There were already 3rd-party networks on the platform, but the lack of a unified experience was damaging to the user. Just think about going back to the early days of console-multiplayer, where every game ran its own friend lists and architecture.

It's sad that a few companies are going to lose a lot of money now that Apple has stepped into the ring on a gaming network, but they own the platform, and including its offering in the firmware pretty much guarantees that "Game Center" will succeed.

• The game announcement from Epic moves to Monday.
• StarCraft II gets a price hike and a collector's edition.
• F.E.A.R. 3 officially announced.
• Red Dead Redemption multiplayer revealed in trailer.

• The rest of the details on iPhone OS 4.
• iPhone multitasking video.