how to pass game center data between activities?

Question

Well, I'm implementing the new game center in android and there is a concept that i don't understand.

I have a class which extends BaseGameActivity (https://developers.google.com/games/services/android/init), so it's the one who manages achievements, leaderboards, Google + sign in, etc. I need another class to be able to access game center data from that activity (unlock achievements, leaderboards, etc), but this class is not called from the extending BaseGameActivity class.

How can they communicate?

The structure is like this (meaning "->" that it starts other activity)

A (extends BaseGameActivity) -> B -> C (needs game center communication with A)

I have read the google's example (TypeANumber) but it uses a Listener to communicate, that's easy when the class you need to communicate with is the one which you are starting, but it's not as easy with my structure.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Answer 1

What I think is you have 3 choices:

1. Create a GamesClient for each Activity that needs it, but you have to call connect() for each activity, and it takes time. After the first connection, the other ones are much faster (a few hundred milliseconds)
2. Create your own Application class and use it as a context for the GamesClient.Builder, and store your GamesClient object in your Application class. I've tested it, and it works. Now, I know it's discouraged to do that (because it breaks the Android philosophy) but it seems a lot of people prefer to create their own application class and store data into it instead of bundling data and passing them from one activity to another. Its main advantage is that you don't have to modify a lot of thing to make it work in your case (and in mine).
3. Use Fragment classes instead of Activity classes and use a main Activity which owns the GamesClient object (in that case, your class C would be able to communicate with class A). Like in the example you're mentioning, there's only one Activity which inherits from Google example's BaseGameActivity (which contains the GamesClient instance), and the rest is just Fragment classes (each Fragment being a screen).