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Cloud Services

Welcome to cloud services! This is where we'll explore the online systems that power your arcade cabinet. Think of these services as your arcade's behind-the-scenes crew - they handle payments, send messages, and keep everything running smoothly! ☁️

The Big Picture 🎯

Your arcade uses three main cloud services:

graph TB
    subgraph "AWS Lambda"
        A[API Service]
    end

    subgraph "EMQX Cloud"
        B[Message Broker]
    end

    subgraph "Stripe"
        C[Payment Service]
    end

    A -->|Publishes Messages| B
    C -->|Payment Webhooks| A
    B -->|Delivers Messages| D[Arcade Cabinet]
    D -->|Game Over| B

    style A fill:#FF9900,color:#000
    style B fill:#00AA9E,color:#000
    style C fill:#635BFF,color:#fff

Think of it Like a Restaurant

  • AWS Lambda is like the waiter taking orders
  • EMQX is like the kitchen intercom system
  • Stripe is like the cash register
  • Your cabinet is like the kitchen cooking up games!

AWS Lambda ⚡

What it Does

AWS Lambda runs your arcade's API (Application Programming Interface) in the cloud:

  • Processes payments from Stripe
  • Sends start game signals
  • Handles game over messages
  • Creates QR codes for payments
  • Manages multiple cabinets

Why Lambda?

Lambda is "serverless" which means:

  • You don't manage any servers
  • It runs only when needed
  • Scales automatically
  • Perfect for arcade cabinets!

Key Features

  1. API Endpoints

    • /create-payment-link - Makes QR codes
    • /addCredit - Processes payments
    • /gameover - Handles game endings
    • /status - Checks system health

  2. Free Tier Benefits

    • 1 million requests per month free
    • 400,000 GB-seconds compute time
    • Perfect for arcade systems
    • Room to grow

EMQX Cloud 📡

What it Does

EMQX is your messaging system:

  • Connects cabinets to the cloud
  • Delivers messages instantly
  • Handles real-time updates
  • Keeps everything in sync

Message Types

EMQX handles two main messages:

  1. Coin Pulse (Start Game): 

    {
    "machineId": "arcade123",
    "credits": 1,
    "timestamp": "2024-07-01T12:00:00Z"
}

  2. Game Over: 

    {
    "machineId": "arcade123",
    "status": "game_over",
    "timestamp": "2024-07-01T12:30:00Z"
}

Free Tier Features

  • 1 million session minutes/month
  • 1 GB traffic/month
  • Perfect for getting started
  • Easy to upgrade later

Stripe 💳

What it Does

Stripe handles all your payments:

  • Creates payment pages
  • Processes credit cards
  • Sends success messages
  • Handles refunds if needed

Test vs Live Mode

Stripe has two modes:

  • Test Mode: Practice with fake cards
  • Live Mode: Real payments when ready

Key Features

  1. Payment Links

    • Easy QR code generation
    • Mobile-friendly pages
    • Secure processing
    • Instant confirmation

  2. Webhooks

    • Instant payment notification
    • Secure delivery
    • Automatic retries
    • Payment verification

How They Work Together 🤝

Let's follow a payment through the system:

sequenceDiagram
    participant P as Player
    participant S as Stripe
    participant L as Lambda
    participant E as EMQX
    participant C as Cabinet

    P->>S: Makes Payment
    S->>L: Sends Webhook
    L->>E: Publishes Coin Pulse
    E->>C: Delivers Message
    C->>E: Sends Game Over
    E->>C: Updates Display

  1. Payment Flow

    • Player scans QR code
    • Pays through Stripe
    • Stripe notifies Lambda
    • Lambda tells EMQX
    • EMQX messages cabinet
    • Game starts!

  2. Game Over Flow

    • Game ends
    • Cabinet tells EMQX
    • System resets
    • Ready for next player

Free Tier Limits 📊

Each service has free limits:

  1. AWS Lambda

    • 1M requests/month
    • 400K GB-seconds
    • Never expires

  2. EMQX Cloud

    • 1M minutes/month
    • 1 GB traffic
    • Basic monitoring

  3. Stripe

    • No monthly fees
    • 2.9% + $0.30 per payment
    • Full test mode

Perfect for Learning!

These free tiers are designed for:

  • Learning the system
  • Testing everything
  • Starting your business
  • Growing over time

Security Features 🔒

Your cloud services are protected by:

  1. AWS Security

    • API authentication
    • Encrypted traffic
    • Role-based access
    • Activity monitoring

  2. EMQX Security

    • TLS encryption
    • Client authentication
    • Access control
    • Secure protocols

  3. Stripe Security

    • PCI compliance
    • Fraud detection
    • Webhook signatures
    • Data encryption

Monitoring & Debugging 🔍

Each service provides monitoring:

AWS CloudWatch

  • API request logs
  • Error tracking
  • Performance metrics
  • Usage statistics

EMQX Dashboard

  • Connection status
  • Message delivery
  • Client activity
  • System health

Stripe Dashboard

  • Payment history
  • Transaction details
  • Webhook logs
  • Error reports

Staying Informed

Check your dashboards for:

  • System health
  • Error messages
  • Usage patterns
  • Payment issues

Next Steps 🚀

Now that you understand the cloud services:

  1. Set up your accounts
  2. Test the system
  3. Monitor activity
  4. Start accepting payments!

Back to Game Control Start Setup →

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