Appmania!

I got an interview with the developers of iNetMania this week and thought I would like to share it with you! Also scroll down for the review of iNetMania!

App store link: iNetMania

Interview:

Q: What made you think of an app like this?

A: Ben Fisher:  iNetMania was born from the award winning board game we had created back in 2007. ServerMania (www.ServerManiaGame.com) was initially created as a marketing piece for a trade show event in the web hosting industry. Dan White, Derek Vaughan - a former partner - and I were sitting around thinking of neat things to do and in a few months we created the unique gameplay which is the foundation of what is now iNetMania. Lol, it all started with a base design on a excel spread sheet actually. After we saw the popularity and how playing the game really made people smile and just have a great time, Dan and I said to ourselves "selves, let?s do this on the iPhone!" So, we found some private funding, a great development partner and a fantastic marketing/PR support partner. It would have not been possible without everyone involved.

A: Dan White: The iPhone development was an easy choice for us. We both admired what Apple has done; it's an innovative platform that has a lot of potential for all types of apps and games. From our history in the gaming industry, we had made the right connections and simply needed to put it all together. We must have done something right, as you can see, it's gotten us listed on New & Noteworthy!

Q: How long did it take you to develop the app? 

A: Ben Fisher: We started the game in November of 2008. The first iteration of the game only took three months. Avantar was a wonderful company to work with and the key to rapid development with remote people was that we had clear and fast lines of communication. After the initial submission, we actually pulled the game from the app store before it was approved and decided to go back to the drawing board on the graphic design. We had unintentionally focused so much on gameplay that graphics had suffered. There is a lot more to this story; it was a wild ride.

A: Dan White: As Ben stated, we learned a lot from this. For example, we initially were shooting for six to eight weeks of development time.  We found that it's nearly impossible to put out a high quality game in that time frame.  The additional time we put into the 3D design and graphics is worth it, greatly improving the game experience

Q: Can we play music from our iPods?  

A: Ben Fisher: YES, you can play music from your iPod/iPhone while playing the game. During development, you have to think about all the little details; what happens to the game state when a call comes in or the user presses the home button? Will a text message interrupt game play? The devil is in the details as they say. I can really appreciate how much goes into the games I love to play and have the utmost respect for all game developers.

Q: If you are planning future updates/add ons, could you give us a sneak peak? 

A: Ben Fisher: I am not sure we are talking much about what the future updates will be, but we will be listening to the reviews and community closely. One major thing we know needs to be addressed is the speed of the die. The die is about 1,000 polygons and a little sluggish when falling out of the cup. We had a lower res die and it was uber fast, but decided to go with a better look. The physics that is behind the cup/die is pretty sophisticated so any poly change affects how the die will react to a slight movement in the cup or when landing on the board. One thing no one knows yet is that how you roll the die and how you dump the die will truly affect the outcome of the number that comes up in play. It was a real accomplishment to create a program that can roll a die in true 3D.

A: Dan White: There are several areas to look at, especially with the 3.0 update coming down the line.

Q: Will there be a Lite version in the future? 

A: Ben Fisher: We had toyed with the idea of a lite version, and at this point have not made a decision. But, we will continue to support the game. It is our baby.

A: Dan White: A lite version is still on the table for consideration. We would have to figure out how a board game like this would work as a lite version and still give the gamers an enjoyable experience.

Q: Any future titles/apps we can expect in the coming future?

A: Ben Fisher: We are a production company/publisher so we have a few new ideas and are currently working on some projects with some high profile people. That being said, we are always looking for talented people to work with on future titles. We have the talent in place to make someone?s ideas come to reality. So, if you know anyone who has an idea and is looking to get it rolling or has a demo, have them contact us - we would be happy to talk.

A: Dan White:  Definitely! We really enjoyed doing this and have some great ideas in the works! We have a great team of people to work with and it's fun coming to work every day!

I might be able to get a review up this week if I have the time, thanks again Ben Fisher and Dan White!

iNetMania on the Appstore!

Review:

Well, I started playing this and I played and full game of iNetMania I really liked it . iNetMania is a board-game just like Monopoly ( I LOVE Monopoly ) and there much the same but with the same object ( to win and get money lol ). One of the reasons I like iNetMania is not just because it's like Monopoly but the gameplay and feel to it.  A neat thing about this app is, to roll the dice you have to shake your device to roll it and did I forget to mention that this game is 3D! But sometimes the game does gets a little lag.  In iNetMania you play as a website owner ( like me lol lol ) and you go through out the game trying to win and make money, but as you go along you incounter different blocks you land on that give you more money and other stuff that make the game interesting. Another thing is to iNetMania is that not only losing money plus you have to worry about you losing vistors which is another great twist. Overall iNetMania is a very good board game with lots of cool features and things inside plus the user interaction with rolling the dice, and the nice 3D graphics and a very nice feel to it. It's also a steal for a the price it is now (for a limited price of only 2.99 USD as of April 8th, 2009) and is very addicting and fun for a family.

**********Short Review**********

iNetMania is a very good board game with lots of cool features and things inside plus the user interaction with rolling the dice, and the nice 3D graphics and a very nice feel to it. It's also a steal for a the price it is now (for a limited price of only 2.99 USD as of April 8th, 2009) and is very addicting and fun for a family.

Description and Screenshots:

TechPad Productions is proud to present its first game for the Apple App Store, iNetMania! iNetMania is based heavily upon TechPad?s popular and award-winning board game, ServerMania. Compete with up to three other players (either human with hot-seat multiplayer or computer controlled AI) to create the most successful website with the highest amount of visitors. The game takes the player from the start-up phase all the way to the finish line, with plenty of highs and lows (or Spikes and Slumps) along the way. Increase your web traffic, as visitors translate into money ? the player with the largest pile of cash at the end of the game wins!

FEATURES

- Great graphics, featuring dynamic animations with fluid, openGL animations
- Quick-play option lets you get into the game quickly and easily
- Keep track of your progress and prowess by creating up to 30 profiles and unlocking special gameplay achievements
- Play with up to three other competitors, either your real-life friends or a tough computer AI!
- Gameplay is saved if you quit or have to take a call
- Three un-lockable player game pieces ? collect them all!
- Use the Accelerometer to shake the die in a 3D, virtual cup with real-world physics (a first for the iPhone!)

Screenshots:

iNetMania on the App store

Video (not by anyone here at Appmania) :