Originally Posted by datagod

What about games that are played inside Facebook? Everquest is fun, played by 7 million people on any device.

I play on PC and Android Phone. Is Facebook the platform?

I think autocorrect got you here, you mean Everwing?

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Originally Posted by datagod

What about games that are played inside Facebook? Everquest is fun, played by 7 million people on any device.

I play on PC and Android Phone. Is Facebook the platform?

This is an interesting question. My gut tells me that it might be considered a platform but I am not entirely sure about this because I've not taken a technical look at the facebook game implementations. Would be interesting to see what others think on this one...

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Hi, @Jace Hall quick correction needed...

For NES, it has been relabeled as "NES /FAMICON / DISC". This should be corrected to "NES / FAMICOM / DISK"

thanks!

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Originally Posted by Jace Hall

This is an interesting question. My gut tells me that it might be considered a platform but I am not entirely sure about this because I've not taken a technical look at the facebook game implementations. Would be interesting to see what others think on this one...

if steam isn't a platform, neither is Facebook. They're similar things.

Originally Posted by Tristen Geren

if steam isn't a platform, neither is Facebook. They're similar things.

I think the idea is facebook may be more like a java applet in that it allows for things to played across platforms. It would depend on the implementation. If facebook uses different code for its game on pc and handheld, then it is not a platform and is just like steam. if however the game itself uses the same code, and facebook sets up a virtual environment it would be its own platform. and that all begs the following question

Are java applets their own platform?

Facebook is multi platform through unity but...

On there website at URL:
https://developers.facebook.com/docs/games/gamesonfacebook/hosting

It states that the game will be hosted "NOT" within Facebook but frrom the publisher's own web server. Facebook only holds a URL.

From Facebook page above:
"Games on Facebook are hosted as a portal, the actual game content is hosted from your own web server. By configuring your Facebook Web Games URL, you can make your game available on Facebook.com, where it will appear within an iframe. On Facebook"
According my understanding any Flash game hosted on own server can be run within an IFrame within Facebook via an URL..

From Facebook page above:
"In your app settings, there's a field for Facebook Web Games URL. This field configures the iframe that loads when a player loads your game."
"Once you're ready to take your game live to the world, you'll have to arrange for hosting on a public-facing web server."

So then this is not a real platform either?

The only thing in Facebook making it multi-platform is the use of Unit SDks

Facebook SDK for Unity IOS//Andriod which only do have Facebok spesific services to socialize and sell your games. No hosting of the games within Facebook.

Looking at the architecture this is similar to Steam.

Steam also do have "Steam-SDK" which provide some socialization and selling of the games.

Both in my view is not real true gaming platforms because both of them do not contain/host the games within itself. It also do not have a canvas/graphics engine
rendering the game within its own API. Both uses uses IFrame and utilizes web/HTTP for content, whereas Facebook solely rely only on Iframe, Steam however uses a fat client interact with the game running on the Steam client. Steam also now selling hardware devices which can run games and Steam as the "OS".

Given this information Facebook is merely a socialization gaming platform
making publishers adding Facebook integration features.

If I have given time I could have given the solution architecture and show these
analysis is true.

Facebook however have much more features than Steam... (Steam have competition!)

Originally Posted by Snowflake

I think the idea is facebook may be more like a java applet in that it allows for things to played across platforms. It would depend on the implementation. If facebook uses different code for its game on pc and handheld, then it is not a platform and is just like steam. if however the game itself uses the same code, and facebook sets up a virtual environment it would be its own platform. and that all begs the following question

Are java applets their own platform?

To add, I think to have clear guidance what is a platform, TG must have a framework of reference and principles written down what TG regard as gaming platform.


Could be things like (just few examples - not the actual list, just some thoughts - TG still to decide on there own crtieria of what a defines a gaming platform:
- Platform do have own graphics API
- Platform do have own monetary API
- Platform contains own functionality running games multi-platform without changing game code
- Platform do have ability host games within in own runtime (having a "player" , like unity or flash but similar to host games consistentky in context of its own platform..
ect..

Some new school of thought could argue cloud-based architecture allow for application hosted on a third-party server, like applciation-as-a-service (AAAS), software-as-a-service (SAAS), infrastructure-as-a-service (IAAS) and also similarly having gaming as a service. moving away from expect a "platform" to have everything one need from a "gaming-platform" at one stop shop....

Originally Posted by Tristen Geren

if steam isn't a platform, neither is Facebook. They're similar things.

OUYA !

It's a real gaming console, meaning hardware used to play the game, with its own input device(s). Sure the games are ANDROID based, but they have to be packaged specifically for OUYA. I know some developers who made games titles for OUYA only, and did not port them to other Android devices.

OUYA is a real gaming console, and one of the few that any regular Joe can develop their own games for it. They are currently claiming 1242 games and counting. The Kickstarter campaign was a huge success and it had lots of interest for a few years. Then, interest in it fell when they sold the company, but some developers still make games for it and the game count is increasing.

In my opinion... Facebook and Steam are game portals, not platforms.

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Now that Raspberry PI will be in!!!!!!!

In theory it is the ultimate everdrive with SD cards so in fact shouldn't IT be allowed for any platform submission???

If not we need to add emulation for all existing platforms like Pippen,3do, amiga and more!!!

To use with RP

What is the timeline for adding the Switch? Days... Months...

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The new categories are up! Now we just need games and it is go time!

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Ya, I'm trying to figure out if TG will implement the tracks, or if the site users will have to start them?

Pretty sure that users have to add them? At least it looked what way with the Fairchild Channel F when it was added during the last cycle...

I was going to add one for the Emerson Arcadia 2001 - if you want to establish a track maybe we can share some points among our respective tracks to populate the new platforms?

No, they will heads up soon-they are going to start a thread asking users for input on what tracks to start, at no sub cost to them.

Hmmm. Look who has inside info...
:P

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Missing:

Nintendo Switch eShop
Nintendo 64DD

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