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Server backend for cross platform, mobile freemium game with social aspects?
I am evaluating possible solutions for server backend for my company's new project - Unity3d based cross platform (iOS, Android, PC and possibly others) freemium game with social elements. First, let me sum up what I already know (the final question is at the end).
I am looking for features like
User management
Leaderboards (many of them)
Challenges (user created and developer created)
Microtransactions support (virtual currency)
Possibility to support many platforms (we are using Unity3D engine, so Unity3D support is a great advantage for us)
Support for players on different continents - If I were to choose Backend as a Service solution hosted by tech provider - I need to be sure it will offer proper support for players from different locations - this usually means having data centers at least in US and Europe.
Additional pros would be:
User behavior analytics
Ad exchange platform
Application discovery
Storage for user created content
Matchmaking
Ability to mirror some data with iOS GameCenter
Our ideal solution would be a Unity3D SDK for client side and server backend application (in j2ee or .net) with a possibility of self hosting (we are planning to use Amazon or Azure cloud for hosting). As far as I know there are no existing solutions that would match this specification.
So I am considering three possible solutions:
Use existing technology (like OpenFeint/Gree)
Build solution integrating existing blocks (like Unity microtransaction api) and developing my own technology when necessary
Develop our own solution from a scratch
Existing solutions I found so far are:
OpenFeint (Gree)
Scoreloop
Scoreoid
Plus+
Crystal
Parse (lower level solution)
Kinvey (lower level solution)
Unfortunately they all have some serious disadvantages:
no possibility of self hosting
in case of solutions like OF, users become OF users playing one of its many games, not our app users (we are entirely dependent on them)
So to sum up: What are your experiences with building server backends? Which way or technology would you recommend? Is there a technology or approach I am missing?
Thanks in advance,
Hiii... DivideByNull, You have to explore **shephertz's** App42 cloud APIs, You will surely get the solutions for your overAll requirements. There are a bunch of APIs which suits your requirements.
Take a look on these samples and tutorials...... check these samples and tutorials, I'm sure you will not be disappointed. If you have any query, then feel free to ask me.
Answer by johngriffin · May 06, 2014 at 06:46 PM
Hi all, forgive me for self promotion but GameSparks is a new end-to-end server-side platform you may not have heard about. It does everything you have mentioned in the posts above. You can access it here:
or register directly here:
Its free up until 10,000 MAUs. Any questions at all you can contact me via the website or in these forums.
Should add ... its not that new and has some really good reference studios using it.
Answer by peterdrinnan · Jan 16, 2015 at 04:52 AM
I've been doing lots of research in this recently. Here are the key vendors I know of listed alphabetically.
brainCloud ( http://www.getbraincloud.com )
fo-fo-fum ( http://www.fofofum.com )
Gamedonia ( http://www.gamedonia.com )
GameSparks ( http://www.gamesparks.com )
Gamua Flox ( http://gamua.com/flox/ )
Kii ( http://en.kii.com )
Photon ( http://www.exitgames.com )
Playfab ( http://www.playfab.com )
btw, Kumakore was good but they are out business as of Jan 15, 2015 :(
Hey @peterdrinnan !
Thanks for that list. It's a hell of an effort researching this stuff.
Did you ever decide on "the best"? I'd love to know.
Answer by ajayaec · Sep 09, 2013 at 05:40 AM
Have a look at AppWarp Multiplayer Gaming Engine and App42 Backend APIs. This might be helpful for you and have exact feature offerings as you mentioned above.
Answer by Holon777 · Jan 15, 2013 at 03:37 PM
I've searched for months, and most work great as long as you don't try to run a web player version, then they all break down because of cross domain policy issues, most notably Kinvey and Parse fail here. The response from the Parse sales guy was "doh, sorry" when I asked them about it LOL.
However I just tried PlayerIO.com and it all works perfectly! Web player version included. Very clean Unity3d code to work with. So happy! They have thought of everything a indie developer might need. I know I'm gushing here, but months of work have been saved.
Yes Parse needs to improve here with respect to the Web player. I've heard the same complaints from folks on other threads. App42 though works fine even in the web players. Also not sure about playerio - but App42 also works if you host your app on https domain.
Answer by Gamedonia · Jul 03, 2014 at 07:32 PM
I'm glad you asked!
Gamedonia backend-as-a-service is built to support cross platform integration. And, of course we support Unity!
We've worked hard to offer developers like you the features to build state-of-the art video games. Plus, you can develop and try it for free!
Matchmaking, in app purchases, push notifications, leaderboards & achivements, and many more.
Visit us to see all the features we offer here https://gamedonia.com/features
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