(Above:- freshcoffeemedia’s logo)
Welcome to an amazing section I am doing for The Big Nerd Show, I was on instagram and I found that one of the people I follow is friends with the creators of a game I brought to review. So I contacted him and he gave me not only the permission to review and use images from the game, but an interview.
(above :- the main menu and title screen)
So let me start with a brief back ground on freshcoffeemedia they are a new company that have worked with bigger names before and have now branched off to start there own interactive indie games. They are very friendly, and really good at responding to any questions or comments you have so please visit there website www.freshcoffeemedia.com
(above:- all images above is the games opening tutorial on how to play)
“Dude,that’s cool!” is there first title, in what I hope is a first in many, the idea of the game is to use a strategy, skill and sneak to get your hamster to the other side of the board to get a new item.
(above:- screen shot of game play)
It is turn based, you can pass and play or play with others who are online. Either from your friends list or at random. I found this game like chest but with out having to remember which way the different pieces have to move, and unlike chest you can blow things up.
(above:- turn based play)
(above:- pass and play winner screen)
They have a very simple explanation on how to play, which is good.
You also have a choice of hamster that represents you.
(above:- gameplay options)
There is only a couple of things I have seen that annoy me that is the fact it crashes and waiting for an opponent to make a move, the crashing is getting fixed in the next update, so not a big deal there, but the opponents is my own problem I need more of my friends to be playing this game so come on guys play this game with me!
The interview…
Here is some back ground history from Gabe Lewis, he is the business director whom I contacted. He gives a fantastic brief history of the company and a inside view to what they have done before.
(Gabe:-)”Dude! That’s Cool. is our first product out of Fresh Coffee, but not our first game to design. We are out of McKinney, TX where Zynga With Friends (formerly New Toy) resides and our sister company Day6 Creative (the design and illustration studio) was fortunate enough to design the initial “With Friends” games including Words with Friends.
After getting a taste of the iOS gaming experience we decided to create our own IP based off a board game our “fearless leader”, Jeff Simpson invented and played with his kids.”
MY QUESTIONS
(ITO:-)How long did the game take you to develop?
(Gabe:-)”The concept has been there since November 2010 and the wheels were put into motion just a couple of months later. We started with some basic art and code to get the gameplay down, then it progressed from there. We are fortunate enough to have some pretty incredible artistic talent at Day6, so the art was the easy part. Since it was our first time to develop and publish a game we ran into the normal hang ups, but once we got into the actual implementation of the game which came around March of 2011, we started to see some movement. We spent a majority of our time figuring out the “just right” amount of strategy, altering features (bombs, tools, etc.). So to answer your question a little over a year from initial concept, but we still don’t feel a sense of completion. We are actually about to release our first update for the game which will include some pretty sweet features like in-game “Chat” and more “Social Friendly” connectivity.”
(ITO:-)Why hamsters, why not something else?
(Gabe:-)”Well since we had the basic concept of building a path from one side to the other, we started thinking about how we could make it “mobile friendly.” We liked the idea of some type of creature and we had to think of something that was original and would also fall into the category of a creature that stays within a path. There weren’t really any hamster games out there and the idea of it being pipes being built from one side to the other was interesting. We felt we could do a lot with that.”
(ITO:-)Have you got any other games coming?
(Gabe:-)”We definitely have the concepts and would love to see the hamster world continue to grow. We plan to keep Dude! That’s Cool. fresh, so right now we are focused on adding to the experience for gamers who enjoy the game now. We are excited about the ideas we have in store for our loyal gamers. We are confident they will continue to come back to the game. Its no fun when something gets stagnate so we will give them what they want.”
(ITO:-)Have you made any other games?
(Gabe:-)”Day6 Creative, the sister company of Fresh Coffee was fortunate enough to be the creative team to create the visuals for Words With Friends. The “Scrabble” game had been around forever, so working with the New Toy (now Zynga With Friends) crew on making a mobile experience that the everyday user would enjoy looking at was fun. That is where we caught the mobile gaming bug. Day6 has a long history of being a design and illustration house for the toys and games industry working on brands like Star Wars, Marvel, and yes even Scrabble. We formed Fresh Coffee to develop and publish the games and Dude! That’s Cool. is the first to come out of here.”
(ITO:-)If you are making other games, what should we keep an eye out for?
(Gabe:-)”Definitely look for the hamster world to grow. The little dudes have a lot of personality and we can’t wait to bring that out. As iOS continues to grow we will try to keep the freshness of our games coming. Since our roots began in the “social” realm, look for us to work our way through that tunnel. Everyone wants to be connected, so now we plan to create the content that makes connecting fun.”
(ITO:-)Where did the title come from, is there a story behind it?
(Gabe:-)”Ha ha, probably exactly how you would imagine… sitting at a diner, having breakfast in McKinney, TX, drinking coffee while talking about the game. Every new idea thrown out, we found the other one saying “Dude, that’s cool.”, so we decided “let’s call it that!” “
(ITO:-) would you mind if we use screen shots of your game in my review?
(Gabe:-)”Yes, you have permission to use screen shots of the game within your review.”
To round it all up :-
(Gabe:-)” We are just siked you have taken an interest in our game. We have put a lot of work into the game and we are excited about people joining in the hamster’s world!
Thanks so much for reaching out, we are excited and honored to get outlets like The Big Nerd Show interested in our game.
Regards,
Gabe (gabe lewis, business development.)”
Thank you to Gabe Lewis, he is a really awesome to chat to, if you want more information please email the kind people at freshcoffeemedia at info@freshcoffeemedia.com and ask away.
So all in all great people developing this game and there is improvements coming, I am not going to rate this game as I feel my opinion will be biast and unfair.
(above:- is the AppStore view)
I would like to hear your guys opinions and prehaps I will see you for a friendly match.
Next time I will be writing about hatchi the iPhone tamagotchi.
Inkytheobvious
G Faulkes
