Dule Hill Talks Nomino, Gaming Apps, and Post-'Psych' Plans (EXCLUSIVE)

After eight seasons on USA Network's Psych, where he played the role of Burton "Gus" Guster, Dule Hill finally has a little free time on his hands. But not much. After all, let's not forget that this is an actor who has been on our TV screens in one capacity or another for fifteen consecutive seasons.

The actor currently stars on Broadway in After Midnight alongside Fantasia Barrino and Wynston Marsalis, and it's a role that provides a platform for all of Hill's considerable talents. The one-act jazz revue has featured a revolving door of stellar guest performers, including Toni Braxton, Babyface, and Vanessa Williams, making for one of Broadway's most unique and engaging shows. Yet Hill has been making headlines for something completely unrelated to his acting. Something fascinating that is gradually exploding in app stores all over the world.

Hill is the co-creator of the brand new social gaming app called Nomino, in which users challenge their followers to solve a series of riddles using nothing more than picture or video clues provided by the user. Want to take a picture and see if anyone can guess where you are? Nomino throws down the gauntlet and invites your friends to try and outwit you, all while you try to stump them. The points each game is played for can be redeemed in the Nomino marketplace for unique rewards.

The app has only been out for two months, but its popularity is beginning to take off in a big way. I had the pleasure of interviewing Hill about the new app, its genesis, and the expansion plans for its future now that the game is taking on a life of its own. We also go a bit into what his plans are post-Psych.

Credit: USA Network

Could you tell us a bit about how Nomino came into existence? Was creating an app something you always wanted to do, or was it more a case of lightning striking?

Dule Hill: I didn't set out initially to create an app. It was more Rochelle Thwaites, one of the co-founders of Nomino. She was driving through Malibu Canyon one day and asked herself, "I wonder if I took a picture right now, would my friends know where I was?" And that was a light bulb moment. From there, she teamed up with another friend of ours, Talitha Watkins, and then they came to me. And they said, "It's a good idea. Do you think we may be onto something special? Let's go for it!" And we joined hands, and jumped off the cliff.

Credit: Propheta Communications

And what kind of response have you received from users?

Dule Hill: The response has been very good! The fanbase has really enjoyed being able to create trivia around the subject matter they enjoy. It's been a healthy growth. We've just been taking our time, figuring out what works in the app, what doesn't work in the app. Designing it and redesigning it, and fine-tuning and streamlining the app into something that is entertaining and engaging for our users.

And how digitally adept are you? Would you consider yourself a fairly tech-savvy guy, or has this been a learning process?

Dule Hill: It's a little bit of a learning process. I've always been tech-savvy, but not to the extent of this. Like, I'm not an engineer. I can't write code. [Laughs] But I get into technology very easily. I've always been into apps. I might have maybe -- I have I-don't-know-how-many apps on my phone right now. So I've always been into that aspect of mobile phones, but it's still a learning curve. It's going into something new in an area that's foreign to you. The best thing I feel that you can do is understand what you don't know, and then talk to people who do, or meet people who do, and connect with people who do so that you can start to learn. And that's what I'm doing.

Credit: USA Network

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced in creating this app?

Dule Hill: One of the biggest challenges is creating space, you know? I mean, how many apps are in the Apple Store? It's definitely a challenge getting above the noise. Also, it's learning how to adapt to what users are telling you through their actions, through their engagement. It's learning how to really understand how to do everything, to say, "Okay, this is why it's working" or "this is why it's not working."

Credit: Propheta Communications

And how good are you at Nomino itself?

Dule Hill: I think I'm pretty good. I do get stuck a lot. The best thing, you know, is to get to involve my own fanbase, because it's great out there. For anyone that has a fanbase, it's a great way to engage that fanbase on a deeper level. And my fans, many times, have sent me Nominos that have stumped me. And it's fun, but that's part of the process too. That's what I think is so engaging about the game.

Credit: Propheta Communications

Is there anything you'd like to improve about the app, ideally?

Dule Hill: Many things. I mean, I don't even really know since it's so early on in the startup. We just launched it a few months ago. But there are many things I would like to improve. I would like to add a little more gaming aspect to it -- I would like to find out the answer if I don't know it. I mean, there are all these tweaks you can do. ... It's all to create the best product possible that is engaging to the users, and create its own station and social interaction.

Do you have any expansion plans, to possibly bring Nomino to a wider variety of platforms?

Dule Hill: Yes. We do want to get this on Android and on Facebook, possibly in the next couple of weeks. Definitely in the next couple of months. That's the next stage that we want to deal with. After that, we'll probably do some kind of web platform version of it. But we have to take everything a step at a time. Launch is difficult enough as it is, and you definitely don't want to do too much too quickly. Our goal is to just build ourselves slowly but surely, take our time, and refine the app as it starts to expand out.

Credit: USA Network

What are your plans for the future now that Psych has come to an end and Nomino is taking off?

Dule Hill: That's a good question, actually. I mean, I'm an actor and I love acting, so I plan on returning to TV soon. I just finished up doing After Midnight here on Broadway. After this particular play, I'm taking a little break. I've been focusing on Nomino pretty much through the rest of the summer, because that is one of the last things I do before I take off on vacation tomorrow just for a little rest. I've worked for the last year and a half straight without any break, and then for the last fifteen seasons straight. And so I'm looking just to rest for a second, and then in the fall, get the show back up with some TV projects.

Well you've certainly earned the break! I just wanted to thank you for talking with me today.

Dule Hill: It was my pleasure! I'm glad you have an interest in Nomino and an interest in what I'm doing. I appreciate the love.

Oh absolutely, any time! Congratulations on all the success on the app.

Dule Hill: Thank you very much! With any endeavor, you're pushing a boulder uphill, but it's fun. I enjoy it, and I think that Nomino is viable and is filling a gap that is not there in the landscape right now. You know, you've gotta get a dream. That's one thing I like saying to fans whenever I talk about even my career. You have to dare to dream. If you don't believe it, no one else will. And that's what we're doing with Nomino. We're just going for it.

Great advice! Thank you for your time and all the best of luck in the future.

Dule Hill: Thank you, Nicholas, I appreciate it.

You can download and learn more about Nomino by visiting the app's Official Website.