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Dieterich grad markets word game application [Effingham Daily News, Ill. :: ](Effingham Daily News (IL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 31--TONY HUFFMAN Daily News Dalton Hinterscher is something of a Renaissance man in the making. A former standout basketball player at Dieterich High School, Hinterscher followed his intellectual pursuits into college. Entering his second year as a Software Engineering major at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Hinterscher has already parlayed his education into a budding career. He wrote programming code and is currently selling an application, or app, which is available for Apple devices. Called Letter Rain -- Get in the Game, raindrop letters fall down the screen, and the user taps the screen to create words. Hinterscher created the game with his girlfriend of nearly four years, Shelby Flach, who is also attending SIUE as an accounting major. "We had a few changes to the idea, but we knew we wanted to have letters falling down the screen," said Flach. Writing code and developing the game was enjoyable for Hinterscher, who has always been interested in technology. "Ever since I was little, I was fascinated by technology," he said. "I remember when I got a Nintendo 64. That is what started it." After gaining various computer knowledge in college, Hinterscher cherishes the chance to better himself and learn new ideas. "College gives you the hammer and nails, but you still have to build the house," he said. The app went on sale July 24, which led to 250 downloads of the game in just a few days. "We are in the top 50 games in the word category," said Hinterscher, who noted the game is available for download for 99 cents. After submitting their first app idea to the Apple folks, Hinterscher and Flach were "surprised" to gain approval for its sale. Apple only approves the sale of apps that they feel are quality, said Hinterscher. Apple takes 30 percent of the proceeds from the game's sale, he added. "This is just the beginning for me," said Hinterscher. "I want to make apps that improve the lives of people." After college, Hinterscher says a dream job would be to work for Google or Apple. "I'm never satisfied with myself," he said. "I want to learn how to be the best at whatever I am doing." Tony Huffman can be reached at 217-347-7151, ext. 138, at tony.huffman@effinghamdaily news.com or on Twitter @EDNthuffman. ___ (c)2014 the Effingham Daily News (Effingham, Ill.) Visit the Effingham Daily News (Effingham, Ill.) at www.effinghamdailynews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |