Ngmoco
Encyclopedia
ngmoco, Inc. is an American-based publisher
of video games for the iOS and Android platforms, and a subsidiary
of DeNA
. The company was founded by former Electronic Arts
executive Neil Young in July 2008. Since its founding, ngmoco has had more than seven million combined game installs. Venture capital
firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Norwest Venture Partners
, among others, have financed the company with a combined total of $40.6 million USD. The company is most well known for their publishing of the Rolando
game series and Eliminate
.
Games label president Frank Gibeau announced to the media that executive Neil Young was leaving the company to form a company of his own. Young had managed Maxis
, EA Los Angeles
, and EA's Blueprint division. The next week, Young announced that the company, co-founded by Bob Stevenson, Alan Yu and Joe Keene, would be named "ngmoco" (short for "Next Generation Mobile Company"), and would focus on game publishing for the iPhone
platform. It was also announced that the company had achieved funding from venture capitalist firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (as part of the iFund
), and that partner and former Chief Creative Officer of EA Bing Gordon
had joined ngmoco's board of directors.
In October 2008, the company revealed their first three games to the public. They consisted of Topple, MazeFinger
, and Rolando
. In March 2009, ngmoco's games on the App Store had received over 7 million installs. The company's board was joined by Tim Chang, whose investment firm Norwest Venture Partners
contributed $10 million USD to the ngmoco's second round of funding.
On June 15, 2009, ngmoco launched a social networking, game discovery, and multiplayer platform called the "Plus+ Network", combined with a third-party channel for independent developers. The "Plus+ Publishing group" is headed up by former Sega of America
and LucasArts
executive Simon Jeffery
.
On November 4, 2009 ngmoco announced it had acquired iPhone and Facebook
developer, Miraphonic, whose games included Epic Pet Wars and Epic Soldier Wars.
In February 2010, investors Institutional Venture Partners
, and existing shareholders Kleiner Perkins, Norwest Venture Partners, and Maples Investments led another fundraising campaign in a series C venture round
to raise an additional $25 million USD. Soon thereafter, ngmoco acquired long-time Mac OS and iOS developer Freeverse. They also acquired Stumptown Game Machine.
On October 12, 2010, Japanese-based DeNA
announced its decision to acquire ngmoco for $400 million USD.
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
of video games for the iOS and Android platforms, and a subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of DeNA
DeNA Co., Ltd.
is a provider of mobile portal and e-commerce website based in Japan. It owns the Mobage-town platform, which is a popular cell phone gaming platform in Japan, as well as operating many other e-commerce based services.-History:...
. The company was founded by former Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
executive Neil Young in July 2008. Since its founding, ngmoco has had more than seven million combined game installs. Venture capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Norwest Venture Partners
Norwest venture partners
Norwest Venture Partners is a global, multi-stage investment firm focused on investments in early to late stage venture and growth equity investments in U.S...
, among others, have financed the company with a combined total of $40.6 million USD. The company is most well known for their publishing of the Rolando
Rolando (video game)
Rolando is a puzzle-adventure video game developed by HandCircus and published by ngmoco. It was released for the iOS on December 18, 2008, and uses the Box2D game engine....
game series and Eliminate
Eliminate Pro
Eliminate Pro is a first-person shooter developed for the iOS by Ngmoco.Ngmoco has officially stopped development on it, and it does not fully work on iOS 4.1/4.2.1.-Gameplay:...
.
History
In June 2008, Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
Games label president Frank Gibeau announced to the media that executive Neil Young was leaving the company to form a company of his own. Young had managed Maxis
Maxis
Maxis is an American company founded as an independent video game developer in 1987. It is currently a subsidiary of Electronic Arts . Maxis is the creator of one of the best-selling computer games of all time, The Sims and its first sequel, The Sims 2...
, EA Los Angeles
EA Los Angeles
EA Los Angeles is a video game developer founded originally in 1995 as DreamWorks Interactive LLC, a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG....
, and EA's Blueprint division. The next week, Young announced that the company, co-founded by Bob Stevenson, Alan Yu and Joe Keene, would be named "ngmoco" (short for "Next Generation Mobile Company"), and would focus on game publishing for the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
platform. It was also announced that the company had achieved funding from venture capitalist firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (as part of the iFund
IFund
The iFund is a US$200 million capital fund. Developers may enter into equity deals for the creation of applications, services, and components for Apple's iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad platform...
), and that partner and former Chief Creative Officer of EA Bing Gordon
Bing Gordon
William "Bing" Gordon is an executive in the video game industry. He served ten years as Chief Creative Officer of video game publisher and developer Electronic Arts prior to his current partnership with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers...
had joined ngmoco's board of directors.
In October 2008, the company revealed their first three games to the public. They consisted of Topple, MazeFinger
MazeFinger
MazeFinger is a game developed and published by ngmoco for the iOS platform. It is available for download on the iPhone and iPod touch on the App Store or iTunes.-Gameplay:...
, and Rolando
Rolando (video game)
Rolando is a puzzle-adventure video game developed by HandCircus and published by ngmoco. It was released for the iOS on December 18, 2008, and uses the Box2D game engine....
