It's hard to stand out from the crowd - especially when you're a platformer on the App Store.
IntenseGames Limited believes its latest title, Infinity Run, has enough fresh and novel elements to make an impact in a highly competitive genre, though.
We had an opportunity recently to sit down and chat to Alexander Kutehov, project manager of Infinity Run.
Among other things, Alexander revealed more about the aforementioned unique gameplay elements, how much work went into the touchscreen controls, and what's planned in terms of updates for the game.
Oh, and whether Android gamers can look forward to a bespoke version of the game.
AppSpy: What does Infinity Run offer that people can’t get from any other endless-style runner on the App Store?
Alexander: The game is endless and finite at the same time. Infinity Run is packed with lots of levels, unique looks for each level, a diverse set of obstacles, and a bestiary of monsters.
And then there are the bosses - the gang of wicked dwarves who had stolen the crystals.
The number of levels is still finite, though. So, you CAN complete the game, defeat the final boss, see the final cutscene and enjoy the victory. And after all that... start it all over again!
AppSpy: How have you made the touchscreen controls responsive enough for such a fast-paced game?
Alexander: The controls in Infinity Run work in such a way that the player can perform actions quickly and efficiently.
For example: to make a jump, you don't have to release your finger after swiping, as it's enough just to touch the screen and slide your finger up for a certain minimum distance.
Also, we have added several checks to prevent you from making accidental wrong moves.
AppSpy: What were your main goals during development?
Alexander: From the very beginning of development, we wanted to make sure the graphics ran smoothly on the entire line of Apple mobile devices.
To achieve this goal, our team of programmers and artists have tested many different solutions and implemented the best of them.
AppSpy: What were the reasons for the many different environments being used in the game?
Alexander: All those beautiful landscapes and buildings that you can see on the campaign map are there to remind you what would be lost if those hapless dwarves had their way.
It is all there to show what our brave hero is trying to save.
AppSpy: How many playable characters are there, and how do they differ in terms of abilities?
Alexander: In the original version of Infinity Run, you only have one game character - a noble paladin, who alone tries to save the world from a terrible monster that has broken free.
Additional characters will appear in the add-on version of the game. You can find out who they are in the final cutscene of the game.
AppSpy: Of which part of the game are you the most proud?
Alexander: We are most proud of the integrity of our game, specifically of how all the parts of Infinity Run fit together to form an interesting and high-quality gaming experience.
AppSpy: Do you have anything planned in terms of future updates for the game, and if so, can you give us any details about them?
Alexander: First of all, as mentioned above, the add-on version of Infinity Run is already in development, and this will contain an additional character, more levels, and new game elements such as combos.
Secondly, we plan to add support for the iPhone 5's larger display.
We're looking to translate Infinity Run into different languages, as well.
You can download Infinity Run as a free Universal app for iPhone and iPad now [iTunes link].
Alexander tells us we can expect to see an Android version out in the near future, as well.