By Allan Maurer
Admit it, what you really want is the Star Trek Holodeck. Who doesn’t.
That’s not quite ready for prime time yet, but MYMe, the 3D browser-based adventure game from Atlanta-based ISO, is one of the new breed of casual MMO (Massively Multi-player Online) games becoming increasing popular.
MyMe takes advantage of real 3D environments with vibrant colors and detailed terrains on the end player’s internet browser.
ISO’s Chamber of Chat recently won the prestigous Adobe site of the day
ISO says it targets the huge market of boy and girl players from age 13 to 45 (and what about we even older boys and girls?). ISO founder and senior project manager Troy Hipolito says the game is for those players who want much more than the 2D simple Flash Club Penguin world, but are not into the heavy seriousness of World of Warcraft.
Well, as long as we get to wield a nice, sharp, digital samurai sword and slice up our enemy’s electrons, we’re happy.
Founded in 2005 but not really active until 2007, the company has eight to 20 employees counting fulltime and contractors, depending upon its project load. ISO has already created digital worlds for half a dozen clients, including a Web site for Coca-Cola Enterprise, a Harry Potter virtual world called “Chamber of Chat,” and a tween virtual world called “All Star Buddies.”
The majority of ISO’s projects consist of game development for MMO and virtual worlds. The major components include Java game logic or engine systems, Multi user platforms (such as SmartFoxServer), 2D and 3D development, database development, documentation, custom content management systems and web site design. It uses the SCRUM agile software development process to put some magic in its projects.
ISO founder Troy Hipolito and son
The company started out developing small games and doing Web development. Its “Chamber of Chat” won the prestigious Adobe site of the day designation and several showcase awards.
The company name is short for isometric, meaning in mathematical terms, “a perspective view looking down so you see the whole room”. “It’s a view you can tilt so you see everything when playing a game”, he explains. It may not be the holodeck, but the idea is to put you in the heart of the game.
ISO kicks off another virtual world at www.kidcommand.com that says shows off the company’s skill at doing more the technology used than others have. “It’s our best so far,” says Hipolito.
He says ISO’s strengths are the ability to do “superb work at a reasonable rate, providing quality as high or higher than developers on the West Coast. We’re all about timelines, budgets and the quality of the product.”
Kid in Command website lauching 11/10
He says working in Atlanta has advantages, including lower costs. But he says, one thing frustrates him about the tech community. “They don’t think globally,” he says. “They think about what’s here compared to New York or California. We don’t have any clients in Atlanta. Don’t feed off of just Georgia. The money may be elsewhere. We’ll fly out to wherever and bring the work here. We have clients in France, New York and Nevada and potential clients in China. People are sometimes afraid to jump out.
Like good developers everywhere, ISO is caffeine-fueled. Asked to name a place he and team goes, Hipolito cites the coffee house Octane off Marietta Street.
He says ISO’s company culture is a bit different from some. “We have a hiring policy not to look at whether I like someone or not if they can get the job done and have a passion for the work.” In many offices, you have to fit in or be shunned, he says. “I’ve shied away from that,” he adds. “It’s about the love of the work.”
ISO gets their caffeine from these guys at coffee house Octane in Emory Village
For that reason, however, he says the team doesn’t necessarily hang out and cross light sabers together when they’re finished cooking up 3D combat scenarios. They do get together in smaller groups or pairs and have fans of the whole spectrum of games. Some are into casual games, others are hardcore World of Warcraft guys, he says.
ISO is currently self-funded but is looking for about $1.4 million in $200,000 increments, Hipolito says.
Ok, guys. Now get to work on that holodeck.
Online: www.isointeractive.com
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