Develop Reference

How to save game data to the cloud using gdx-gamesvcs?

I want to implement Google Play Games Services in my game on the libgdx engine. I tried using gdx-gamesvcs for this. But I am having trouble saving data. I understood from the example that one value is being saved, not the entire state of the game. So I decided to check it out: save and load one value using gsClient.loadGameState and gsClient.saveGameState. I deliberately deleted the game data from the device. But as a result, not only the test value changed, but many others as well. I thought that the state of the entire game is being saved, but the values ​​obtained do not fit into the logic of the game and could not be obtained in it.
How should I use this tool and is it worth it at all, or is it better to use what libgdx itself offers?
Here is a piece of code:
if (gsClient.isSessionActive()) {
try {
gsClient.saveGameState("data", intToByteArray(testValue), 0, null);
} catch (UnsupportedOperationException unsupportedOperationException) {
}
if (gsClient.isSessionActive()) {
try {
gsClient.loadGameState("data", new ILoadGameStateResponseListener() {
#Override
public void gsGameStateLoaded(byte[] gameState) {
if (gameState != null) {
setTestValue(bytesToInt(gameState));
}
}
});
} catch (UnsupportedOperationException unsupportedOperationException) {
}
}
UPD
Yes, saving occurs both to the cloud and to the device, for saving to the device I use Preferences. I have a Google account login button in the game, it works, I have repeatedly seen this standard bar of my account level, which appears at the top when I log in. Everything is set up in the developer console too, I have an id for achievements and leaderboards. In code, I work with the client like this (In the create() method):
public IGameServiceClient gsClient;
if (gsClient == null) {
gsClient = new MockGameServiceClient(1) {
#Override
protected Array<ILeaderBoardEntry> getLeaderboardEntries() {
return null;
}
#Override
protected Array<String> getGameStates() {
return null;
}
#Override
protected byte[] getGameState() {
return new byte[0];
}
#Override
protected Array<IAchievement> getAchievements() {
return null;
}
#Override
protected String getPlayerName() {
return null;
}
};
}
gsClient.setListener(this);
gsClient.resumeSession();
Next is loading.
The exception is not caught, I removed it and everything works as before.

Well, libgdx offers no built-in cloud-save, it is hard to use it for that. :-)
You should in any case save to local AND to cloud, as the cloud is not very fast to load its state.
I can see no problem in your code besides the fact that you swallow an UnsupportedOperationException that is thrown if you did not activate cloud save feature. So the interesting question is: what happens if you don't swallow the exception, and did you intialize GpgsClient with cloud save enabled? Are you really logged in to Gpgs, and is the feature also activated in your developer console?

The main problem was that gameState was null, this arose due to the fact that you had to wait 24 hours after enabling the save function in the developer console, and the advice on clearing the memory of google play games on the test device did not help. After a while gameState began to pass the existing values, but I started having problems with the graphics flow, probably due to the asynchronous loading.

Unity ads returns INVALID_ARGUMENT

I've integrated UnityAds on my Android app (that is not published yet).
I get app id and placement id from database on my server.
App id and placement id are correct, I've copied and pasted about 30 times for be sure of it.
So, when I try to get an ad in test mode, it give me the INVALID_ARGUMENT error.
Here an explaination of the error code by Unity, but as you can see it is a little generic.
I have an object that simply represents an ad service (like admob, FAN, inmobi etc)
In this case the object is called advert, and here it's how I show an ad with Unity:
protected void showUnity(){
UnityAds.initialize(this, advert.getApiKey(), true); //advert.getApiKey() returns the app id
UnityAds.addListener(new IUnityAdsListener() {
#Override
public void onUnityAdsReady(String s) {
Log.i(TAG, "onUnityAdsReady "+s);
if(s.equals(advert.getUnitId()) && !unityReady)
UnityAds.show(ActivityAd.this, advert.getUnitId()); //advert.getUnitId() returns the placement id
}
#Override
public void onUnityAdsStart(String s) {
Log.i(TAG, "onUnityAdsStart "+s);
unityReady = true;
}
#Override
public void onUnityAdsFinish(String s, UnityAds.FinishState finishState) {
if (finishState.compareTo(UnityAds.FinishState.COMPLETED) == 0) {
onAdReward(); //my callback for reward
} else if (finishState.compareTo(UnityAds.FinishState.SKIPPED) == 0) {
onAdClosed(); //my callback for ad close
} else if (finishState.compareTo(UnityAds.FinishState.ERROR) == 0) {
onAdError(finishState.toString()); //my callback for errors
}
}
#Override
public void onUnityAdsError(UnityAds.UnityAdsError unityAdsError, String s) {
onAdError(unityAdsError.toString()); //my callback for errors, here results INVALID_ARGUMENT error
}
});
}
Does anyone know what is wrong? Thanks in advance

