Apple's iOS — the operating system that runs on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad — is arguably the leading mobile video game platform. The games available for the iPhone and the iOS are entertaining, but gamers and developers learned that games are even better when you play with your friends head-to-head over the internet. That's where Apple's Game Center comes in.
The Game Center app was introduced in iOS 4.1. Apple discontinued the app in iOS 10 and moved some of its features to the iOS.
Jun 20, 2016 - With the release of iOS 10, Apple's Game Center service no longer has its own dedicated application. Instead, actions like adding friends. How do I get the App Store and Game Center back on my iPad? Update Cancel a XNdKv d KE f b ENOL y Tw GNrNm M ZU a Losa l IDp w uV a Z r upMeV e dDByM b HG y JXRdw t HYx e ZOee s VBUp. I may have deleted it a while ago. It is not on the App Store so I cannot download it. Skip navigation. Menu; Apple Developer; Apple Developer. Apple Developer Forums / Graphics and Games / Game Center. How do I download gamecenter 2939 Views 3 Replies. Latest reply on Aug 2, 2017 5:54 PM by KMT. Level 1 (0 points) Michellegoldberg Jul.
What Is Game Center?
Game Center is a set of gaming-specific features that let you find people to play against. You can also compare your stats and achievements with other players.
Getting Game Center requires nothing more than iOS 4.1 or later, up to but not including iOS 10. If you have a device that runs anything older than iOS 10, you likely have Game Center on it.
You also need an Apple ID to set up your Game Center account. Because Game Center was built into these versions of iOS, you don't need to download anything other than compatible games.
Game Center also works on the Apple TV and some versions of macOS.
What Happened to Game Center in iOS 10 and Up?
At its introduction, Game Center was a stand-alone app. That approach changed with iOS 10 when Apple discontinued the Game Center app. In place of the app, Apple made some Game Center features part of iOS itself.
Among the Game Center features that may be available to users include:
- Leaderboards
- Challenges to other players
- In-game achievements
- Sharing achievements
- Gameplay recording
Previous Game Center features that are no longer available include:
- Status
- Profile photo
- Ability to add friend
- Ability to see friends' games and stats
Relying on app developers to support Game Center makes using these features tricky. Developers can support all Game Center features, some of them, or none at all. There's no consistent experience with Game Center at this stage, and it's difficult to know what features, if any, you get with a game before downloading it.
Managing Your Game Center Account
Game Center uses the same Apple ID that you use to buy from the iTunes Store or the App Store. You can create a new account if you want, but it's not necessary. Even though Game Center no longer exists as an app, you can still manage some aspects of your Game Center account:
Tap Settings on your iPhone Home screen.
Select Game Center from the Settings menu
Tap the slider next to Game Center to move it to the On/green position.
Turn on the slider next to Nearby Players if you want to play head-to-head games with other nearby gamers. Assuming you both have a Game Center-compatible game and Wi-Fi or Bluetooth turned on, you can play with another player.
Under Game Center Profile, tap your name to open your profile. This name is how you are identified to other gamers who invite you to games.
In the profile screen, tap the Nickname field and type a new name or nickname. Then, tap Done.
One of the strangest changes to Game Center in iOS 10 and up is that you can no longer add and delete individual friends from your Game Center network on the iPhone. Now, your only option is to remove every Game Center friend you have. Because there's currently no way to add friends, be sure this is what you want before doing it. To remove friends, tap Friends on the Game Center screen and select Remove All at the top of the window that opens.
How to Get Game Center-Compatible Games
Finding Game Center-compatible games used to be simple: You could browse or search for them right in the Game Center app. They also were clearly labeled in the App Store with a Game Center icon.
That's no longer true. Now, games don't clearly indicate anywhere that they support these features. Finding them is trial and error. That said, you can search the App Store for game center to try to find compatible games. Most or all of the apps such a search delivers offer at least some Game Center features.
How to Know If Have an App That Supports Game Center
Figuring out which games support Game Center is tougher than it used to be.
When you launch a game that supports Game Center, a small message slides down from the top of the screen with the Game Center icon (four interlocking colored spheres); the message says Welcome Back and shows your Game Center username. If you see that message, the app supports some Game Center features.
Multiplayer Games and Challenges
Because not all games that support Game Center offer all of its features, instructions for using those features are incomplete or inconsistent by definition. Different games implement the features differently, so there's no one way to find and use them.
That said, many games still support multiplayer games, head-to-head matchups, and challenges. The first two types of game are self-explanatory. In Challenges, you invite your Game Center friends to try to beat your scores or achievements in a game. Finding these features are different in each game, but good places to look for them are in leaderboard/achievement areas under a Challenges tab.
Seeing Your Stats
Many Game Center-compatible games track the achievements you unlock and awards you earn. To view them, find the leaderboard/achievements section of the app. It's indicated with an icon that is associate with winning or stats such as a crown, trophy, or a button labeled Game Center in an options menu or in the stats and objectives menus. Those won't be the only options, but you get the idea.
After you find this section in the game you're playing, you may see options including:
- Achievements: These are your in-game successes. Each game has a different set of achievements for particular goals or tasks. They're tracked here.
- Leaderboards: This shows your ranking on various criteria compared both to your Game Center friends and to all players of the game.
Make Screen Recordings in Game Center
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IOS 10 dramatically changed Game Center, but it did deliver one benefit: the ability to record gameplay to share with others. In iOS 10 and later, game developers need to implement this feature specifically. In iOS 11 and later, screen recording is a built-in feature of iOS. Even for games with the functionality built in. the process varies. but in general:
Game Center Account
Tap the camera icon or record button. The specifics may be different in different games, but the ideas are the same.
In the pop-up window, tap Record Screen.
When you're done with the recording, tap Stop.
Restrict or Disable Game Center
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Parents concerned about their children interacting with strangers online can use Game Center's parental restrictions to turn off its multiplayer and friend features. This feature still allows children to track their stats and achievements but insulates them from unwanted or inappropriate contacts. Because Game Center is no longer a stand-alone app, you can't delete it or its features. If you don't want those features to be available, parental restrictions are the only option.