Exclusive Interview: Marc Fernandez, Producer of Dexter for iPhone

When it comes to mass-murder serial killers who are endearing enough to transcend the criminal label and become heroes, there is no better example than Dexter Morgan.

Showtime’s “Dexter” has become more than a cult phenomenon. Dexter Morgan, played amazingly by Michael C. Hall, has become the folk hero many have come to call their Dark Defender. He watches over streets while you sleep, willing to do the job that the police won’t – or can’t. Now, that title has earned Dexter a place on the fastest growing game platform out – the Apple iPhone. “Dexter” is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious gaming ventures to hit the iPhone in 2009.

BuzzFocus recently had the opportunity to speak with Marc Fernandez, Vice President at Marc Ecko Entertainment and Producer of the “Dexter” game for the iPhone/Touch.

See the exclusive interview now with Buzzfocus reporter Michele Alfonso.

After checking out the gameplay and graphics we can say with confidence: believe the hype. The screenshots that were released a while ago match up perfectly with what you see on your iPhone. “Dexter” is anything but your typical cheesy iPhone mini-game. This is more of an experience, a game that we expect will change the playing field for iPhone gaming development.

“The progression of the game is narrative based,” Fernandez stated. “Dexter doesn’t become more powerful or gain levels or anything like that. He’s still Dexter. The only thing that changes are the tools that he has available to him. The progression of the game is based on the storytelling.”

The Dexter story takes place sometime after the events in Season 1. So, our old pal Sgt. Doakes is alive and kicking. After completing the tutorial, you dive headfirst into Dexter’s familiar world. “It’s a real cool immersive experience,” Marc said. “Even when you watch the show, more than any other show, you feel like you’re Dexter.”

Fernandez stated, “You unlock two hubs: the apartment and the police
Station. “You’ll have four basic storylines that you’ll have to progress through. We try to do it in a nonlinear fashion to keep the gameplay fresh… so the player feels like their telling their own story in the game.”

Players can control the game one of two ways, with a joystick or the accelerometer. When you play in accelerometer mode, you essentially press on the lower right hand side of the screen to move forward and you tilt the phone left and right to move left and right. “Kind of like a steering wheel,” Fernandez added. The accelerometer can be tricky at first and takes some getting used to. However, the joystick is more than suitable for your average gamer.

The minute you begin exploring the depth of the “Dexter” app, you will see that this title pushes iPhone gaming to a new echelon. Marc said, “We’re creating a big experience for the iPhone/iTouch gaming consumer. We’re hoping that (this) sets a new standard for triple-A games, where a consumer pays X dollars and feels like they’re getting three times the value for it.

When asked as to the future of Dexter’s digital life, Marc replied, “Ideally, I’d like to create a really robust video game franchise for it that ultimately lives on all the gaming platforms. On the iTunes platform. On the Wii. On the 360 and PS3.”

The first installment of “Dexter” on the iPhone is scheduled for Summer 2009, with additional downloadable episodes scheduled for a later release date.

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