Local Teenager Is iPhone App Developer

By Doris Smith and Robert Batt

When he was 13, Edward Hacala of Bedford published his first online “app,” a game called Cat & Mouse: The Quest for Cheese. He sold hundreds of copies worldwide, a response that led him to create two other games: Parachute Plummet and his latest, Speed Swipes. All of these games are available at Apple’s app store.

Edward became interested in computers at an early age, and when his father began to explore creating apps for the iPhone, Edward followed in his footsteps, spending one summer developing all the skills he needed to create 2D and 3D artwork, as well as animating 3D objects. He creates the graphics, the music and the sound effects as well as the game software himself. He tests out his games on his family and friends to see if his creations really work and are enjoyable.  His programs are often leveled puzzles, races against time, or involve gathering a collection of items.

Edward’s goal for the future is to continue designing games, projects he works on during the summers, when he has longer periods of time to concentrate on his ideas. As he finishes one game, working out the final bugs, the ideas for the next project come to him.

As he begins the process of looking for colleges, Edward plans to pursue his interest in computer technology and perhaps in digital animation as well.