With the iPad's launch moving from our short-term to our medium term memory, it's time to catch up with some of the developers who released launch games, to find out what their reaction was to Apple's latest wonder device.
First up is Sarah Thomson from Canadian studio IUGO, which released three iPad versions of existing iPhone games (Cliffed, Explode!, and Zombie Attack!), plus a new universal app ESCAPE.
Pocket Gamer: How long did you take developing your iPad games?
Sarah Thomson: We began work pretty much as soon as the updated SDK was available. We were able to knock out three enhanced existing titles with new graphics updates and features exclusive to the iPad.
We also launched a brand new title called ESCAPE: Norm's World XL for both the iPhone/iPod touch/iPad. So that's four titles we completed in about a month and a half. Not bad for a little guy!
How have sales of your iPad games compared to your expectations?
We actually didn't develop iPad games for spectacular sales. We went into our iPad development with the view of it being a promotional opportunity.
With the base of users starting off very modestly but the hype factor being very high, we hoped this would be a great chance to further elevate the IUGO brand, strengthen user loyalty, be first to market and have a trickle down effect to our much larger iPhone/iPod user base. We feel it worked,
Have you been surprised so many iPad games have been versions of existing iPhone games?
No, I think it only makes sense. Developers and even the big publishers don't want to heavily invest into a brand new, iPad-only title. It's too risky.
I don't think anyone, except for maybe EA and Gameloft, will see the kinds of sales we see on the iPhone for the iPad for quite some time. Give it a couple of years to build up the user base.
Do you expect to make future games universal apps or will iPad evolve into its own separate platform?
We'll most certainly be developing iPhone and iPad games in the future. We may experiment with having separate builds seeing as all of IUGO launch titles were universal.
It's hard to know which route is the best unless you try both models. We like to experiment a lot.
Do you think iPad will be a game device in the way iPod touch is?
No, we believe the iPad is a great device to consume all sorts of media. Games will certainly be a big part of that but tons of other users will be using it regularly for internet browsing, reading mags, watching movies, the whole bit.
Apple did a great job making all of those tasks a joy to perform on the iPad. It's all about the stellar user experience.
What's your impression of using the iPad?
I love it! I totally 'get' this device. It is the perfect device to use on the couch, in your bed, at the coffee shop.
I think it's Apple's first casual user device and we all know how big the casual market is. I can't stop playing Cliffed XL on the iPad with my husband. It is insanely fun!
Thanks to Sarah for her time
Interview
Contributing Editor
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.
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