14 DAY TRIAL // Game Center is now live, iPhone developers report. The service was formerly available for testing purposes only, being tied to iOS 4.1 beta builds.
Notably, the service has been reset, with TUAW reporting that accounts and friends created for the sandbox development environment have been erased.
Game Center is now prompting for new credentials, the site claims.
On the good side, developers who were previously limited to using Game Center can create full accounts and full-on matchups, starting now.
Game Center is a feature typical to iOS 4.1, which Apple should offer up as a free download to iPhone and iPod touch owners today.
Game Center is Apple’s new social network for gaming, which allows iOS device owners to find friends, or use auto-match to play multiplayer games against new opponents.
The service also tracks achievements and compares high scores on leaderboards.
On a web page dedicated to the new feature, Apple outlines the compatible devices.
Not surprisingly, Apple has pushed aside the low-specced iPhone 3G, allowing only new generation devices to run Game Center.
Game Center is limited to iPod touch 4th generation, iPod touch 3rd generation, iPod touch 2nd generation, iPhone 4, and iPhone 3GS, Apple says.
Surprisingly, Apple still lists iOS 4.1 availability with a “coming soon” message, although the company noted thar the software update was coming precisely on September 8, via a post on the Apple UK web site.
The IPSW file is yet to be uploaded on Apple’s phobos servers.
However, when it does arrive, iOS 4.1 will deliver new iTunes enhancements, HDR photography, the ability to record HD video, as well as fixes for several issues.
Particularly, a problem affecting the functionality of iPhone 3G handsets is to be patched, alongside a proximity sensor issue experienced by iPhone 4 customers.
In a surprise move, Apple started offering the iOS 4.1 IPSW file for iPod touch 4 this past weekend.