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Things sure are moving and shaking around here. We’ve just added yet another social site to our surprisingly large list of places on the Internet that you can enjoy all of J2Play’s fantastic games. Of course, since Meebo doesn’t have the traditional way to add and play J2Play games, you’ll have to keep an eye out for the incredibly well-made ad at the bottom of the page. It looks a little something like this:
Simply click on the graphic, or hover over it for long enough, to load a miniature but fully-featured version of the J2Play social wrapper that you all know and love.
Isn't it adorable?
Now, since seeing is ad is somewhat of a chance encounter, the fine people at Meebo have provided a direct link to the game. Check it out!
First of all, we have added Hi5 support to our C++ GDK. Now you can choose from logging into Facebook, logging into Hi5, or just connecting directly to J2Play. Logging into a social network gives you the advantages to challenge your friend, post the game feeds to let them know your activities and share your favourite games with them.
Second, we have updated the score interface. We added two new interface classes – ScoreController and ScoreRecordSet – to help developer commit and retrieve the game record. See C++ Leaderboards.
Finally, we have improved the internal communication. So the GDK is more stable and more powerful. User can get more fluid switching experience between games.
Download the toolkit from the J2Play Developer Wiki and recompile your game based on this new toolkit. No code changes are required unless you choose to use the new score interface.
We’ve had the recent pleasure of working with Namco to release NAMCO ALL-STARS: PAC-MAN and NAMCO ALL-STARS: DIG DUG with J2Play on Facebook and other social sites. At the core, these games followed the standard J2Play integration process used by dozens of other PC and Flash developers (thus getting the same distribution and engagement features described in previous posts). However, these games represent several significant firsts for J2Play games and a new level of customization.
J2Play PC Overview
There are currently 7 PC games live on J2Play. When a user discovers and downloads one of these games, their social identity is built into the download package allowing them to maintain the same identity and profile whether they’re playing on the web or from a PC game. The PC game has the full set of J2Play engagement features displayed using an embedded Mozilla browser – users can even enjoy all web based games and discover other PC and mobile games from within the PC application. Game developers can easily implement an “offline mode” for their games so users can still play when there is no internet connection available.
Basic PC integration has only 3 steps – set up your environment, initialize the toolkit, and add the J2Play features (scores, social feeds, etc.). A full description of the integration process is available on the J2Play Developer Wiki.
Game For Sale
To date, all games with J2Play have followed an ad driven revenue model, even though that that isn’t the only monetization option available. Namco’s games offer a free two level trial after which users can purchase a key to unlock the remaining levels (255, in total) for $9.99USD.
Users can purchase the game from a new tab in the J2Play store using either Pay Pal and Google Checkout. Developers need only add license checks using the Armadillo software DRM package (a simple process also described on the wiki).
Social Network Connectivity
PAC-MAN and DIG DUG are the first PC games released using J2Play’s native Facebook connectivity.
When a user is logged in to Facebook, PC games can now send activity feeds and user-to-user notifications (used by challenges, wall posts, etc.). This capability represents a new level of socialization and distribution for PC games.
Though PC games can only connect to Facebook today, Hi5 connectivity will be available very soon with more networks following.
Customization
Namco’s games also highlight some of the customization options available to J2Play developers.
Customized PC download page:
Customzied Profile tabs:
Developers interested in this level of customization, or more, should contact J2Play Developer Support.
Conclusion
NAMCO ALL-STARS: PAC-MAN and NAMCO ALL-STARS: DIG DUG are the first in a new breed of social PC games made possible by J2Play. We’re regularly releasing new innovations. Interested developers and web site operators are encouraged to check out the J2Play Developer Site or contact J2Play Developer Support.
Huzzahs all around!
As you may know, Bebo has been on a search for the most engaging new app submitted to Bebo before Jan 1st. Of course, the reason I bring this to your attention is because three J2Play Applications have been nominated! Santa Express, Robokill Trainer, and Stunt Pilot have been nominated, and rightfully so, they are awesometastic! (Look it up, it’s a word.) There were a total of 17 applications nominated.
Social media bloggers Dave McClure, Jesse Stay, and Frank Gruber are going to help pick the winner and four honorable mentions to be announced at the Awards Ceremony and Developer Meet Up on February 18th in San Francisco.
J2Play has been featured on the Orkut Developer Blog as a way to make games more social. Thanks, Miles, for the coverage!
Ning, the newest social site we support, is unique in that it allows it’s users to create their own social networks. Being the fantastic people that we are, we have set up a Developer Social Network for you, our developers. It’s a great place to test our your app before releasing it to the wild, as well as getting useful hints and tips to make the entire process go smoothly.
Continuing with the Ning News convoy, our very own Ian Crawford has a featured blog this week on the Ning Developer Network titled Increasing Engagement and Distribution of Your Social Game. It’s incredibly concise and is a great reference for any developer on a social network, which, of course, is you!
View the blog post here.
Rewards Store with Custom Game Content
Have bonus content that you want to be able to reward your players with? If you provide mobile ringtones, wallpapers or downloadable images for a user’s desktop, we can make them available in the store, so that as your players earn credits, they can cash them in for content.
Trial to Buy PC Downloadable Games
Trial to Buy PC Downloadable games can now be published via the J2Play Toolkit. By DRM-enabling your content with SoftwarePassport from SiliconRealms following instructions on our developer wiki, you can offer your PC Downloadable game on a trial basis, where limited levels are available until a player buys the full version through our store.
Read more about the in-game store here: http://developer.j2play.net/wiki/index.php/J2Play_Store
QuickPoker with J2Play has marked the first J2Play game that is playable both through a mobile browser, as well as through desktop social networks. Launched at Rogers, Bell and Fido, mobile users surfing the web with their cell phones can now play quickpoker against other users who are logged into their social networks.
On a development end, this was accomplished using one codebase and multiple themes, as well as harnessing new j2play php api features.
Check it out on the developer blog here:
http://developer.j2play.net/wiki/index.php?title=Creating_Web_For_Mobile_And_Desktop
J2Play has a mobile site where all mobile browser based games are hosted. Its the same site where J2Play rewards are found so for the user it has several benefits. Additionally, your game will trickle onto carrier decks through our syndicate mobile content partners.
For your social network game, we’ll provide you with a button that says “Play on Mobile” which will push users directly to your mobile game on the J2Play mobile site. Just email us at developer@j2play.net to work with us on your project.
Note that players who press the ‘Play on Mobile” button will keep their Facebook identity while playing the mobile version so they can add to their score and rank while on the go.
Note also that when players play your mobile version the system broadcasts it in the game chat room (at the bottom of the game on Facebook) that they are playing on their mobile phone which acts as another discovery tool for your game.
Check out http://apps.facebook.com/j_quickpoker for an example.
Following a recent article in The Globe And Mail, Rob Balahura (J2Play’s brilliant and charismatic CEO) answered readers’ questions today in a Q & A session. In the session, Rob answers one of the most important questions for developers: How does a developer make money by publishing with J2Play?
