We’ve looked at some pretty intriguing games from Mojo Bones and Simogo, but this time round, it’s the turn of a more exercise-focused app developer in the form of Six To Start.

What is Six To Start?: Six To Start describes itself as next-gen storytellers. Made up of a variety of different staff from backgrounds as diverse as the theatre and neuroscience, the company works on online games, as well as apps for iOS, each with the focus on storytelling as well as providing memorable experiences. One glance at the team page on the company site ably demonstrates just how varied skillsets the team offer.

What is Six To Start most famous for?
Zombies, Run! One of the most successful Kickstarter projects in recent times, Zombies, Run! manages to make running (or walking) fun by adding a zombie twist to proceedings. Stick your headphones in as you run and an immersive audio adventure kicks in, distracting you from the aches and pains as well as telling a fantastic story, courtesy of award-winning novelist Naomi Alderman.

What’s next on the horizon?
There’s been a steady stream of new content for Zombies, Run! since it launched earlier this year but CEO Adrian Hon has promised us that a new app, Zombies, Run! 5k Training, will be out in the near future, aimed directly at beginner runners. New updates for Zombies, Run! will continue, also.

Anything else I should know about Six To Start?
Yup! We asked Adrian Hon how Zombies, Run! came about.

148apps: What was the inspiration behind creating Zombies, Run?

Adrian: It came from a couple of places – I’ve been a runner for a long time now, but it didn’t come naturally! I only really got into it with the help of gadgets like the Garmin Forerunner GPS watch, which at least helped you see how much you were improving. The problem was that they didn’t make running any more interesting or fun, and even when GPS tracking apps became commonplace, no-one seemed to be making running games for smartphones, so it was something that I’ve wanted to do for some time.

The other half of the inspiration came from our co-creator and writer Naomi Alderman, who fairly recently joined a running club. When they asked people why they’d joined, some people said ‘to get fit’, others ‘to lose weight’, but one person said, ‘to survive the zombie apocalypse’! We put two and two together, and that’s where Zombies, Run! came from!

148apps: What’s your favourite thing about iOS development?

Adrian: There’s a lot to like – the solid development environment, the consistency across devices (although the iPhone 5 does make our life a little more difficult!), the comparative smoothness of publishing on iTunes Connect, and the absolutely massive potential audience. It’s not perfect, but it’s very good.

Where can I find out more about Six To Start?
Quite a few places. The Six To Start website is a good starting place, there’s also the Twitter page. For more zombie based updates, check out the official Zombies, Run! website and its Twitter account. And, of course, we’ll keep you informed on any updates and the progress of Zombies, Run! 5k Training

$3.99

Zombies, Run!

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-02-27 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness

Ever stylish, part personal journal, part social networking app Path has just implemented a major, fitness focused update.

Now including Nike+ GPS support, users can now connect their Nike+ GPS device to the app, thus sharing their runs in real time with friends and family. The app then creates a Running Story (or map of th route) including other information such as the user’s best pace, time, distance and even pictures of the route. It’s something that’s been used elsewhere before but not in such a journal focused way.

Future updates will include Nike+ FuelBand connectivity for further tracking capabilities.

Elsewhere in the app, Music Match functionality has been included so that users can listen to a brief piece of music and have it identified, before sharing with friends. Extra photography functions are also included.

Path is fast becoming an ideal one stop shop type app for those who want to share their life with those close to them, as well as use a variety of useful tools.

Path is available now and it’s free to download.

FREE!

Path

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-11-15 :: Category: Social Networking

The darkness is coming. It won’t give up. Ever. The only option is to run. Dodge obstacles, plan ahead and only resort to direct conflict when there’s absolutely no other choice. But most importantly: Never. Stop. Running.

InterWave Studios, in collaboration with EVENT Interactive, is bringing one of the best indie runners this side of Canabalt to iOS. rComplex is a beautifully stylized runner with a story. One that will only fully reveal itself to those with the fortitude and reflexes to brave all seven of the world’s environments. Players control a nameless “running man” as he jumps, ducks, dodges and sprints from his seemingly omniscient pursuer.

Aside from looking super-awesome (no, really, look at those screens!) it also offers up a bit more variety than a standard runner. Each level involves running of a sort, certainly, but some use close-quarters to up the tension while others utilize lane-changing motorcycle chases. Plus there’s that story I mentioned that can be uncovered through a combination of progress and item/secret discovery.

There’s no official price announcement yet, but rComplex is due out at the end of February. All things considered, I don’t think I mind having to wait another month to get some hands-on time. I’m fairly certain it’ll be worth it.

The Nike+ GPS app is not only one of my favorite running partners, but its predecessor Nike+ was crucial in getting me across the finish line of my first marathon. For first-time and veteran runners, Nike+ GPS is a great addition to their workout as it features a simple interface, tracks all the good stuff such as calories, distance and pace as well as includes various half and full marathon training guides on its companion site.

As for my first 26.2 mile adventure, I finished the 2007 Chicago Marathon with a heat index of 92 degrees and the only thing that got me through to the finish line was my playlist and my running tracker, the original Nike+ that had the sensor in the shoe and one connected to my now old school iPod Nano.

These days, I use the Nike+ GPS app and if I pull the app dashboard up it has a total of 801.2 miles, 9’43″ average pace, 129:43:19 duration, 110,245 calories burned in a total of 226 runs. That doesn’t include a lot of the other runs I have on other apps or 2007-2008, but still shows how much I’ve used it. I also finished the Phoenix Marathon in 2010.

Why I choose to use the Nike+ GPS app is mainly due to being able to get slaps on the back by famous athletes such as Lance Armstrong and others via the in-app feedback function. I remember way back in the day when I ran my fastest mile and Lance came over my headphones and said congratulations. I was hooked.

A few updates later and now it features a slew of other voices as well as one of the coolest features I’ve seen in an app: the ability to challenge friends. My nephew (who is in the Air Force) and I use it quite a bit. Even better, it offers a blind challenge option where the challenger can create the challenge with or without the other person being able to see how far or fast the other person ran.

The reason why Nike+ GPS is a great marathon training partner is that it is very easy to track weekly runs, check that my pace was on track during and after my runs as well as set goals for myself be it running farther, longer or fast. And again, the elite athletes giving a verbal pat on the back is pretty sweet. Pair the app with its companion site Nike+ and the runner can also take advantage of training programs for 5K, half marathon and full marathon among others.

The app and the site are an essential part of my running training schedule. I give all credit to it for the two marathons and half marathons I’ve run and continue to use it to challenge my nephew on a regular basis. I highly recommend it as a running partner and or coach.

FREE!

Nike+ Running

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-09-06 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness

The award-winning Scosche MyTrek Pulse Monitor is an arm band that communicates wirelessly with the free myTREK health and fitness app. The app displays real-time pulse, target training zone, calories burned, distance and speed of run, total workout time and provides voice prompts during the workout. At $129.99, the pulse monitor works exlusively with the above mentioned app and seems to greatly reduce the bulkiness of the many chest and watch combinations.

With accurate pulse monitoring, the user can easily assess the intensity of their workout and adjust which training zone they’re in by using the five color coded options to quickly identify the desired intensity level. Based on personal health information, each workout zone is represented in a different color, including Resting Zone (White), Weight Loss Zone (Green), Fitness Zone (Yellow), Performance Zone (Orange) and Red Line Zone (Red). Each training session can be customized by adjusting the type of activity, target training zone and type of workout all within the app. It also includes motivational voice prompts to get the user to the finish line as well as makes it easy to control music via the integrated buttons on the Scosche myTREK Wireless Pulse Monitor.

FREE!

Scosche myTREK

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-06-15 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness