Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2012

How long have you been in Japan and what brought you here?

Over 40 years. Uncle Sam brought me here via the US Air Force in March 1970.

Are you a consummate “gamer?”

I buy lots of games because I like to look at the mechanics and concept, but I don’t play them much, and I seldom finish them.

What was the first game you designed? How “old school” are you?

The Octagon Theory is my first complete game. I made it back in the mid-eighties for the Apple II. I guess I’m very “old school” because I started coding on the Apple II+ back in 1984 using AppleSoft Basic and 6502 assembly language.

What’s the difference building an iOS game in Japan, as opposed to in the US or Europe?

With the internet, Twitter, Google+, and Facebook—every place is about the same, getting information and connecting with other developers is so easy these days. It was nothing like that back in 1984. I had to wait weeks to get programming books from the US. And there were only a few stores in Tokyo that sold English-language computer magazines and software.

Give us the 140-character Twitter pitch for your game.

The Octagon Theory (TOT) is a two-player, turn-based, abstract strategy board game like Chess or Othello. You can play on any iOS device against AI opponents or another human.

What was the inspiration for bringing The Octagon Theory to the iPhone? Any plans for other platforms?

I brought TOT to iOS because that’s where the action is. Apple’s got a complete infrastructure for developing apps and getting them on devices. And with tools like Ansca Corona, the development process is that much faster and easier. I plan on using Corona to build TOT for the Kindle Fire.

Do older arcade-style games translate well to handheld devices like the iPhone?

Yes. There’s probably hundreds of older arcade-style games available on the iTunes App Store already. And I think the old games often end up as improved versions because of the touch interface and the things that can be done with it.

Outside of TOT, what is your favorite free and favorite paid game in the app store and why?

Wow, I’ve probably got over a hundred games and I’m constantly trying new ones. But right now my favorite free game is Hero Academy from Robot Entertainment, because it uses turn-based internet play, and it’s very well balanced. My favorite paid game is New Orbit, only $0.99 from Blackish Games, because it is so engrossing. Sadly it’s way too short—it’s one of the two or three games I’ve actually finished. But the developer informed me that he has big plans for a sequel.

What’s your favorite place in Tokyo on a Friday night, when you’re not glued to the screen?

I don’t go out much because I stopped drinking alcohol two years ago. So these days I’m glued to my iPad 2 and my big 27″ iMac. Friday nights are spent at home.

The Octagon Theory. ¥170, available in the iTunes App Store. http://theoctagontheory.com