Interview with Domenico Scarpato – Founder, Rompicapo App [2023]

I am a 46-year-old man, an engineer. My first graduation was in computer science, so I was introduced to my passion for computers, gadgets, and electronics. I was introduced to coding, and basically, that remained in me even though my work path dropped me somewhere else. I still connect with computers, although my field is slightly different, I am a programmer and that’s my full-time job. That’s about myself and my actual life.

My company is just myself in this case. In the very beginning, when this idea came, which was around 5-6 years ago, I joined forces based on this idea with two friends of mine. While I was always working abroad, my job brought me worldwide. So basically, I started in 2014 – 2015. The company was two other guys I mentioned and me.

One of my friends was dealing with the graphics, we had the idea of basically producing or creating it first, and the other friend of mine was taking care of the codes. We were pretty much ready to launch it first up, which is the app we are dealing now with, Rombicapo.

But at the very end, everything was ready. It was only meant for iOS at that time. The Apple rules changed and we were not able to launch it. The things went down and were never completed, so basically, it never launched. Since I was always abroad, things and interests changed with our group. 

So since I have been in Singapore since 2018 and I have a more regular job now, not jumping from country to country like I used to do, I decided to restart and take everything back to me. Decided what we had ready, the graphics, and the idea.

So I took everything back on me, and I started coding again and basically how this app came out. So this was just a hobby between my regular work and my family. So the company is me.

It’s been all the old-school thing. It has a solid memory because it was a game I played in primary school. When we waited for the teacher to arrive between the class changes, we played on the notebook, on a piece of paper, or whatever. I felt that it would be a good idea for an app because it just presents a way to kill time or the free time you have like you wait for the bus.

And I did not see many of these games, so the idea came up. It wasn’t such a complicated idea, and the game base was kind of straightforward. It’s an excellent concept. It’s not complicated. I am sure that we will find users who will appreciate the game and relive those memories. It kicks your focus, so you need to look ahead if you want to succeed.

Let’s begin at the very beginning. I made the game from scratch because the version we made many years ago wasn’t available anymore, the engine, the codes, I have to rebuild everything from scratch. The new engine is an open-source engine and versatile for multiple cross-platform. So I can code it for several platforms, which make the game Android and IOS.

So when later in the stage there will be more users or clients for the app giving reviews to the app, then I will improve the features so that the users are satisfied. For example, it might be multiplayer and not on a single device but also another mobile or even Bluetooth kr from the other side of the world. Additional features can be graphical, meaning themes, etc.

In the beginning, I was a bit naive. I thought there was no market for this app. I thought we were the only ones for this kind of game. But after covid, I know that there are quite a significant number of users for these apps.

The appeal of the app is very straightforward; there is not much entertainment other than the concept of the game, so that makes me believe that if there is a niche of users who like the idea, who want the app even for 5 minutes because we all know that we just use the phone to kill time.

So the core and the concept of Rombicapo is the only thing that makes it different from other apps.

I used to be at that time, of course. We didn’t have any access to cell phones. I was a big fan of games my entire childhood, and that’s pretty much it. When we moved because of time and other circumstances, my passion for gaming moved to puzzle gaming.

The interest has always been there, which I believe takes a short time for yourself. Also, it is not a big commitment like the games I used to play with big stories or a lot of time to spare.

I used to play adventure games most of the time, so a big plot and you had to solve a puzzle could be a riddle or a lot of conversations and interactions with NPCs. That was my geek back in the days, and since my time was reduced drastically for school, university and work, I found myself a bit away from it.

So I was never a big fan of action games, and they all focused more on practicality, and you know time management which I believe nowadays almost everybody has the same issues. So when you asked me what type of game could still be played nowadays, from my perspective, it would be all these (casual games) which entertain you and might sharpen the focus of you are lucky.

Otherwise, it is just a time-waster, and at the same time, it will not commit to you so much, as there is not much of a story behind that you need to dig in, or you know, deep dive into it. That’s how I see it, and that’s pretty much one of the main concepts. You can play a level, and sometimes you can’t wait to see the next one cause you just had a good score.

I don’t find certain games interesting where you have to focus and invest time.

Nowadays, it’s pretty (easy to develop an app, all the tools are available) most of them are accessible even if you are smart enough to look for the right tool from the suitable sources, so, if you have a good idea, just go for it, that’s the advice I would give.

I also experienced that no matter how good your app is, no matter how great or beneficial, if you have just launched it, it will get dusted in the play store or the market because the competition is so high. No one will find it unless you share it, and you can have a look at what you can do within your vicinity. But, when you launch it worldwide, millions of people can have access.

If you are providing something good and valuable, it needs to be promoted. It also needs to be shown to various users, possible users, and that’s what the developer wants. Nowadays, there are very few paid applications that you need to purchase.

So if you’re going to see users engaging with the app and what becomes after that is pretty much the one-on-one review that you receive from the users and receive appreciation, the next step is when your app is visual, seen by the users. So don’t be naive, give your best.

Well, you guys first helped me relaunch the app. I also have been doing some diligence in time about the app and how to market in this case.