Ivica Aracic is a game designer and programmer from Frankfurt, Germany. You’ll want to read his game reviews and discover his favorite puzzle games and his top technologically impressive games.
1. Tell us about yourself – where you live, your job, things you like to do.
I live in Frankfurt, Germany, and I have video games in my veins. I play, design, analyze and develop them. It’s my passion. My last big one was chick chick BOOM for Nintendo Wii. iOS game development is a hobby of mine. I wanted to design and develop my own game for my #1 mobile device, so I recently published The Greedy Sponge, an action-puzzler.
2. Which iOS device or devices do you own?
My first iOS device was the iPod G1. My wife bought it when it came out a few years ago. The thing was very fascinating, because it was first time that I could surf the Internet with a mobile device and have fun. I had tons of organizers before (mostly based on Windows Mobile), but with that little iPod, I had for the first time a satisfying mobile Internet surfing experience. Also, I really love its design and I still use it very often. Later, we bought an iPhone 4 and an iPad 2. But nothing is as cool and good looking as my iPod G1.
3. Is there a particular category of apps that interests you the most?
Oh, yes: Gaaameees!!
4. What are your top apps and why?
– Twitter – because I am a social media fanatic
– The Greedy Sponge – for shutting down from a stressful day
– Gun Bros – huge fun to play
– Infinity Blade – a great game for demonstrating iPad’s gaming capabilities
– Astroslugs Deluxe for iPad – because it reminds me of the board game which inspired Alexey Pajitnov to make Tetris
– Paper Racer – because I loved playing Micro Machines on Amiga and because my daughter forces me to make new paper cars.
5. What apps are popular among your colleagues and friends?
Instapaper, TowerMadness, various photo manipulation/sharing apps — I do not remember the names. I do not use such apps very often, but I am very happy every time I receive photos from my friends via these apps.
6. Give an example of a time an app was truly useful to you.
Oh, truly useful for me was the Perry Rhodan app. It is a German thing. Germany’s famous sci-fi soap opera. With that app, I was able to get the latest issues during my two months long stay in Shanghai last summer. It made my life less boring there.
7. What other Appolicious member do you admire the most and why?
I follow darthipad from time to time. He seems to have compatible interests.
8. Do you have URL’s you’d like to share?
Yes, I have a blog called Sponge Forge, where I write about game development, gaming and the game industry in general. My personal Twitter id is @i_v_i_c_a, and Greedy also has one too: @TheGreedySponge.
9. Anything else you’d like to share with the Appolicious audience?
I would like to say thank you to all the people investing time to review apps and compile app lists. Lots of interesting stuff to read about. I hope the community will keep expanding and I will definitely continue to contribute to it. I also hope very much to see more active member discussions too!
Check out @ivica’s app library here.
