Exclusive Interview With Charles Jamerlan, iPhone App Developer Of Finger Maniac
Finger Maniac is a fast and furious game for the iPhone or iPod Touch, it is highly addictive and great fun. We wanted to find out more about how Finger Maniac was developed and how it has become so successful. We spoke with Charles Jamerlan the developer of this app to find out – read this fascinating interview now.
The Beginning
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.
Design
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?
Target Market
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!
Production Process
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.
Sales
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!
Obstacles
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.
Third Parties
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.
App Store
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.
Apple Support
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!
The Future
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.
Apple iPad
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!!
Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
