MechCube: Escape - Interview with the developer of a fantastic app

Did you have any prior development or coding experience?

Yes, in my main job I write code. Though this code has nothing to do with game development. This is mainly the integration of various business software among themselves. In general, boredom.

What was the most challenging aspect of developing mobile app?

The most difficult thing is the need to delve into many diametrically opposite tasks because I am responsible for most of the development. These are the issues of choosing a game engine and various calculations, mathematics, which are certainly present in the development of any game. Also the issues of working with graphics and sound, integration with platforms where you are going to distribute your game. And various videos, GIFs, texts that you will definitely need when you want to tell someone about your game. In general, this is a process of constant learning. Doing only one thing that you know well does not work here.

_{Andrew Sklyarov}

Andrew Sklyarov is a developer and a game designer who founded OGUREC APPS over 5 years ago. During this time, the team made several rather popular games, and the total number of downloads for all OGUREC APPS titles reached 27,000,000. The most famous OGUREC APPS games are a series of hardcore puzzles - “Mechanical Box” and a point-and-click adventure based on works of H.P. Lovecraft - “Lovecraft Quest”.

Name a few of your favorite apps and reason you love them.

If you mean games, then I am delighted with the recently released “Blasphemous”, although I myself avoid making “pixels”, in my opinion, this is a too hackneyed technique in the industry. But as a platformer, it is awesome!

How long have you been working on this app?

I've been working on MechCube for almost a year now. Although it has been released and all game mechanics are completely ready, I plan to at least double the number of levels and the duration of the game. That is, work on MechCube: Escape is still quite far from complete.

What need of the user did you have in mind when developing this app?

The key need that this game must satisfy is the desire to find a challenge in the game, accept it and win! The puzzles here are not just complex, but sometimes extremely complex. They require not only attention to detail, but the ability to think outside the box, too. I also hid collectibles in the game, and to find them is a challenge even worse than the puzzles themselves!

In what way do you think your app is better than similar apps on the market? Please describe in detail what innovation you think you bring and what you are proud of in your app.

As an independent developer, I am free not to follow the trends or use standard solutions, I do not worry about monetization, as all large companies invariably do. I can make a completely unique game, unlike others. I hope I succeeded. And also, we have a very cool visual style.

What are your future plans and expected features of the coming new versions of this app?

In the near future, I will add new levels and 1 new ending to the game (now there are already 5 of them, including 3 secret ones!).

Assuming new users of your app are reading this page. What do you want to ask them to do (contact you about X, Share the app, etc.)?

Friends, I always look forward to your feedback! After all, this is the main source of motivation for going on working on the game. Tell us what you liked and what you didn’t like in the game? How far did you go? Did you manage to find all the hidden objects? Or just write any review and rate it on Google Play. This is what is always lacking.