I’m extremely excited to introduce Downside, our first foray into building a game for iOS.

Downside started as most great ideas do: as a crazy idea at happy hour. We had played a version of the game for almost a year, but Tim and Brian realized that it would make a great App too and they’re right.

The premise of Downside is simple: Most of us are used to staring at our phones instead of talking to the people in the room. Downside makes a game out of keeping your hands off your phone. We’ve been beta testing at lunch and happy hours for a few weeks and we usually go through an entire meal without anyone touching their phone. If we can do it, you can too.

Downside uses Game Kit to find people in the same physical space as you, and you can quickly create a game with anyone around you without having to be friends on any kind of social network. Once you’re in a game, everyone flips their phones face down and the game begins. As soon as you pick it up, you lose.

We have lots of plans for additional game modes too, but we want you to see our first version and tell us what you think! Download it today free on the App Store and drop us a comment or a review. We’d love to know how you like it.

Some of our early users will wager a round of drinks, whereas families are getting their kids to pay attention around the dinner table. There’s even been talk about using it in business meetings to focus on the task at hand. We know people are doing this already without Downside, but now there’s an app for that!