Multiplayer functionality.. sort of-

Games
#1

Hello Coronas.

I’m planning on adding a sort of multiplayer functionality to my game that i’m working on.
The game is a kind of “endless runner” and i want to be able to challenge my friends via facebook.
The game will create a random map and posts it together with wich facebook friends i would like to challenge.

When you log into facebook via the game, you will make a request to the server to see if you got any new challenges. This solution will definitely slow my server down because every user has to download the new map of the challenge. I maybe even will have to buy some extra bandwidth or something.

My question is. Do you guys have any better idea of solving this challenge function. maybe a solution without a server, or maybe there is some free service i can use for this matter, like google or something?

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#2

PubNub is a common multiplay messaging system I have seen people on the forum talk about.

What about creating a random map based on a random seed and passing that seed to the other user so they get the same map. [import]uid: 110373 topic_id: 20453 reply_id: 80118[/import]

#3

I was going to suggest the same thing Brad did. If your app can randomly generate the map, just set the random number seed to the same on the devices that need the same map. Generate it,and then reseed the random number generator with the time so that further random numbers between the two will be different.

Then you can pass that information fairly lightly through your server or something like PubNub. If you’re going to be issuing challenge through facebook, you could even pass the random number seed via a URL get parameter on a link the the other player could click on. If they are on a device, you can even use the new URL schema to have the facebook app (or if they are on facebook via safari) launch your game directly.
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#4

Thats sounds like a great idea. Thanks for the tips guys!
Whats the "New URL schema? Is it possible to collect the id that is passed on to the app?

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#5

I’ve not tried it yet but in one of the builds before the holiday break we got a feature that lets other apps and pass parameters to it just like you can launch iTunes from your app. Basically you come up with a code that you use instead oh http: or gsnecenter: for your app.

I assume that URL style GET parameters get passes because there is a way to get Start up parameters now.

There is a blog post on it on the blogs link above! [import]uid: 19626 topic_id: 20453 reply_id: 80124[/import]