If you check the callback closely the onUnityAdsError has 2 params, first provides the error code and the second param provides you information about what went wrong.
#Override
public void onUnityAdsError(UnityAds.UnityAdsError unityAdsError, String reason) {
onAdError(unityAdsError.toString()); //my callback for errors, here results INVALID_ARGUMENT error
}
So just check the reason and you should be able to find out what is going wrong in your integration.

Here are some methods which you can follow to solve this INVALID_ARGUMENT problem
1. Make sure you are implementing the right Initialization code in your app. There are 2 types of Initialization.
Only Unity ads Initialization
Mediation Initialization
and both methods have their own banner, interstitial, and rewarded ad code.
2. Make sure you enable test mode as Boolean. (i.e: private Boolean testMode = true;) (make sure to do false this before publish on store)
3. You can add your mobile phone as a test device to get test ads on your phone forcefully. for this, you have to first copy the Ad ID of your device. For that, go to your mobile settings > Google > Ads > This device's advertising ID. copy that ID and go to unity dashboard > Monetization > Testing > Add Test Device. Add your device Ads ID here with any name, and now you will be able to see test ads on the device.

GDPR consent dialog not showing

I followed the guide on the Android docs but for some reason nothing is showing when i start my app.
I even tried logging the listeners but nothing is showing up in logcat.
I also changed the ad technology in admob setting to Custom set of ad technology providers, but still not working.
My code
ConsentInformation consentInformation = ConsentInformation.getInstance(getApplicationContext());
ConsentInformation.getInstance(getApplicationContext()).addTestDevice("6AE7D8950FE9E464D988F340C0D625B0");
ConsentInformation.getInstance(getApplicationContext()).
setDebugGeography(DebugGeography.DEBUG_GEOGRAPHY_EEA);
String[] publisherIds = {""};
consentInformation.requestConsentInfoUpdate(publisherIds, new ConsentInfoUpdateListener() {
#Override
public void onConsentInfoUpdated(ConsentStatus consentStatus) {
// User's consent status successfully updated.
Log.d(TAG,"onConsentInfoUpdated");
}
#Override
public void onFailedToUpdateConsentInfo(String errorDescription) {
// User's consent status failed to update.
Log.d(TAG,"onFailedToUpdateConsentInfo");
}
});
form = new ConsentForm.Builder(this, privacyUrl)
.withListener(new ConsentFormListener() {
#Override
public void onConsentFormLoaded() {
// Consent form loaded successfully.
Log.d(TAG,"form loaded!");
form.show();
}
#Override
public void onConsentFormOpened() {
// Consent form was displayed.
}
#Override
public void onConsentFormClosed(
ConsentStatus consentStatus, Boolean userPrefersAdFree) {
// Consent form was closed.
}
#Override
public void onConsentFormError(String errorDescription) {
// Consent form error.
Log.d(TAG,"form error!");
}
})
.withPersonalizedAdsOption()
.withNonPersonalizedAdsOption()
.withAdFreeOption()
.build();
form.load();
Gradle
dependencies {
classpath 'com.google.gms:google-services:4.3.2'
}
implementation 'com.google.android.ads.consent:consent-library:1.0.7'
implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-plus:17.0.0'
implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:18.2.0'
EDIT
I tried it on a project which was pre android x and now it calls the listener onFailedToUpdateConsentInfo.
With following error message:
onFailedToUpdateConsentInfoCould not parse Event FE preflight response.
Searched a bit and found this could be because of an invalid pub id, but i'm certain i'm using the right one.

