Interviews

Tapulous CEO raps about innovation in new franchise Riddim Ribbon

Social features, band specific versions planned

Tapulous CEO raps about innovation in new franchise Riddim Ribbon
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| Riddim Ribbon

It shouldn't be surprising that devices optimised for listening to music would also be incubators for innovation in music gaming.

So while interest declines on other platforms, music gaming experiences continued success on iPhone and iPod touch, and Tapulous CEO Bart Decrem has been leading the charge.

Fuelled by the experience crafting the top-selling Tap Tap Revenge series, Decrem and the Tapulous team have developed an entirely different kind of musical experience in Riddim Ribbon.

Giving equal billing to gameplay and music, it's a unique new approach that feels more like a traditional game than any other music title on the platform.

"We feel we're doing something innovative," says a confident Decrem. "We're looking to create a new franchise."

There's every reason for confidence: Riddim Ribbon bears the mark of inventive design; its original gameplay offering a combination of music-mixing and racing.

Working with the Black Eyed Peas

While simple to understand, Decrem explains that making that fusion happen requires coordination between artist and game designer on a level that's entirely different than music emulators such as Rock Band or DJ Hero.

Audio designers work with level artists to synchronise the music with the graphics. A close relationship with Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am enabled even tighter design on the game's three core levels, which have been built around songs from the band.

Multiple versions of Boom Boom Pow, I Gotta Feeling, and Meet Me Halfway are fused together as you guide a ball down the virtual ribbon.

"Artists and DJs are involved so those remixes flow no matter what choices the player makes," Decrem points out.

"Will.i.am ascribes to the philosophy that music is a performance and that really shapes the Riddim Ribbon experience." he asserts. "The gamer is in control, the gamer is performing the music - there's nothing out there like it."

Where to go next?

Now that the game is available, Decrem sees an opportunity to expand the concept with new features and music.

"I want a major social component moving forward," he admits. "There's room to explore the relationship between mash-ups versus the racing element."

When asked about the types of music ideal for optional in-app purchases or even future versions of Riddim Ribbon, Decrem sees a lot of potential.

"We can do more than dance and pop, though any tune needs a drive to work with the game's set up. Country may not work, for example, but rock could."

For now, in-app downloads are sticking to dance with a single from Benny Benassi and two from illustrious DJ Tiësto.

The spotlight on the Black Eyed Peas in this initial version of Riddim Ribbon also makes artist-specific iterations of the game more than likely - a strategy that proved successful with the Tap Tap Revenge series.

"I foresee other premium versions built around specific artists, but potentially a free version," he muses.

Riddim Ribbon is available now for iPhone and iPod touch at a price of £1.99/$2.99.
Tracy Erickson
Tracy Erickson
Manning our editorial outpost in America, Tracy comes with years of expertise at mashing a keyboard. When he's not out painting the town red, he jets across the home of the brave, covering press events under the Pocket Gamer banner.