Tell us about yourself, your company, and how you got into developing mobile games? What were you doing before you started developing for the iPhone?
A: My name is Si-Yeon, but I like to go by my developer name “HighMind,” since Si-Yeon can lead to mispronunciations if you are not Korean. I worked for Ragnarok Online for about 9 years. Before that, I played PC games and PS2 games (such as Dynasty Warriors 3) from 1996.
While at Ragnarok Online, I was doing great. I was Chief of Client Programs and I did some game design (when it was needed for the programs I was working on). Things didn’t pan out due to differences with my boss. But I realized I loved game designing more than programming so I was searching for a way to do that instead. It took a couple year but then about 2 years ago I discovered the AppStore.
How many people are on your team? And what are their roles?
A: Just 2 people. I’m the main designer/programmer and he does graphics. But from time to time, depending on the project, he might design the game. We work very well together.
You created Angry Zombies which hit # 7 on the USA charts and #1 in several countries. Were you surprised to see you reach that spot?
A: To be honest, it wasn’t a big surprise since some of my previous games did get #1 in several countries (sadly USA was not one of them). #7 is the highest we got in the US and that made us very happy.
How did you come up with the idea for your app?
A: My partner wanted to make a game centered on infecting Humans with or as Zombies. We started from there. After that, we added some unique Zombies, such as the Reincarnator (who makes Zombies from corpses) and then some powerful Humans such as the Priest (who can turn Zombies back to Human).
How long did it take you to plan, develop, and program your app?
A: Angry Zombies took about 2 months. Angry Zombies 2 HD took about 4 months.
How many lines of code and what programming language did you use?
A: Angry Zombies 2 HD’s source code’s size is 929KB (not sure about how many lines I actually typed). I used Xcode 3 and Xcode 4.
Did you outsource any portion of the game?
A: No we didn’t outsource. It was all just us.
With so many apps in the app store, what have you found to be the best method of iPhone app marketing ? What seems to work and not work?
A: Best way is becoming LUCKY.
During your promotional period, you used the services of “Monster Free Apps,” an application that features other apps and puts it in front of thousands of users. How was that experience for you?
A: It helped Angry Zombies !! climb to a higher rank. First your game should be fun but that’s not enough if you want to get higher rank. We realized that using a service like “Monster Free Apps” lets more users learn about your application. It’s not the only answer, but it will certainly work if your game is good!
How many downloads did you get daily at your peak?
A: Angry Zombies’ peak was about 50,000 downloads per day in the US and 100k downloads per day worldwide!!
What’s your largest sales day?
A: At the moment, Angry Zombies 2 HD’s highest record is 800 downloads in the US and 1000 downloads worldwide. But, at the time of writing this, it’s only about a week after launch, so I’m sure it will get better.
You decided to make Angry Zombies !! a free iPhone app in an effort to promote Angry Zombies 2 HD. Why did you decide to make a sequel?
[1] A: Although Angry Zombies !! didn’t make it to #1 in the US, it did get to the top in some countries (Brazil, Korea, etc.). Lots of people asked for a sequel, so we made one.
By making the first game free, how did that affect sales of Angry Zombies 2 HD?
A: It helps a lot! People cannot get an accurate idea of what kind of game you created just by looking at the screenshots of the game.
Are there certain markets that are easier than others?
A: Yeah some countries are easier than others, but it depends on what the game is and what genre you are competing in.
Are you creating games full time now, or do you have another job?
A: I quit my job 5 months ago and created HighMind. So, I’m working full time at the moment on this!
What is it that excites you most about developing games for the iPhone?
A: You can make games with just a few people now. PS3, Xbox, and MMO games require much more people.
What are you working on next?
A: We haven’t decided 100% yet. Not sure if we’ll do a simple, casual game or a Spin-off of Angry Zombies.
Are you planning a trilogy (part 3 of Angry Zombies)?
A: Yes! I already have plans for Angry Zombies 3, but we’re going to make some other games first, take a break for a bit. We’ll probably release Angry Zombies 3 in 2013.
Any advice for up-and-coming indie developers?
A: The AppStore is not an easy place to compete and it’s getting harder every year to get noticed. Try working on something while you still have a job – make your project your weekend job. If the game sells and becomes a success, that’s when you can quit your job and go after making a career in the AppStore.
Read our Monster Free Apps reviews of Angry Zombies !! and Angry Zombies 2 HD .
Both are 
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