stíobhart

Q: Mavericks: GameKit.framework 'gamed' process –constant network connections

Since upgrading to Mavericks, Little Snitch's network monitor is showing a ridiculous amount of attempts by a process called gamed, which is part of the GameKit.framework, at making network connections. Sometimes it will try dozens of times in a row before giving up. Obviously this framework is something to do with Apple's Game Centre, which I've only previously come across on iOS. What is it now doing on OSX, given that there seems to be no GUI 'front-end' for it? And how the **** do I disable it? I have no games on my comp and no intention of installing any, so I don't really want to be wasting processor cycles with some framework which won't take [Little Snitch's] "no" for an answer, continually trying to beat a path to the internet.

 

Screengrab link: http://d.pr/i/r4np+

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Oct 28, 2013 11:13 AM

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Q: Mavericks: GameKit.framework 'gamed' process –constant network connections

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  • by Noworryz2,

    Noworryz2 Noworryz2 Sep 14, 2014 1:30 PM in response to stíobhart
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 14, 2014 1:30 PM in response to stíobhart

    As mentioned above, you don't need to delete files, which will cause an error in the system log. Instead, just log in as an administrative user, run the Terminal application, and type (or copy from here and paste) at the prompt:

      sudo defaults write /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.gamed Disabled -bool true


    After restarting your computer, gamed will not be running and the Little Snitch network monitor won't be flashing. I've tested and guarantee it works with Mavericks.

     

    To reverse the change, you can type:

      sudo defaults delete /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.gamed Disabled

  • by thisea,

    thisea thisea Oct 20, 2014 5:34 AM in response to Noworryz2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2014 5:34 AM in response to Noworryz2

    The problem solves itself by installing Yosemite

    (however other problems appear....)

  • by leon-geyer,

    leon-geyer leon-geyer Nov 12, 2014 8:03 AM in response to Noworryz2
    Level 1 (21 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 12, 2014 8:03 AM in response to Noworryz2

    what about this: launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.gamed.plist? requires no sudo (found on http://www.blog-it-solutions.de/2014/mac-os-game-center-telefoniert/)

  • by adickybird,

    adickybird adickybird Jul 3, 2015 11:54 PM in response to numbles45
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 3, 2015 11:54 PM in response to numbles45

    Hi

    This appears to be a permanent cure. I can't find a trace of it. Thank-you

  • by BombshellBill,

    BombshellBill BombshellBill Sep 16, 2015 5:27 PM in response to numbles45
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 16, 2015 5:27 PM in response to numbles45

    Thanks Numble45.
    Quick and easy. Worked like a charm.

  • by OregonRebel,

    OregonRebel OregonRebel Nov 15, 2015 1:26 AM in response to thisea
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 15, 2015 1:26 AM in response to thisea

    thisea wrote:

     

    The problem solves itself by installing Yosemite

     

     

    No, it doesn't.

     

    I'm reading this discussion because I've finally had enough of the call-home attempts on YOSEMITE 10.10.5 to take action.

  • by OregonRebel,

    OregonRebel OregonRebel Nov 15, 2015 2:19 AM in response to gordonol
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 15, 2015 2:19 AM in response to gordonol

    gordonol wrote:

     

    Apple has failed to generate any enthusiasm among gamers, so the people responsible for that division use this feature to get in your face...

     

    Well that's false - gamed, like other background processes, is just that - in the background, and the vast majority will never even know it exists or what it's doing. Only those using LS or HandsOff! or some other such app would have a clue about all the unnecessary and intrusive call-outs, so it is definitely not "in your face" any more than fontd or sysmond are.

     

    If Apple really wanted to throw their games in your face, they'd invoke a window every hour that said

                              Would You Like To Play A Game?

     

     

    And some folks don't run LS with Network Monitor in the menu bar, so even those users likely wouldn't know how often gamed calls home to mommy.

    I've used LS for years, but until recently I normally kept the menu item turned off.

    Now that I've been watching it more closely, I've been blocking more processes.

  • by Gramps,

    Gramps Gramps Nov 15, 2015 9:56 AM in response to Noworryz2
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 15, 2015 9:56 AM in response to Noworryz2

    Did not work for me. Terminal returned the following explanation:

     

    Could not write domain /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.gamed; exiting

     

    What's going on?

  • by KeithLeeds,

    KeithLeeds KeithLeeds Dec 9, 2015 12:07 AM in response to Gramps
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2015 12:07 AM in response to Gramps

    Seems /System is a whitelist, so finding /System/Library/..../gamed is easy, but changing or removing or disabling it is hard.  I haven't found a work-around yet... except...