1) I think you forget to check isRequestLocationInEeaOrUnknown() method.
It will return true If user already agreed to the consent. In this case, you don't need to ask it again. I think you already agreed to consent.
wrap your code with
if(ConsentInformation.getInstance(context).isRequestLocationInEeaOrUnknown()){
//setup admob
}else{
//Ask for consent
}
2) You have to call form.show(); to present the form to the user, check Google Doc

I was still using test app id and test ad ids, remove them and change it with your id's and make sure you use it as a testdevice so you don't violate admob policies.
Like this
adLoader.loadAd(new AdRequest.Builder().addTestDevice(AdRequest.DEVICE_ID_EMULATOR).build());

Set UsbDeviceListener javax.usb/usb4java

I tried to set the UsbDeviceListener but nothing happens when I disconnect the device nor when I create a new file on the device.
Can someone tell me where is the problem in my code?
public static void listPeripherique(UsbHub hub) {
List perepheriques = hub.getAttachedUsbDevices();
Iterator iterator = perepheriques.iterator();
while (iterator.hasNext()) {
UsbDevice perepherique = (UsbDevice) iterator.next();
perepherique.addUsbDeviceListener(new UsbDeviceListener() {
#Override
public void usbDeviceDetached(UsbDeviceEvent arg0) {
System.out.println("connect " + arg0);
}
#Override
public void errorEventOccurred(UsbDeviceErrorEvent arg0) {
System.out.println("disconect " + arg0);
}
#Override
public void dataEventOccurred(UsbDeviceDataEvent arg0) {
System.out.println("new data on " + arg0);
}
});
}
if (perepherique.isUsbHub()) {
listPeripherique((UsbHub) perepherique);
}
}
Edit: It's work only for usb Detached.

Do you mind giving use more details on your environment (Linux, Win, OSX) and what kind of USB device (Stick, Gamepad, DVD-Burner, Dongle, iP(a|o)d, iPhone, Smartphone)? However, if you use Windows, it seems the driver is out-of-date: JSR80: This is an ABANDONED Windows implementation. it does not work, it needs a kernel driver.
Keep us posted on your project and progress.
Edit
I tried it with my Logitech Wingman controller and I can confirm that only usbDeviceDetached events are raised. I think the driver is really outdated :(

Sounds like it is working correctly.
Your code iterates once over all currently connected devices and registers a device listener on it. When the device is disconnected then the usbDeviceDetached event is triggered. The other two events are triggered after data is transfered from or to the device by your own program or when an error occurred when your program tried to communicate with the device.
javax-usb can't monitor data transfers made by other programs. Maybe this is what you expected? For this you need a special USB monitor tool like usbmon on Linux.

Prompt Android App User to Update App if current version <> market version

Lets say my Android App version 0.1 is installed currently on the User's phone. Everytime they launch my App I want to check if there is a different version available in the Android Market let's say this version is 0.2. If there is a mismatch between these two version I want to show a dialog box prompting the user to Upgrade the App.
I totally understand there exists a notification procedure from Android Market itself to the users but as far as my Analytics data is concerned it is not very effective in reminding users to upgrade to the new version of the App.
Any insight would be very helpful. Thanks StackOverflowers, you guys rock!

