Sheffield resident Brogan James is the co-founder of Tipsy, an interactive drinking game which has received rave reviews and well over 10,000 downloads since its official launch last year. He gave Exposed the lowdown on the pre-drinks app you never knew you needed – until now!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to create the Tipsy app?
There’s a team of two of us behind Tipsy. There’s myself and Matt, who I met in Sheffield. I’ve always enjoyed drinking games and have a collection of homemade DIY projects ranging from making Jenga blocks with our own rules scribbled on, to playing Ring of Fire, Mushroom, Beer Pong or Never Have I Ever. I was fortunate enough over lockdown to live in a house with five friends, and it became a tradition instead of going out to pubs or bars that we would stay in as a house to play drinking games together.
One day, having become bored and exhausted of the games we’d been playing, I asked Matt if I wrote the cards and rules, would he be able to code the app. It’s been years since that conversation, with a lot of ups and down, but we’re really proud of what we’ve built over this time. I feel really fortunate to be in a position where I’ve built something with a friend – it makes the harder parts of the job that much easier!
What was the development process like?
I originally wrote 200 cards, and sent them to my business partner. The original idea was simple: create something that could cycle through the ideas I’d written out. Once that was made, we focussed on expanding and adding new ideas; whilst I do all the writing, my partner does the technical side and between us we try and create things that make the game more fun. That’s how we created the truth or dare randomiser, our photobooth cards and the 5-second countdown. We’re always looking at classic drinking games we played as students and trying to incorporate them into our game design!
In a nutshell, how does it work?
You punch in the names of all the people playing, and you play through the deck of cards that the app selects. We’ve currently got about 1200 cards across the app. The cards come with challenges, questions and rules and you simply do what the cards say! It’s a basic concept, but it always engaging and more fun, and we’ve been experimenting with new ways to make things silly and entertaining for users.
Do you mix promoting a fun experience with responsible drinking?
Yes. When we first made the app, we were wary of the danger that alcohol can have when people take things too far. Whilst we think the app is a brilliant addition to any night out, we also encourage users to know their own limits. We use language that isn’t drinking specific (we use forfeits instead of explicitly referring to sips or shots). I’ve played this game with soft drinks, and with friends who are teetotal. The fun of the game is in the cards, not in the amount you drink.
What feedback have you received from users, and how has it influenced the app’s evolution?
Some of the biggest changes come from users always asking for more content, which is a never-ending grind! It can be hard to be original sometimes, but we’re dedicated to making the game a fun and unique experience.
The game itself has changed its user interface, our graphics, our approach to language used throughout the app. It’s super iterative, and that comes from the app being a passion project for the two of us.
What can users expect in terms of future updates and improvements to the Tipsy app?
We’ve got quite a roadmap for the app considering that both of us have full-time jobs! We’re really keen on expanding on what types of things the app can incorporate, we’re always experimenting with new ways to present rules – and the limited format presents its own challenges. We’re keen to have new packs created specifically targeting university students, and a pack that’s aimed at stag nights and hen do’s!
Are there any plans to expand Tipsy’s reach to new markets or platforms?
We’ve just been admitted to Apple after being Android-exclusive for a long time! We don’t have any plans to move further than that, but we’re constantly trying to appeal to new markets. Part of us expanding has had me take a more active role in running our social media accounts on Instagram and TikTok, which has been a brand new challenge!
You can download Tipsy now from the Apple App Store or via GooglePlay now.
