10tons explains the arcs and zig-zags behind iPhone survivalist line drawing shooter Boom Brigade

Like mixing paint, combining different game genres can either result in a grey-green mess or a rainbow alliance of joy.

Finnish developer 10tons's new iPhone game, Boom Brigade, is a topdown shooter that has you drawing lines to get your squad of soldiers dealing with waves of incoming invaders.

We call it a topdown line drawing shooter with hints of tower defence.

More interesting, however, 10tons' Timo Palonen told us how the game came about and where it might end up in future.

Timo Palonen: We played around with some prototypes and got the idea to mix them together, ending up with a fast paced survival shooter.

Originally it was meant to be a Crimsonland game [10tons' PC shooter] with only one survivalist, but it took a surprising turn at some point and here we are.

In the initial version, you can control up to three troopers which you pick from the three classes.

Not at this point. We have lots of other plans for the game in the future, though.

The shapes you draw depend on the situation. The teaser features the typical encircling moves that are usually done with arcs and full circles to make the aliens follow a trooper while others get clear shots on them. But in the end, it's always up to the player.

One team member favours a retreating zig-zag pattern with one trooper while others encircle the aliens.

You loot the aliens for money. Money buys upgrades for your troopers and repairs the bunker you’re protecting. In addition, the aliens also drop health packs that heal your whole squad. In rare occasions, you can even get replacement troopers.

At this point there's the comics competition, which draws from the soon-to-be-huge fanbase. But in future there will certainly be online leaderboards and possibly even multiplayer support.

As hinted before, we have great plans. Here are some additional features from the drawing board: story-driven chapters that take the player from defending earth to attacking the alien homeworlds, and the additions of obstacles and stationary guns. Also there could be epic bosses, new environments, and new alien breeds.

The game should be available around the middle of September. The launch price will be $0.99 [€0.79, 59p] and with the first update the price will go up to $2.99 [£1.79].