As of 2019 the best way for updating your app is to use In-app updates provided by Play Core library (1.5.0+). It works for Lollipop and newer, but let's be fair, Kit-Kat is less than 7% as of today and soon will be gone forever. You can safely run this code on Kit-Kat without version checks, it won't crash.
Official documentation: https://developer.android.com/guide/app-bundle/in-app-updates
There are two types of In-app updates: Flexible and Immediate
Flexible will ask you nicely in a dialog window:
whereas Immediate will require you to update the app in order to continue using it with full-screen message (this page can be dismissed):
Important: for now, you can't choose which type of update to roll out in your App Release section on Developer Play Console. But apparently, they will give us that option soon.
From what I've tested, currently, we're getting both types available in onSuccessListener.
So let's implement both types in our code.
In module build.gradle add the following dependency:
dependencies {
implementation 'com.google.android.play:core:1.6.1'//for new version updater
}
In MainActivity.class:
private static final int REQ_CODE_VERSION_UPDATE = 530;
private AppUpdateManager appUpdateManager;
private InstallStateUpdatedListener installStateUpdatedListener;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
checkForAppUpdate();
}
#Override
protected void onResume() {
super.onResume();
checkNewAppVersionState();
}
#Override
public void onActivityResult(int requestCode, final int resultCode, Intent intent) {
super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, intent);
switch (requestCode) {
case REQ_CODE_VERSION_UPDATE:
if (resultCode != RESULT_OK) { //RESULT_OK / RESULT_CANCELED / RESULT_IN_APP_UPDATE_FAILED
L.d("Update flow failed! Result code: " + resultCode);
// If the update is cancelled or fails,
// you can request to start the update again.
unregisterInstallStateUpdListener();
}
break;
}
}
#Override
protected void onDestroy() {
unregisterInstallStateUpdListener();
super.onDestroy();
}
private void checkForAppUpdate() {
// Creates instance of the manager.
appUpdateManager = AppUpdateManagerFactory.create(AppCustom.getAppContext());
// Returns an intent object that you use to check for an update.
Task<AppUpdateInfo> appUpdateInfoTask = appUpdateManager.getAppUpdateInfo();
// Create a listener to track request state updates.
installStateUpdatedListener = new InstallStateUpdatedListener() {
#Override
public void onStateUpdate(InstallState installState) {
// Show module progress, log state, or install the update.
if (installState.installStatus() == InstallStatus.DOWNLOADED)
// After the update is downloaded, show a notification
// and request user confirmation to restart the app.
popupSnackbarForCompleteUpdateAndUnregister();
}
};
// Checks that the platform will allow the specified type of update.
appUpdateInfoTask.addOnSuccessListener(appUpdateInfo -> {
if (appUpdateInfo.updateAvailability() == UpdateAvailability.UPDATE_AVAILABLE) {
// Request the update.
if (appUpdateInfo.isUpdateTypeAllowed(AppUpdateType.FLEXIBLE)) {
// Before starting an update, register a listener for updates.
appUpdateManager.registerListener(installStateUpdatedListener);
// Start an update.
startAppUpdateFlexible(appUpdateInfo);
} else if (appUpdateInfo.isUpdateTypeAllowed(AppUpdateType.IMMEDIATE) ) {
// Start an update.
startAppUpdateImmediate(appUpdateInfo);
}
}
});
}
private void startAppUpdateImmediate(AppUpdateInfo appUpdateInfo) {
try {
appUpdateManager.startUpdateFlowForResult(
appUpdateInfo,
AppUpdateType.IMMEDIATE,
// The current activity making the update request.
this,
// Include a request code to later monitor this update request.
MainActivity.REQ_CODE_VERSION_UPDATE);
} catch (IntentSender.SendIntentException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
