UPDATED 12:49 EDT / MAY 10 2012

Everyone’s Copying Apple’s Game Center

Facebook just unveiled the App Center – a platform that would carry apps from both iOS and Android app developers, which will roll out in a matter of weeks.

App developers who want their apps to be included in the launch are urged to submit their apps and have all the necessary prerequisites ready before May 18.

The App Center would serve something like a directory for the apps, since users will still be redirected to Google Play or the App Store if they wish to purchase or install an app. Facebook is giving an opportunity for app developers to offer paid apps.

Before it even launches, some are already comparing it to Apple’s App Store as it is available for both web and mobile.  Also, the similarities between the mobile version of the two is uncanny.

You can’t help but compare it to Apple’s Game Center either, as the App Center collates apps that uses Facebook whilst the Game Center makes gaming more social.

Speaking of Apple’s Game Center, Research in Motion and Google are said to be developing their own version of the game hub.

RIM’s Games

Reports surfaced that RIM is developing their own version of the Game Center which will be dubbed simply as Games.  Games will be a stand alone app that serves as a discovery tool as well as a social hub where gamers can compare scores with their friends or even other gamers.

RIM will merge their BlackBerry Messenger and the Scoreloop social gaming network, allowing users to add friends, see what their friends are playing, brag about their achievements or high scores, and challenge their friends to a game.  Games is said to support multiplayer gaming as well as turn-based and real-time gaming.

Google’s Game Center

Google is also imitating Apple in more ways than one.  Aside from creating a Game Center-like app that includes a social “achievement” system, it could also have a leaderboard to rank players against their friends.

Google is said to be adopting Apple’s payment scheme to make app purchases on Google Play easier for gamers and app developers.

“They are starting to really understand all of the needs and wants to make a game really successful,” an industry source told Business Insider. “As recently as even a year ago, that really wasn’t part of their institutional DNA, But I think they’re getting there.”


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