Wifi vs Bluetooth for multiplayer gaming

[FerrariX]

Hi,

I'm working on a Texas Holdem Poker game...(there's plenty out there already, but this would be good practice).

I'm having trouble deciding whether to use bluetooth or wifi for multiplayer.
I've gotten the WiTap example to work w/o any problem.

Currently, the local multiplayer feature would be fine but in the near future, i'd like for it to be able to player over the net and not just LAN.

My impression is bluetooth still has some connection issues using the GameKit framework.

Apple's Texas Holdem uses wifi. However, this game has been out before the release of GK framework so I don't know if Bluetooth has gained the upper edge over wifi.

I'm planning to have up to 8 or 10 players.

Please share your experience and thoughts on this dilemma.

Thanks

-FerrariX

[davidlansalot]

In my opinion, the GameKit framework sucks. It does what it wants to most of the time. However, if you do get a connection, its fairly easy to send and receive data. Wifi gameplay requires some network programming which is a bit more complicated, but it is much more reliable than bluetooth

[FerrariX]

Originally Posted by davidlansalot

In my opinion, the GameKit framework sucks. It does what it wants to most of the time. However, if you do get a connection, its fairly easy to send and receive data. Wifi gameplay requires some network programming which is a bit more complicated, but it is much more reliable than bluetooth

Hi david,

thanks for you suggestion.
This maybe stupid questions but i'm new to the GameKit framework,
Is Bonjour part of the GameKit framework?
Can GameKit framework use wifi?

Thanks again,

-FerrariX

[davidlansalot]

I may be wrong, but im pretty sure Bonjour is used just with WiFi stuff. GameKit cannot use wifi, its strictly bluetooth

[FerrariX]

Thanks David,

[FatFatto]

Originally Posted by davidlansalot

I may be wrong, but im pretty sure Bonjour is used just with WiFi stuff. GameKit cannot use wifi, its strictly bluetooth

As of 2010 this is totally incorrect.

1) GameKit works with EITHER bluetooth or wifi.

2) in fact somewhat bizarrely at runtime ONLY GAMEKIT will choose whether to use bluetooth or wifi. (in other words, if both are available, IT will choose - ! GAMEKIT will make the choice which to use.)

3) you as the programmer actually CAN NOT CHOOSE (!) whether to use bluetooth or wifi. That's a fact. Strange, but true.

4) if the user has turned on only bluetooth, or only wifi (i.e., only one or the other), then GameKit will (obviously enough) choose to use only that one.

5) To repeat as the developer you have no control over whether it uses bluetooth or wifi (bizarre as that sounds).

6) In fact, gameKit WORKS VERY, VERY, VERY WELL INDEED - in fact it works exceptionally well.

You have to know a lot about networking to use it for performance, but that is true of all networking.

if you are having performance troubles with GameKit -- you can be utterly 100% certain, that, the problem is with your programming!

GameKit is Fast as Usain if you know how to drive it right. Possibly, nothing is faster on the platform.

7) Regarding wifi v. bluetooth performance (nothing to do with GameKit -- just in the abstract). Of course, WiFi is better in pretty much every way. But then, you don't always have a wifi hub on hand, for gaming. So that's what bluetooth is for.

8) No, you can NOT make an adhoc wifi network with a phone/pad/pod (such as you can on your Mac or Lisa).

Hope it helps!

[FerrariX]

I've completed wifi 2player mode first.

Now i'm working on Bluetooth.

Thanks for your thoughtful insights.

-FerrariX