Interview:
An Interview with Tobyn Manthorpe of Cedar Hill Games Inc.

My interview today is with Tobyn Manthorpe, owner of the gaming company Cedar Hill Games Inc. This company recently produced the new iPhone game Pistols at Dawn which is now available for download at the iPhone App store.

Alltern8: Please introduce yourself and your company.

Tobyn Manthorpe: My name is Tobyn Manthorpe, and I've started a small gaming company called Cedar Hill Games Inc. here in Victoria, Canada. I used to work for BioWare Corp. in Edmonton, and I've been a core part of production on games like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights and Dragon Age. I've done many different jobs, but my focus has generally been on level production and art management.

Alltern8: What applications have you made thus far?

TM: We've just completed our first game, Pistols at Dawn for the iPhone. We're very proud of it, we believe it stands out against other iPhone titles in that it makes you think and it presents you with story.

Alltern8: What’s in the works? Do you have some expected release dates for new products?

TM: Now that I've flexed my creative muscles on Pistols at Dawn, I can head back to my roots of RPG development, with warriors and monsters, exploration and adventure. I still want to add my own flair and invention, so I've devised some new twists on combat and story development. We're using a 3D engine this time and we're already producing things that are far better looking than anything I've ever seen on the iPhone before!

Alltern8: Why did you decide to start this company?

TM: After leaving BioWare Corp., I worked on a contract basis with them producing levels from my home office. When the work on Dragon Age came to an end I decided I needed to put my knowledge and experience to good use. I was also anxious to work in a team again and because there weren't any jobs on offer in my field in Victoria, I started my own company.