Buzz devs Relentless Software get back into the quiz game foray with Quiz Climber, their first iPhone game that feeds the inner quiz addict with persistent social network integration and the lust for bragging rights.
Relentless Software Executive Directors David Amor and Andrew Eades are also working with Microsoft and their Kinect Fun Labs program to develop Music in Motion (tentative title), a Kinect project that makes air guitar look legitimately acceptable and fun.
With Music in Motion, Relentless uses the Kinect to superimpose guitars, drums and keyboards onto the “musicians” while they air-shred, air-solo or air-dazzle the party to five different types of music including disco and country.
“Air banjo is what the world has been waiting for,” said Amor.
Amor explained that Music in Motion won’t hold your hand since the actions of playing air instruments are usually natural.
“You don’t have to say ‘here’s what you need to do,’” said Amor. “Just go ahead and jam and see what instruments you can find.”
What the Fun Labs program is helping Relentless and the Kinect community out with is showcasing the potential alternative uses the device holds. Kinect games don’t necessarily have to be retail-size experiences and by making these “toys” and games smaller and experimental, Kinect can reach a more global audience.
“There’s no scores, there’re no levels,” said Eades. “It’s more an experience.”
Relentless have been on the smaller game track with their last project, Blue Toad Murder Files, premiering as an episodic PlayStation Network and PC downloadable title. Staying on the “smaller is better” track, Quiz Climber for the iPhone stays true to that purpose.
As these quiz game veterans have refined they craft, putting that experience on the iPhone is the logical step forward. In making their games a universal appeal for gamers and non-gamers, Quiz Climber plays out like the familiar and simple “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” formula. What keeps players coming back is the Facebook integration. The constant reminders of friends on a higher question than you fuels that lust for bragging rights.
“There’s something compelling about when you wake up and you see that little red badge [on the iPhone],” said Amor. “It drives you to go back in.”
With weekly updates for relevant questions and persistent Facebook integration, Quiz Climber will have some pull in the App Store on July 14 when it releases.
At Relentless, their purpose is to create games that have universal appeal and that anyone can get into. With Music in Motion and Quiz Climber, that purpose still stands.
“You don’t need to understand the language of video games to play our games,” said Eades. “We use the language of TV or something [familiar] to give people the leg up and understand what they’re supposed to do.”
