High school dropout creates Filipino-themed mobile game for iPhone
A Paramus, New Jersey family man with only a primary school education has created a mobile game for iPhone users.
Guy Pineda, 41, has recently launched Taboo Tyke which he described as an “adorable strategy game” suitable for all ages. It is the first game created by his Advanzweb company backed by a team of programmers based in Cebu.
The game features a cute and curious crawling baby named Tyler.
“Baby Tyler is oblivious to the world’s dangers, so Taboo Tyke challenges players to help him from getting hurt and waddle through different zones to get home,” explained Guy in an interview with The FilAm.
He continued with the details of how the game is played: “As baby Tyler walks continuously throughout the game, players must influence the toddler’s behavior with different Action Items to prevent him from falling or getting snatched. Action Items include teddy bears to make baby Tyler crawl down, lollipops to make him pause from walking, shoes to make him dash through obstacles, and helmets to protect him from falling debris and sneaky enemies.”
Unlike most games, the player does not have the control guides to manipulate baby Tyler’s moves. Instead the player resorts to “action elements” that will influence the baby’s movements. “You can’t make him stop,” urged Guy. “He’s a baby!”
The game can be addicting and ensures the player of several hours of “entertaining challenges,” he said further.
Not just a regular game, Taboo Tyke has incorporated some Filipino features in its design “to give it an interesting personality.” Seen in the background, for example, is a Cebuano street food stall called ‘pungko-pungko’ where baby Tyler is likely to stray into if the player does not act decisively.
“We are aiming to promote Philippine culture through mobile games,” said Guy.
Guy Pineda: ‘I am not formally educated in anything’
Born in Manila, Guy came to the US at the age of two. He returned to the Philippines where his parents intended for him to study high school, and stayed there for three and a half years. He never finished even after moving to three different schools.
“I am really not formally educated in anything,” he owned up. “I kinda didn’t take anything seriously and totally failed out of high school.”
Leaving Manila, he returned to Philadelphia in his teens and never went back to school, alluding in the interview to a “messed-up family life.” He decided at age 17 to declare independence from his parents. He received training in physical therapy and worked for many years in a clinic in New Jersey.
Guy and his wife, a physical therapist, have three children. The oldest daughter is 20 years old and is studying in Paris. The second daughter is 16, a student at Paramus High School and is active in cross-country running, choir, and volunteer work. The youngest is a boy, 11, who is in the 6th grade.
He is currently working as a brand manager for Salesone Jewelry in Connecticut, which specializes in stainless steel jewelry and accessories. He is a jewelry designer at the same time that he is in charge of the company’s Inox line.
“I work during the day for Salesone and when I get home at night, I work with my Cebu team for Advanzweb to build websites,” he said. “Usually, I’m working till 12 or 1 in the morning.”
He founded Advanzweb eight years ago initially as a web design and marketing solutions company. Today, it is staffed by seven employees from Cebu, three of them programmers, with Guy calling the shots via Skype from his split-level Paramus home. Taboo Tyke was born out of this modest operation.
“During a slow period, my team was needing some work to do and I’ve always wanted to build something for us and not for clients. So we began working on Taboo Tyke,” he recalled.
Taboo Tyke was developed for iPhone and iPod touch phones and is available for free. Guy’s team is working to make Taboo Tyke compatible with Android smartphones and tablets.
Not bad for one whose academic credentials boast only a kindergarten graduation.
“I’ve done pretty well,” said Guy. “My life is certainly full.” — The FilAm
Guy Pineda, 41, has recently launched Taboo Tyke which he described as an “adorable strategy game” suitable for all ages. It is the first game created by his Advanzweb company backed by a team of programmers based in Cebu.
The game features a cute and curious crawling baby named Tyler.
“Baby Tyler is oblivious to the world’s dangers, so Taboo Tyke challenges players to help him from getting hurt and waddle through different zones to get home,” explained Guy in an interview with The FilAm.
He continued with the details of how the game is played: “As baby Tyler walks continuously throughout the game, players must influence the toddler’s behavior with different Action Items to prevent him from falling or getting snatched. Action Items include teddy bears to make baby Tyler crawl down, lollipops to make him pause from walking, shoes to make him dash through obstacles, and helmets to protect him from falling debris and sneaky enemies.”
Unlike most games, the player does not have the control guides to manipulate baby Tyler’s moves. Instead the player resorts to “action elements” that will influence the baby’s movements. “You can’t make him stop,” urged Guy. “He’s a baby!”
The game can be addicting and ensures the player of several hours of “entertaining challenges,” he said further.
Not just a regular game, Taboo Tyke has incorporated some Filipino features in its design “to give it an interesting personality.” Seen in the background, for example, is a Cebuano street food stall called ‘pungko-pungko’ where baby Tyler is likely to stray into if the player does not act decisively.
“We are aiming to promote Philippine culture through mobile games,” said Guy.
Guy Pineda: ‘I am not formally educated in anything’
Born in Manila, Guy came to the US at the age of two. He returned to the Philippines where his parents intended for him to study high school, and stayed there for three and a half years. He never finished even after moving to three different schools.
“I am really not formally educated in anything,” he owned up. “I kinda didn’t take anything seriously and totally failed out of high school.”
Leaving Manila, he returned to Philadelphia in his teens and never went back to school, alluding in the interview to a “messed-up family life.” He decided at age 17 to declare independence from his parents. He received training in physical therapy and worked for many years in a clinic in New Jersey.
Guy and his wife, a physical therapist, have three children. The oldest daughter is 20 years old and is studying in Paris. The second daughter is 16, a student at Paramus High School and is active in cross-country running, choir, and volunteer work. The youngest is a boy, 11, who is in the 6th grade.
He is currently working as a brand manager for Salesone Jewelry in Connecticut, which specializes in stainless steel jewelry and accessories. He is a jewelry designer at the same time that he is in charge of the company’s Inox line.
“I work during the day for Salesone and when I get home at night, I work with my Cebu team for Advanzweb to build websites,” he said. “Usually, I’m working till 12 or 1 in the morning.”
He founded Advanzweb eight years ago initially as a web design and marketing solutions company. Today, it is staffed by seven employees from Cebu, three of them programmers, with Guy calling the shots via Skype from his split-level Paramus home. Taboo Tyke was born out of this modest operation.
“During a slow period, my team was needing some work to do and I’ve always wanted to build something for us and not for clients. So we began working on Taboo Tyke,” he recalled.
Taboo Tyke was developed for iPhone and iPod touch phones and is available for free. Guy’s team is working to make Taboo Tyke compatible with Android smartphones and tablets.
Not bad for one whose academic credentials boast only a kindergarten graduation.
“I’ve done pretty well,” said Guy. “My life is certainly full.” — The FilAm
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