private void startAppUpdateFlexible(AppUpdateInfo appUpdateInfo) {
try {
appUpdateManager.startUpdateFlowForResult(
appUpdateInfo,
AppUpdateType.FLEXIBLE,
// The current activity making the update request.
this,
// Include a request code to later monitor this update request.
MainActivity.REQ_CODE_VERSION_UPDATE);
} catch (IntentSender.SendIntentException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
unregisterInstallStateUpdListener();
}
}
/**
* Displays the snackbar notification and call to action.
* Needed only for Flexible app update
*/
private void popupSnackbarForCompleteUpdateAndUnregister() {
Snackbar snackbar =
Snackbar.make(drawerLayout, getString(R.string.update_downloaded), Snackbar.LENGTH_INDEFINITE);
snackbar.setAction(R.string.restart, new View.OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick(View view) {
appUpdateManager.completeUpdate();
}
});
snackbar.setActionTextColor(getResources().getColor(R.color.action_color));
snackbar.show();
unregisterInstallStateUpdListener();
}
/**
* Checks that the update is not stalled during 'onResume()'.
* However, you should execute this check at all app entry points.
*/
private void checkNewAppVersionState() {
appUpdateManager
.getAppUpdateInfo()
.addOnSuccessListener(
appUpdateInfo -> {
//FLEXIBLE:
// If the update is downloaded but not installed,
// notify the user to complete the update.
if (appUpdateInfo.installStatus() == InstallStatus.DOWNLOADED) {
popupSnackbarForCompleteUpdateAndUnregister();
}
//IMMEDIATE:
if (appUpdateInfo.updateAvailability()
== UpdateAvailability.DEVELOPER_TRIGGERED_UPDATE_IN_PROGRESS) {
// If an in-app update is already running, resume the update.
startAppUpdateImmediate(appUpdateInfo);
}
});
}
/**
* Needed only for FLEXIBLE update
*/
private void unregisterInstallStateUpdListener() {
if (appUpdateManager != null && installStateUpdatedListener != null)
appUpdateManager.unregisterListener(installStateUpdatedListener);
}
And we're done!
Testing.
Please read the docs so you will know how to test it properly with test tracks on Google Play.
Long story short:
Sign your app with the release certificate and upload it to the one of publishing tracks in Developer Play Console under App Releases (alpha/beta/other custom closed track).
In your release track page in the Manage Testers section create and add a list of testers and make sure you checked the checkbox! - this step is optional since your developer account email is also a testers account and you can use it for testing.
Under the list of testers you will find "Opt-in URL" - copy this url and give it to your testers or open it yourself. Go to that page and accept proposition for testing. There will be a link to the app. (You won't be able to search for the app in Play Store so bookmark it)
Install the app on your device by that link.
In build.gradle increment the version of defaultConfig { versionCode k+1 } and build another signed apk Build > Generate Signed Bundle / APK... and upload it to your publishing track.
Wait for... 1 hour? 2 hours? or more before it will be published on the track.
CLEAR THE CACHE of Play Store app on your device. The problem is that Play app caches details about installed apps and their available updates so you need to clear the cache. In order to do that take two steps:
7.1. Go to Settings > App > Google PLay Store > Storage > Clear Cache.
7.2. Open the Play Store app > open main menu > My apps & games > and there you should see that your app has a new update.
If you don't see it make sure that your new update is already released on the track (go to your bookmarked page and use it to open your apps listing on the Play Store to see what version is shown there). Also, when your update will be live you'll see a notification on the top right of your Developer Play Console (a bell icon will have a red dot).
Hope it helps.

