Exclusive Interview With Charles Jamerlan, iPhone App Developer Of Finger Maniac

Hi Charles, can you tell our readers how your app was originally thought of, what were your thoughts behind the marketplace, specifically?

Sure Joanne, well I had been developing an educational game that would teach people how to type fast an accurately on the iPhone. Then one day I had come across a game on the web that challenged gamers how fast they can type the alphabet. So I thought it would be neat to build this game I was working on around this challenge. From this, Finger Maniac was born.

I have quite a few apps on the App Store I think the marketplace is indeed quite brilliant and ingenious, for both Apple and indie developers. The trouble now is getting your app visible with the thousands of apps that currently swim in the store. So definitely, marketing is key to success in the marketplace.

Can you tell us how you came up with the colors and themes ideas, design?

I wanted to go for a fun, cheery, and “papery” theme for this game Joanne. So I designed everything around a crumpled paper background, along with hand drawn text styles. More importantly was choosing the correct background music – I believe it helps to set the mood for playing the game. Who wants to play a game with dreary boring music?

Who do you see as the main target market for this app?

Everyone. Everyone knows how to type. Everyone has free time. Everyone is competitive. Put those all together, and you have the perfect formula for the Finger Maniac gamer. The game sports online leaderboards – which which allows customers to challenge friends and family, or even complete strangers!

How long did it take from the original planning to the production process of your app?

From start to finish, the total hours of completing this game was about one month. I always find the hardest part is designing and creating a solid gameplay environment
for the game. Once that is completed, the coding is fairly straightforward.

How do you view your sales, is there a good solid market for this style of app?

Sales are fairly average, between 10-20 sales per day. It had been downloaded a lot more upon its release, but with every app on the store, the sales dwindle as days go by. Its quite hard to compete with a ton of other great apps, so that’s where marketing and promotions will come into play – such as our contest where you can win a brand new Apple iPad!

What has been the hardest obstacle you have had to overcome regarding this app development?

Its quite disappointing to pour all your development efforts into a solid product, only to have it sell none. So I would say the hardest obstacle would be how to market and sell your product successfully on the store.

Would you consider developing apps for third parties?

Absolutely! In fact, part of my core business is developing for third parties – as the app explosion is booming, more and more business are looking for ways to get their products and brands out into the app stratosphere. It’s a very good time for seasoned iPhone developers these days.

What have you learnt from the App Store since you launched your app?

Put out a great products, learn to market your product well with all the tools you can use, and pray for some good luck! It always helps to be lucky on the app store – you can featured by Apple, or just have a great day of sales. It can only take one small step to make great leaps on the app store.

Have Apple supported you well with your app?

They have been very good in my experience. Apps are reviewed in a very timely manner and payments come on time – I can’t complain!

What next, are you developing another app? Would you go for the same genre again, if not which?

Yes, I am in the process of developing a few apps, some games and some entertainment novelties. With the pending launch of the iPad, I have a few great ideas ready to go at launch as well.

The Apple iPad – what are your thoughts about it and how do you think your app will integrate?

I believe the iPad is a new revolution of computing – the future as we see it in the movies is finally coming to reality. Yes, it may be “underpowered” in specs to some degree, but what Apple does great is in the user interface. I have never seen a product work so well with a user – you don’t have to be technically save to use one. Its definitely going to change the landscape of consumer computing.

As far as my apps are concerned, I’ll be making iPad specific versions to make use of the extra real estate – the more space the merrier!!