. Does this mean that I will need to associate player information by Application type? For example, I cannot associate consumable data information purchased from the AppStore to the same Application but for a different device such as the ‘same’ Application for Android phones? Does this mean that I’ll likely need application-by-application storage of currency for each profile for the same Game, or am I misinterpreting this guideline?

2.5) In fact, are there conflicts with applying consumable data for the same profile and application, but with a different store?

3. Since this is my first time doing this, I want to be able to store at least, 5000 user profiles on the database and then work my way up from there after generating some revenue [on the side, and possibly from the game] to assist with improvements for the game. I’ve been told that I can get fairly cheap hosting for my needs (anywhere between free to 6$ a month) using a service such as Shephertz or 1&1. What services would you recommend or not recommend?

4. PHP or Python for the backend? It has to be one or the other so my friend can help me get up to speed to supply the functionality that I need for validation.

5. What are all of the stores that I can market to (for iOS and for Android)? What are some good Assets for communicating with different stores?

6. Are there any conflicting guidelines that I need to be aware of when it comes to in-app purchases between different stores, aside from the one already noted earlier? (Sorry if this seems like a repeat question, I just don’t want to accidentally violate a guideline and I’ll likely be reading through the guidelines of each store that I plan to market to)

[tswalk]

@Stoven

…
2) According to Apple’s guidelines for in-App purchases:

I’m specifically concerned about the last part. Does this mean that I will need to associate player information by Application type?

I believe (as it reads) that you cannot share an in-app purchase between “applications”… in other words, say you have published two games “GAME-A” and “GAME-B”… you would like be able to buy power-ups in GAME-A that can then be used by the same user account in GAME-B. You cannot, they must be separate in-app purchased consumables.

… at least that is how I understand it.

[JamesLeeNZ]

I use www accessing php scripts for all my needs (leaderboard/profiles/consumables). I use md5 to ensure requests are valid.

alternatively you can use a service like playfab.

[Meltdown]

Check out PlayFab, they offer a good suite of backend services…