Sign-up flurry as Apple launches Game Center
iOS 4.1 lands, promising support for Angry Birds et al in new gaming social network
Apple has released the 4.1 software update for its iPhone and iPod Touch range, bringing with it the long-awaited Game Center software.
Roughly analogous to Xbox Live, Game Center offers standardised multiplayer, matchmaking, achievements and friends lists to owners of Apple mobile hardware.
However, it is not available on iPhone 2G or 3G, or to the first generation iPod touch. Additionally, a promised iPad version is not due until an unspecified date in November.
Due to App Store approval times, few games supported Game Center at last night's launch, but there has been a slow trickle of updates – including Flight Control.
Titles planned to sport Game Center integration in the near future include perennial App Store top ten lurkers Angry Birds, Field Runners and Pac-Man.
The Game Center update prompted a rush to grab usernames, with each gamer registering and using a unique handle.