The Mystery of Blackthorn Castle - Interview with the developer of a fantastic app

Did you have any prior development or coding experience?

Yes, I have been developing puzzle adventure games since 2014 when I founded Syntaxity as a game and app development company. Before this, I was a web-based software developer since 2005.

What was the most challenging aspect of developing mobile app?

With point-and-click adventure games, one of the most difficult aspects is creating the gameplay to be challenging and fun for all levels of players. The puzzles must be challenging without being too easy or too difficult. Exploring the map and finding clues and interactive objects need to feel like an adventure and a rewarding discovery. It is immensely rewarding for me when players enjoy the gameplay experience.

_{Jason Jernigan - Founder of Syntaxity}

Jason has been a designer/developer since 2005. He worked as a web-based software designer and developer from 2005 until founding Syntaxity in 2014, creating several adventure puzzle games available on the App Stores.

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

There are many terrific apps on the marketplaces, but the apps I use on a regular basis are for productivity and customer support through social media.

How long have you been working on this app?

The Blackthorn Castle game took about 8 months to complete. I originally built the game engine for the first game The Lost Ship which included the inventory system, scene management, hint system and much more. Some of the core components could be reused in Blackthorn Castle which did help with the development time. For these types of games though, there is a lot of artwork that is custom for each game so only so much is reusable between the games.

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

Blackthorn Castle is the perfect game for a player looking for a casual game that is easy to pick up and play. It brings a sense of adventure and exploration, and a rewarding feeling of discovery and accomplishment. It is a great game to challenge yourself, but I have been told by many parents that they play this game together with their younger children, and it is rewarding for me to know that it brings families together.

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.

Blackthorn Castle was built to be a completely immersing and enjoyable experience for anyone who plays it. The goal was to create a high-quality app that players enjoy.

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

The planned updates for this game are for continued support and updates to keep the game performance up on modern devices. There is a plan to create a part 2 of the game to continue the adventure. There are several Syntaxity games in the Uncle Henry series where the player can continue the role of adventure seeker for Uncle Henry.

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.)?

The most important goal is to create games and apps that are a positive experience for the players. Player support is what allows the games to continue to be created. Sharing their experiences of playing the apps with friends is always the most helpful, and following Syntaxity on social media like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.