Recently, Fuel had the chance to have a little chit chat with our friend Dan Maiman at Vans on our current iPhone game Vans Sk8: Pool Service, here's what he had to say...

How did you guys get into the skate business?

Vans began in Southern California back in 1966 when skating was first coming alive. Skaters liked the way the Vans shoes and our waffle sole gripped their boards and they began using the shoes as a means of self expression by customizing them with their own designs. That's why we still offer the Vans Customs program where folks can design their shoe with different colors and patterns.

You’ve been part of the skate scene for almost half a century.  How do you keep it punk rock in today’s commercial skate industry?

It's really about our team riders, events, artists, music and the personalities we align with. Vans stays with what it knows and doesn't attempt to follow the latest fads that come and go.

How many riders does Vans sponsor besides Bucky and Omar?

More than 5 and less than a 1000... Seriously, between all the different divisions (Skate, Surf, Snow, Bmx, Pro and Am) that would take a while to figure out!

What do you think a Vans iPhone game can bring to the culture?

I think Vans SK8: Pool Service will bring another dimension to the way skaters and gamers interact with skateboarding. It's a relatively new platform (mobile gaming) and an entertaining way to experience how amazing the tricks that great skaters are able to pull off. It's also cool when you apply the fantasy aspect of a video game to the sport you actually participate in. It sort of helps push how you approach things mentally.

How’s it been working directly with a game studio like Fuel on a project that’s got your name on it?

Working with Fuel has been really cool. To combine the talents of both their team and ours was something new and inspiring. In the beginning some people over here were kinda skeptical of doing a video game and how good it could really be. And, since this isn't our area of expertise we didn't really know where to begin. The guys at Fuel listened to our concerns and what we wanted for the game and didn't want as well. They took the ball and ran with it. Even the most hardcore skate hessians here were sold on the game once they played it for the first time.

What are some of the challenges of compressing the Vans experience into a mobile game?

I think the main challenge was working in a new space. Mobile gaming is pretty new in general and definitely a first for Vans. Another challenge was making sure the game was true to our riders and skating. You learn that are some aspects you just can't control when it comes to technology.

What are some of the features you guys are most looking forward to in Pool Service?

I think being able to unlock Bucky and Omar's special tricks and signature skate decks will be really cool. I'm also glad we were able to incorporate some actual skate footy of Bucky and Omar riding pools, so folks can see them in their element- it pumps you up to skate.

Vans reached out to skaters to name the game.  What were some of your favorite names that didn’t end up making the cut?

'Smoke in bowls' and 'Finger Bangers' were pretty clever, but didn't get past that sticky legal department.

Pool Service boasts a bunch of features, like allowing users to customize their board, choose their own wheels, and play in ten different events.  What do you think players will have the most fun with?

I think skating in the different events will be pretty addictive. There's several to choose from and each of them will test your skills and probably cause a few phones to be thrown.

About a month ago, you put a build of the game in front of Bucky and Omar for the first time.  What was their reaction to seeing themselves immortalized on the iPhone screen?

They were super pumped. I think Bucky's exact words were: "i thought it was going to be a bunch of stick figures!" Omar mentioned he was "flattered" to be included in it.

Before Bucky and Omar came into the studio to record audio, we whipped up a quick script outline for them to read from, but we weren’t sure how the guys would react to having to read canned text. How’d the recording session go?

The recording session was classic! Bucky has appeared in some regular game console stuff, so he hit the ground running with different variations on the script and voice inflections. He had us rolling at a few points with his energy. Omar's a bit more low key, which was just as entertaining because you never knew what you were going to get from him.

Why aren’t any of you wearing pants right now?

Huh!? You canadians are weird... Ehh!?