Congratulations to Naomi Alderman, co-creator of the awesome Zombies Run iPhone app, who has just bought back her creation. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The app’s success underlines the importance of a compelling story in creating and sustaining motivation.
Basically, the app monitors your progress and periodically prods you along by hinting (or shouting) that zombies have caught your scent. In Alderman’s words, “In the games you go for a run or a walk in the real world, and we tell exciting adventure stories in your headphones to encourage you to go a bit further, a bit faster, or just to make the whole business of getting some exercise a bit less boring.”
Narrative is the key to success, says Alderman: “one of the important secrets of the unusual longevity of Zombies, Run!– it’s been a successful app for 12 years while most are only popular for a few months – is the quality of the storytelling.”
More on the story here.
An early video illustrating Zombies, Run!