Exclusive Interview With Slider Dice, iPhone App Developer Tim Weigel
I love this app! It is described in the literature as ‘almost as good as Checkers’, well I have to disagree, I think it is better. I will be reviewing this app shortly but I also wanted to find out more about the background and the developer behind it. Read this exclusive interview now…
The Beginning
Thanks for agreeing to the interview Tim, can you start by telling our readers how your app was originally thought of, what were your thoughts behind the marketplace, specifically?
Sure Joanne, Slider Dice is one result of a lifetime of playing table games and card games with family and friend, and experimenting with ways to create fun games.
Design
Can you tell us how you came up with the colors and themes ideas, design?
It is based from the actual Slider Dice board. We went with a playful font and tried to keep colors simple to avoid distraction. Making the game intuitive was a goal as well. Due to the fact that young people would be using this app we had to make it easy to learn the game. We incorporated a video tutorial, visual clues to show where the sliders can move, and textual cues to guide the user.
Target Market
Who do you see as the main target market for this app?
Slider Dice can be enjoyed by the young and old.
Production
How long did it take from the original planning to the production process of your app?
About two years.
Sales
How do you view your sales, is there a good solid market for this style of app?
We believe so, because people like an easy to learn game. You can play a complete game while you are standing in line anywhere. A perfect time killer!
Obstacles
What has been the hardest obstacle you have had to overcome regarding this app development?
Marketing and promotion. Ever since apps have been developed for the Iphone/Ipad platform there has been a rush to market these apps. So to distinguish yourself from the competition is a challenge.
Third Parties
Would you consider developing apps for third parties?
Yes.
App Store
What have your learnt from the App Store since you launched your app?
Predevelopment is crucial. People have short attention spans so the app has to capture the user from the get go. If not, they become frustrated and give up. So we try to cut those issues off "at the pass" during predevelopment.
Apple Support
Have Apple supported you well with your app?
Once they approve it, yes. That can be a challenge too because Apple is protective of their user’s experience. Heck, they haven’t even approved Adobe Flash yet and it has been on the internet for some time.
The Future
What next, are you developing another app? Would you go for the same genre again, if not which?
We have two more apps that will be available for iPhone-iPad users within the next few months.
Apple iPad
The Apple iPad – what are your thoughts about it and how does your app integrate?
Love the iPad. Slider Dice integrates well because of the larger view displayed in the iPad.
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)
