Returning to game but it is closed - Question

Solar2D iOS
#1

I got the following feedback from players:

I have long game levels which can be played in more sessions. The content of the game can not be saved. Now this is what happens: The players click the pause button and turn off the device to continue playing when they return BUT: Sometimes the game still is open and can be continued but sometimes it is not and can’t.

I now wonder what this can cause this and how can I have an influence on keeping the game opened in the background all the time, so players can continue a started (and paused) game whenever they want?

#2

u cant control it. The os stops the app after a while of nothing happening. It is just an issue of how long it takes for the player to return, you cant influence it

#3

Thanks for your fast reply. Do you have some details on how long this normally takes for the iOS to stop the game completely or how long it is safe to “pause” before the game get’s closed for real?

#4

Depends, if the phone is low on memory and the user goes to another app that needs it, then immediately…

Safer to just save the game state upon pause/suspend if it’s really necessary that players must be able to resume. 

#5

My game does not have a time limit and the game can run for a long time. People sent a few complaints that after being on call they would go back to their in progress game and it would be gone. I save the state of the game in a json file and then load up the game when they get back. It is an option you can think of, but might not work for your particular game.