Firemint on Real Racing iPhone: 'The level of resistance to the $10 price tag has been challenging'

Released in June 2009, Real Racing remains the most technically impressive game on the App Store, as well as the best racer.

And, significantly, along with The Sims 3 it's also one of only two games priced at $9.99.

Over on PocketGamer.biz, in a detailed interview about the making of the game, Rob Murray, CEO of its developer Firemint explains why.

"The level of resistance to the $10 price tag has been challenging. I suppose the surprise to me is that more game developers aren't taking a stand and saying, 'No, we believe our game is worth its original price'," of his decision not to drop the price.

The reason for this is the year-long development process and the blood, sweat, tears spent creating the game.

"It was very ambitious and there were plenty of times when I wished I hadn't started the game." Murray reveals.

"It probably would have been better commercially to have licensed a brand name, dropped half the features, dropped the price and released earlier. However, we were trying to do something special and build something that would become a valuable brand in its own right."

In fact, the only reason Real Racing was released in such a fully formed state was Firemint's million-selling Flight Control game.

"I am very grateful for the success of Flight Control, which gave us some breathing space to finish it properly", Murray says.

Click to check out Full speed ahead: The making of Real Racing, and hit the 'Buy It!' button (price $9.99 or £5.99) if you haven't yet taken it for a spin.