Connecting with the Outside World

Abstract

We have covered a lot in the previous two chapters. In fact, you should now know enough to build a wide range of applications that utilize networking APIs to connect to each other. But so far, we have been talking about games that can be played only by people whose iPhones and iPod touches are connected to the same wireless networks, or that are located within several feet of each other, reachable by Bluetooth. In some cases, you can dismiss these limitations as not very significant—after all, having an interactive gaming session with other human beings that share the same physical space could be classified as “the ultimate social experience.” However, as the world is getting more and more connected, there remain fewer excuses that justify leaving your players around the world disconnected from one another.