Are you a gamer? Do you love the gaming experience, especially with modern games? Chances are that you cannot play a game that you do not enjoy. The gaming experience dictates whether you will play the same game again.
However, do you know the things that go on in the backend? You might assume that the things you see on your screen when playing the game is all that you have. Well, that is not true. There are many other things behind the scenes.
Have you heard about APIs (Applications Programming Interfaces)? These are some of the things that make your gaming experience as good as it is. So, what are they and what should you know about them and social integrations?
What is an API?
APIs can be defined as programming interfaces that allow applications, a game is also an application, to communicate and share information. They dictate data exchange between these applications and how the data is exchanged.
Let us look at a very simple example of an API at work. Chances are that you have heard about or even played Candy Crush Saga. This game requires you to sign up for it to save your progress. You can sign up via your socials, like Facebook. The exchange of data between Facebook and the game is made possible by APIs.
There is so much that you should know about APIs as a gamer because they play a role in giving you the gaming experience you love so much. They are interesting, and you can look at this basic guide to APIs to understand how they work.
APIs Have Made Games More Sociable
If you love gaming, chances are that you have played many online multiplayer games. In these games, you access the same server with many other players. You can interact with them, something that makes games more sociable.
Through the internet, you can have virtual friends and even play with them. You can even share your gaming experience on your social media accounts to show your friends what you have achieved. This makes gaming good for your mental health.
But how is this possible? Well, these games integrate with APIs, making it possible for you to interact and share your experiences with other players on other platforms. Some good examples of platforms taking this to another level include iOS Game Centre and Google Play Games Services.
APIs Improve Gaming Experience
You can find an API for almost everything. For instance, if you want to build a mobile application that needs map functionality, you do not have to build this functionality from scratch. APIs can make this easier for you.
Instead, you can implement a maps API, such as the Google Maps API. Similarly, a game developer can find an API for almost anything that they want. They can collect data from you as you play the game in a bid to learn your gaming patterns or preferences.
You might be worried about a stranger collecting data from you. Well, always check what your game needs to access when installing it on your device. At the end of the day, this data will be used to improve your gaming experience and match your preferences, thanks to APIs.
Game Developers Do Not Need to Build Games From Scratch
Just like most industries, the gaming industry is very competitive. As a gamer, you need to see new and better games every day. In addition, you want to see improvements and updates to some, if not all of the games you are currently playing.
Where does this leave game developers? Do they have enough time to provide you with everything that you need? Well, to save time, boost their productivity, and meet your demands, they have no option but to rely on APIs.
APIs help them save time, gain a competitive edge, and increase productivity. Let us take an example where you are playing a multiplayer video game. However, you realize that you cannot chat with your opponents.
The game developer is supposed to add this feature for you and other players. Instead of spending days, weeks, or even months working on this feature, they can simply integrate a chat API.
APIs are the Game Changers
If you have played games for a long time, you know that you cannot compare today's gaming experience with that of a decade or two ago. Technology advancements, as well as the impact APIs are having on the gaming experience cannot be underestimated. They are the game changers and we are still going to see more from them.
