Sunstorm Interactive made its name in the late 1990s with FPS expansions and PC hunting games.

Fast-forward 15 years, and rebranded as Sunstorm Games, it's looking to become a force in kid-oriented casual mobile gaming, however.

Having reinvented itself in 2009 as an iOS developer, it's since built up a community of 10 million monthly active players, or one million on a daily basis.

"It's been solid growth," explains CEO Eric Cantini.

"We've worked with some great brands like ICEE, providing fun and simple games to our players."

Indeed, the Las Vegas company has released 80 games on iOS and 20 on Android, gaining particular attention for its Maker franchise.

Its cumulative download total is 140 million.

Pace of change

But as the mobile ecosystem has become more competitive, Cantini is looking to take the company to the next level.

"We have a new executive team including a new COO, a new CRO and a new director of game development," he states.

Cantini himself is part of the influx, having joined in September 2012.

Combined with a more general hiring push that's taken headcount over 30, a new office in Ohio, and a particular focus on quality assurance, it's now looking to release casual but deeper experiences.

"Player expectations are evolving very quickly and we need to keep up with that curve," explains Cantini.

This won't result in more complex games, though,

"Going deeper and richer isn't about more complexity. It's about provided a higher degree of control for our players," he argues.

The first two games of the new regime will be Sunnyville Salon and Sunnyville Pet Shop, although the company plans for a further three to four such titles in 2013.

It will also continue to release what Cantini calls 'thinner slices of fun'.

"Those games have a shorter shelf life, but they are great for cross promotion," he points out.