     

    I have a daemon that kills the process called gamed.  That stopped it cold until next reboot.  It took a kill -9 to do it.

     

    I would certainly rather disable it.

     

    -Keith

    (on El Capitan 10.11.1 on a new MacBook Pro)

  • by Graham Bailey,

    Graham Bailey Graham Bailey Dec 28, 2015 7:17 AM in response to Noworryz2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 28, 2015 7:17 AM in response to Noworryz2

    Thank You THANK YOU!!

     

    I found this thread after having major connectivity problems - my tech Son said it was my (new) Mac - maybe the wi-fi - Each time Firefox wouldn't load, I tried switching off Wi-Fi which sometimes worked, if not I re-started Firefox which cured the problem- temporarily.

     

    Then I noticed the flashing red "X" in LS (menu bar) monitor... opened network monitor and noticed lots of RED under "gamed" in library/frameworks...

     

    I did as you suggest - problems gone, to those that say this solution doesn't work you may want to copy/paste into terminal as the command has to be EXACT including all spaces, and you have to re-start your Mac after closing terminal

     

    ... Now if someone would compile a list of ALL the "redundant" new "features" and how to disable them, like this, that would be perfect...

  • by Jody Joy,

    Jody Joy Jody Joy Jan 27, 2016 6:06 AM in response to Noworryz2
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 27, 2016 6:06 AM in response to Noworryz2

    Any idea if this works with El Capitan? I tried the suggestion - copied and pasted the string into Terminal but got the following:

    Could not write domain /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.gamed; exiting

     

    Does this mean that Apple has blocked this command from being carried out in Terminal? Is there another way to do this?

  • by globalxs,

    globalxs globalxs Jan 29, 2016 12:20 AM in response to Jody Joy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 29, 2016 12:20 AM in response to Jody Joy

    Hi. I encountered the same problem as you mentioned.

    It can be solved by logging-in as root first and run the command you want after that;

    Log-in as root:

    • sudo su -

    Next, run the command you want. I decided to run them both eventually;

    You can copy and paste this into the Terminal:

    • defaults write com.apple.gamed Disabled -bool true

    Change the "true" to "false" to change it back.

     

    Alternatively you could use the following command;

    • defaults delete com.apple.gamed Disabled

    ... to remove the setting entirely.

     

    Good luck!

  • by globalxs,

    globalxs globalxs Jan 30, 2016 4:48 AM in response to globalxs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 30, 2016 4:48 AM in response to globalxs

    Hi All,

    I must say the entries work BUT when restarting the system, the 'gamed'-service is again alive and kicking. This means that my earlier remark about first logging-in as root doesn't solve the issue.

    So, after every restart you'll have to open the console and enter:

    • sudo defaults write com.apple.gamed Disabled -bool true

    or

    • sudo defaults delete com.apple.gamed Disabled

    With this the 'gamed'-service is gone and Little Snitch can focus on more meaningful things.

    Next challenge is to enter the above into a script that's executed everytime the system starts-up.

    I'll try to something like i found here: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/156288/how-to-get-shell-scripts-to-run- at-startup-on-yosemite

    ... and be back in a couple of days with a result.

  • by OregonRebel,

    OregonRebel OregonRebel Jan 30, 2016 6:23 PM in response to globalxs
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 30, 2016 6:23 PM in response to globalxs

    I don't remember which command I used, but one of them worked for me and gamed hasn't been active in quite some time.

    I didn't want to uninstall it in case I ever do want to try some games.

     

    It seems the commands don't work for everyone though.

     

    If one fails, try another.

    I tried commands from a couple different sites recently to get Dock to hide/unhide faster.

     

    There's an extensive and useful list of terminal commands here. https://github.com/mathiasbynens/dotfiles/blob/master/.osx

  • by postjosh,

    postjosh postjosh Apr 18, 2016 9:14 AM in response to OregonRebel
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Apr 18, 2016 9:14 AM in response to OregonRebel

    i am experimenting with a different fix. it seems to be working even after restart.

     

    i put the offending machine (el capitan) into firewire target mode and mounted it on an older laptop (snow leopard). i went to the

    /System/Library/LaunchAgents/

    folder and found "com.apple.gamed.plist" and made a backup copy for safety.

    i then opened the original file with a text editor and deleted the contents. it is now a blank text file.

     

    i restarted the el capitan laptop and little snitch is not reporting any connection attempts. everything seems ok.

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