Amazon opens GameCircle for Kindle Fire

By Ryan Faughnder

July 11, 2012 12 AM PT

The relatively easy-on-the-budget tablet Kindle Fire is getting a gaming revamp.

Game developers will now be able to use Amazon.com Inc.’s new set of services called Amazon GameCircle.

GameCircle’s features will let players keep track of their accomplishments -- like trophies, badges and awards earned. Players also can compare their scores with other players through ranking systems.

If all this sounds familiar, that’s because Apple’s Game Center offers similar services.

Another GameCircle feature, sync, automatically saves players’ progress in the cloud. That means the information will be available even when players switch devices or restore deleted games.

“Our goal is to give developers great tools to quickly and easily reach new customers and keep them engaged,” said Paul Ryder, vice president of apps, games and services at Amazon, in a blog post announcing the revamp Wednesday morning.

It’s not the only way the online shopping giant is trying to challenge Apple. Rumors began circulating Wednesday that Amazon is working on its own smartphone.

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