Two former UNM students created an app that has the ability to both entertain and save lives.
Brother-sister duo Stephanie Balderrama and Robert Castillo, creators of “Adventures of Marvin and Mel: Word Rescue” are donating 15 percent of net proceeds earned from the game’s sale in the App Store to the American Cancer Society for the first year that it is on sale.
In the game, players are either Marvin or Mel, two monkeys who reside in Paradise Zoo, who work to retrieve letters stolen by a thief from around the zoo’s grounds, Castillo said.
“Your objective is to avoid the obstacles that are flying at you, while at the same time trying to catch bananas and mangoes,” Balderrama said. “Your main objective is to catch the letters within a word given to you in each level.”
The team is hoping to get feedback from UNM students today to help improve the game. Students who participate in the survey will be entered in a drawing for their time. The game is on sale in the App Store for 99 cents for an iPhone or iPod Touch, and 1.99 for an iPad.
Both Castillo and Balderrama have experience volunteering at hospitals.
Castillo, who graduated from UNM last year in December with a degree in chemical engineering, said he had opportunities to do research and volunteer with cancer charities during his time in school.
Balderrama volunteered at hospitals driving patients to appointments.
Balderrama graduated from UNM with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
She said always wanted to be an animator at Disney, so she enjoyed having the opportunity to create the visuals in the game.
“We thought that it was only fitting that the charity we donate to would be something that both she and I had volunteered for,” Castillo said.
According to a press release, the game became available in the Apple App Store on March 16. It has been downloaded about 200 times, Castillo said. Balderrama said they began building the game last summer.
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Balderrama said the game is unique and addictive because of the point system it uses.
“Your success within the level is not just based upon catching the right letter to complete the word, but the number of points you get from catching other fruit as well as how fast you complete the level, so there’s a number of different factors that come into play around how successful you are within a level,” Balderrama said.
Balderrama said she and Castillo wanted to create a game that everyone would be able to enjoy, and included elements that someone who doesn’t necessarily play video games might enjoy.
“I was drawn to being able to dress the characters,” she said. “So we added the ability to purchase clothing and put clothing on your monkeys. Oddly enough, there’s something about that. I’m not necessarily a competitive person, and so even with a small feature like that I find myself wanting to stop my level and go put clothes on my monkey. That’s fun.”
Play “Adventures of Marvin and Mel: Word Rescue,” eat cookies, be entered to win $50 cash and give feedback about the game at Zimmerman Plaza today, 1:30-4 p.m.
To download the game: Go to the App Store and search Marvin and Mel, and it will pop right up. Then click download.