. In March 2009, ngmoco's games on the App Store had received over 7 million installs. The company's board was joined by Tim Chang, whose investment firm Norwest Venture Partners
Norwest venture partners
Norwest Venture Partners is a global, multi-stage investment firm focused on investments in early to late stage venture and growth equity investments in U.S...
contributed $10 million USD to the ngmoco's second round of funding.
On June 15, 2009, ngmoco launched a social networking, game discovery, and multiplayer platform called the "Plus+ Network", combined with a third-party channel for independent developers. The "Plus+ Publishing group" is headed up by former Sega of America
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
and LucasArts
LucasArts
LucasArts Entertainment Company, LLC is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was once famous for its innovative line of graphic adventure games, the critical and commercial success of which peaked in the mid 1990s...
executive Simon Jeffery
Simon Jeffery
Simon Jeffery is the chief publishing officer of ngmoco's Plus+ Publishing group.Similar to EA Publishing Partners group, Plus+ Publishing is a combined technology, App Store publishing and custom support play for iPhone and iPod touch developers. It will launch its first products with the rollout...
.
On November 4, 2009 ngmoco announced it had acquired iPhone and Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
developer, Miraphonic, whose games included Epic Pet Wars and Epic Soldier Wars.
In February 2010, investors Institutional Venture Partners
Institutional Venture Partners
Institutional Venture Partners is a US based private equity investment firm focusing on later-stage venture capital and growth equity investments. IVP is one of the oldest venture capital firms on Sand Hill Road founded by Reid W...
, and existing shareholders Kleiner Perkins, Norwest Venture Partners, and Maples Investments led another fundraising campaign in a series C venture round
Venture round
A venture round is a type of funding round used for venture capital financing, by which startup companies obtain investment, generally from venture capitalists and other institutional investors. The availability of venture funding is among the primary stimuli for the development of new companies...
to raise an additional $25 million USD. Soon thereafter, ngmoco acquired long-time Mac OS and iOS developer Freeverse. They also acquired Stumptown Game Machine.
On October 12, 2010, Japanese-based DeNA
DeNA Co., Ltd.
is a provider of mobile portal and e-commerce website based in Japan. It owns the Mobage-town platform, which is a popular cell phone gaming platform in Japan, as well as operating many other e-commerce based services.-History:...
announced its decision to acquire ngmoco for $400 million USD.
Games
The following is a list of games that have been published under the ngmoco name:- Charadium (2010)
- Dr. Awesome (2008)
- Dropship (2009)
- Eliminate ProEliminate ProEliminate Pro is a first-person shooter developed for the iOS by Ngmoco.Ngmoco has officially stopped development on it, and it does not fully work on iOS 4.1/4.2.1.-Gameplay:...
(2009) - Eliminate Burst(2010)
- 'Eliminate Sequel' (Name and game to be announced 2011)
- Eliminate: Gun Range (2010)
- GodFingerGodFingerGodFinger is a game developed by Wonderland Software and published by ngmoco for the iOS platform. It is available for download on the iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad on the App Store or iTunes. Although a free app, customers are able to buy in-app purchases....
(2010) - MazeFingerMazeFingerMazeFinger is a game developed and published by ngmoco for the iOS platform. It is available for download on the iPhone and iPod touch on the App Store or iTunes.-Gameplay:...
(2008) - RolandoRolando (video game)Rolando is a puzzle-adventure video game developed by HandCircus and published by ngmoco. It was released for the iOS on December 18, 2008, and uses the Box2D game engine....
(2008) - Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden OrchidRolando 2: Quest for the Golden OrchidRolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid is an adventure/puzzle video game developed by HandCircus, published by ngmoco, and distributed by Apple Inc. for the iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Rolando 2 was released on July 3, 2009. It is the sequel to Rolando, which was released in 2008...
(2009) - Star Defense (2009)
- ToppleToppleTopple is also a game developed and published by ngmoco for the iOS platform. It is available for download on the iPhone and iPod touch on the App Store or iTunes.-Gameplay:...
(2008) - Topple 2 (2009)
- Touch Pets: Cats (2010)
- Touch Pets: DogsTouch Pets: DogsTouch Pets: Dogs is a game for Apple's iPhone's. It is a social, virtual reality game where players create their own pet dogs and take care of them like real pets.-External links:***...
(2009) - Touch Pets: Dogs 2 (2010)
- We City ( 2010)
- We Doodle (2010)
- We FarmWe FarmWe Farm is a simulation video game developed by Zynga Dallas and published by ngmoco for the iOS platform. It is available for download on the iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad on the App Store or iTunes, and has attracted many users since its release...
(2010) - We RuleWe RuleWe Rule is a game developed by Newtoy and published by ngmoco for the iOS platform. It is available for download on the iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad on the App Store or iTunes, and has attracted many users since its release in March 2010. Although a free app, customers are able to buy in-app...
(2010) - Word-Fu (2009)
- Imperial Academy (2010)
- Adventure Bay (2010)(canceled)
- Fantastic Fish (2011)