The Android Market is a closed system and has only an unofficial api that might break at any point of time.
Your best bet is simply to host a file(xml, json or simple text) on a web server of yours in which you just have to update the current version of your app when you post it on the Market.
Your app will then only have to fetch that file at startup, checks wether currently installed app has a lower version number and displays a dialog to warn the user he is lagging.

Another option you can use, if you want to avoid having your backend server to store your current app version like it's suggested in the accepted answer, is to use Google Tag Manager (GTM).
If you're already using the Google Analytics SDK, you have the GTM in it also.
In GTM you can define a value in the container for your app that specifies your latest released version. For example:
{
"latestAppVersion": 14,
...
}
Then you can query that value when your app starts and show the user update dialog reminder if there's a newer version.
Container container = TagManager.getInstance(context).openContainer(myContainerId);
long latestVersionCode = container.getLong("latestAppVersion");
// get currently running app version code
PackageInfo pInfo = getPackageManager().getPackageInfo(getPackageName(), 0);
long versionCode = pInfo.versionCode;
// check if update is needed
if(versionCode < latestVersionCode) {
// remind user to update his version
}

Take a look at this library that you can use to query the Android Market API
http://code.google.com/p/android-market-api/

You can use this Android Library: https://github.com/danielemaddaluno/Android-Update-Checker. It aims to provide a reusable instrument to check asynchronously if exists any newer released update of your app on the Store.
It is based on the use of Jsoup (http://jsoup.org/) to test if a new update really exists parsing the app page on the Google Play Store:
private boolean web_update(){
try {
String curVersion = applicationContext.getPackageManager().getPackageInfo(package_name, 0).versionName;
String newVersion = curVersion;
newVersion = Jsoup.connect("https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=" + package_name + "&hl=en")
.timeout(30000)
.userAgent("Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; WindowsNT 5.1; en-US; rv1.8.1.6) Gecko/20070725 Firefox/2.0.0.6")
.referrer("http://www.google.com")
.get()
.select("div[itemprop=softwareVersion]")
.first()
.ownText();
return (value(curVersion) < value(newVersion)) ? true : false;
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
return false;
}
}
And as "value" function the following (works if values are beetween 0-99):
private long value(String string) {
string = string.trim();
if( string.contains( "." )){
final int index = string.lastIndexOf( "." );
return value( string.substring( 0, index ))* 100 + value( string.substring( index + 1 ));
}
else {
return Long.valueOf( string );
}
}
If you want only to verify a mismatch beetween versions, you can change:
"value(curVersion) < value(newVersion)" with "value(curVersion) != value(newVersion)"

For prompting Android App User to Update App if current version is not equal to market version, you should first check the app version on the market and compare it with the version of the app on the device. If they are different, it may be an update available. In this post I wrote down the code for getting the current version of market and current version on the device and compare them together. I also showed how to show the update dialog and redirect the user to the update page. Please visit this link: https://stackoverflow.com/a/33925032/5475941

My working Kotlin code for force App update:
const val FLEXIABLE_UPADTE: Int = 101
const val FORCE_UPDATE: Int = 102
const val APP_UPDATE_CODE: Int = 500
override fun onCreate {
// Get updateType from Webservice.
updateApp(updateType)
}
private fun updateApp(statusCode: Int) {
appUpdateManager = AppUpdateManagerFactory.create(this #MainActivity)
val appUpdateInfoTask = appUpdateManager ? .appUpdateInfo
appUpdateInfoTask ? .addOnSuccessListener {
appUpdateInfo - >
if (appUpdateInfo.updateAvailability() == UpdateAvailability.UPDATE_AVAILABLE) {
if ((statusCode == Constants.FORCE_UPDATE))
appUpdateManager ? .startUpdateFlowForResult(
appUpdateInfo, AppUpdateType.IMMEDIATE, this, Constants.APP_UPDATE_CODE
)
else if (statusCode == Constants.FLEXIABLE_UPADTE)
appUpdateManager ? .startUpdateFlowForResult(
appUpdateInfo, AppUpdateType.FLEXIBLE, this, Constants.FLEXIABLE_UPADTE
)
}
}
}
override fun onActivityResult(requestCode: Int, resultCode: Int, data: Intent ? ) {
try {
if (requestCode == Constants.APP_UPDATE_CODE && resultCode == Activity.RESULT_OK) {
if (resultCode != RESULT_OK) {
appUpdateCompleted()
}
}
} catch (e: java.lang.Exception) {
}
}
private fun appUpdateCompleted() {
Snackbar.make(
findViewById(R.id.activity_main_layout),
"An update has just been downloaded.",
Snackbar.LENGTH_INDEFINITE
).apply {
setAction("RESTART") {
appUpdateManager.completeUpdate()
}
setActionTextColor(resources.getColor(R.color.snackbar_action_text_color))
show()
}
}