Today Apple’s iOS 4.1 update brings Game Center to iPhone and iPod touch. This is Apple’s social gaming answer to making friends, offering competitive Leaderboard challenges and addictive Achievements to gameplay. The setup is much more akin to Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Xbox LIVE setup (Achievements, up to 1000 “Points” in games, Leaderboards) than anything else out there.
To get Game Center on your iPhone or iPod touch, you must have your device connected to your computer and run the update via iTunes. You’ll be walked through a brief setup process where you can create a “Nickname,” like a Gamertag, to share with friends (friends can also find you via the email address you use with Game Center).
Unfortunately, things are off to a fairly slow start on the selection of Game Center games. One decent Game Center game to start earning Achievements and challenging your friends to now is Ms. PAC-MAN. If you purchased Ms. PAC-MAN previously, just run an Update via your device’s App Store. Otherwise, you can purchase Ms. PAC-MAN here from the App Store. No need to worry about syncing anything after you play a game of Ms. PAC-MAN. The updates on unlocked Achievements, Leaderboard ranking and gameplay history will automatically by reflected on Game Center (note that you won’t find this in the game itself). See another screenshot of what Ms. PAC-MAN’s Achievements screen looks like here.
If the Game Center page on apple.com is any indication, Fieldrunners and Real Racing should be offering Game Center support soon too. Run those updates! Keep a lookout and please let us know any other Game Center compatible games you find by leaving a comment below.
To read more about Game Center, visit apple.com. Send your Friend requests to “GamingBits” (nickname) and hope to see you pounding away online!
[UPDATE] Here’s a list of some recently supported Game Center games:
- Zen Bound 2
- Fieldrunners
- Real Racing
- Cro-Mag Rally
- Flight Control
- Enigmo
- Enigmo 2
- Touchgrind
- PAC-MAN
Here is the link to the App Store’s Game Center on iTunes and the complete list of current Game Center compatible games.
