By now you either are addicted to Spymaster, or absolutely can’t stand it. The viral Twitter-based game in which you do spy-like things such as “assassinate” your followers is a great time-waster. But it’s also drawn some criticism as being “spammy.” That isn’t stopping the team from pushing the game forward — first, by finally opening it up to everyone today, and second with an upcoming iPhone app.
The iPhone app, which we’ve obtained some mock-ups of, should be out “in the next few weeks,” co-founder Eston Bond tells us. Those familiar with the game should feel right at home based on these pictures. The “Strategy” and “Tactics” menu options along the bottom are just ways to better organize features, we’re told. The creators are also working fast to get a bunch of new features in the game. The iPhone version will be available for free.
The rapid growth of Spymaster on Twitter — it was a top trending topic for several days after it launched — has already spawned a series of similar viral games. As many have been quick to point out, this is similar to what happened early in the life of Facebook’s Platform as well. But Spymaster was able to do this based on an invite-only system (something which also caused some controversy), now with it open to the public and going mobile, we could be in for a second wave of Spymaster fury.
Just as with the aforementioned Facebook Platform, Twitter is going to sooner or later own up to the fact that it is now a platform and must take measures to allay concerns that viral applications will take over the network. Plenty of people have told me that they don’t want to see Spymaster messages in their tweet stream, but would rather not unfollow people who they still consider to be friends. If there was just a way to filter out those message — and yes, some third party Twitter apps have a way, but this needs to be built into Twitter eventually — then everyone can continue to go about their business.
I realize filters may slightly muck-up the “keep it simple” mentality, but Twitter is getting too big, we need it. Games like Spymaster that are fun for some but a burden for others shouldn’t suffer because Twitter has never been good at the whole “new feature” thing.
How different is this from the new Chinese App?
Please review and give credit to the innovators we depend on.
Could you be specific? Whats the name of the Chinese App your referring to?
One cannot trust the guys at TC, they hardly broaden the horizon of the startups/apps they choose cover.
Your statement that “one cannot trust the guys at TC” is totally your opinion–how could you measure TC guys to make a decision whether or not you should trust them.
I’m pretty sure it’s Spymaster’s fault Twitter’s growth flatlined last month.
I’m pretty sure it’s Twitters fault Twitters growth flatlined last month.
I’m pretty sure it’s Twitter’s fault Twitter’s growth flatlined last month.
And will they quickly develop it for the Pre?
Want to buy me a Pre? I’d make a Pre app if I had a Pre.
An iPhone app is a good move. Even those of us aren’t devoted to the game have thought it would be an even better app than a Web site.
Totally, the Javascript doesn’t sit well with my work browser so using the iPhone isn’t the most practical. An app would definitely increase my usage of spymaster!
In a couple of weeks these guys have gone from nowhere to taking over Twitter. Great work there.
DM me on twitter is you want an invite to Spymaster @atelier_us
playspymaster: “The Directorate is now actively recruiting the public. Spymaster for iPhone is coming soon. Please RT: http://bit.ly/F4EJT“
As a level 30, I am terrified. Spymaster must be destroyed
For the record Spy Master isn’t “spammy”, many of the people using it are “spammy”. Sure they promote it, but you don’t have to do it!
That said, I personally think the iPhone app would be great. If it’s free.
As for Twitters responsibility in maintaining a good “platform”. I agree and disagree. Sure, one can say “If you allow people to use your ’service’ to support such interactive communication or gameplay, then you should have a system in place to support it.” But in the same breathe, it’s open source. And you can’t make demands or feel as though Twitter owes it to you to provide such a stable or capable *platform*.
When choosing a service or platform you must first identify it’s strengths and weaknesses. Then decide to live with it. You chose it, it didn’t choose you.
2 unsolicited cents.
It’s too risky with too much spam to call this app a fun thing to kill time with an iPhone. If the Spaymaster developer has a good intention to make this app an adventurous game to play, he has to do something to get rid of the spam…soon.
Have you even used the game? the ’spam’ is entirely the users choice, the user gets an extra 1% per income per ’spam’ option, there are 10 ’spam’ options.
People who don’t want their Twitter to be flooded with spymaster related info should contact the person they are following as they’re the ones responsible!
Again, you can TURN IT OFF, but some people don’t and not because they aren’t aware, when you sign up it’s all there in plain English.
Ignorant people that talk crap about stuff they haven’t even tried / know about are hated by all.
Oh boy.. “in the next few weeks”..
I don’t get why they won’t take the easy route.. Create a kick-ass html5 + js mobile site (using html5 db’s for storing twitter credentials and caching).. It’s the easiest, fastest and cheapest route and directly available for iPhone OS, Palm WebOS and Android..
Well, an HTML 5 site is not an app .. so you don’t get listed in the app store, and people don’t find your app, and you don’t make any money. Kapeesh?
Yeah.. i get the fact that it’s not in the app store.. But the app is only worthwhile for existing players and you can easily notify the existence of the mobile site to these players.. One can hide the toolbar and use an app icon.. If you like to play dirty you can use the webkit api in iphone sdk to turn the mobile site into a native app.. I don’t think they can make an iPhone app in just “a few weeks”.. Only approval by Apple would take at least a week nowadays.. By the time the app comes is released everybody is level 30 and bored with spymaster..
I tried out spymaster in Beta for three whole days, and I do think a few weeks is all they need to come up with the iPhone app.
As for being bored at level 30..I stopped at level 4, but then it’s my kind of a game: there’s nothing to see.
This is the challenge for Twitter as it grows. The simplicity is important, but the more it needs to add features, the more it becomes the same product as FB. But FB in many ways is a better product.
What about the Google phone? I want to play on my G1.
I played quite a bit via mobile Safari on my iPhone. It’s not the best experience (thus the want for a native app) but you can do it and my guess is a mobile web version wouldn’t be too hard to implement.
I totally get when people suggest just going with a mobile web app, but there are some advantages to going native as well. You can do a bit more with the experience there, which I think in this case, given the number of folks who have an iPhone and access to a free app, makes sense.
Still, there is no reason you can’t do both.
Big News – Spymaster is now available to ALL Twitter users as of 10 minutes ago. Have a great time
http://playspymaster.com
I wonder if the phone app will call every person in your phone book once an hour.
#spymaster
This feature may bring new competition in mobile market.
A much better (already available) alternative is gpsAssassin. It’s a gps-based game that allows you to attack other players around you with a series of stock and custom-made weapons. It’s just as addicting as spymaster, but with a lot more control over your game play.
http://www.gpsassassin.com
and for those who want to avoid spymaster Direct messages without having to unfollow or block your friends. Reminder
—> use Topify.com and block any upcoming DM bu just forwarding to an email address
http://blog.top...-dont-want-them