Google Ventures, the venture capital side of Google has put money into the developer of iPad and iPhone games, ngmoco.
ngmoco has a number of very popular gaming apps with one of its most popular being ‘We Farm’, currently the second most popular app on the iPad. TechCrunch figures that the investment is between $3 million and $5 million which values the company at almost $100 million.
The investment is made by Google Ventures which, company reps say, is completely distinct from Google itself. Google has made several investments in gaming developers so far, including Zygna as well as Slide.
That said it is unlikely that the decision was made purely on investment grounds, considering the importance Google places on its Android platform. In all likelihood ngmoco will soon be developing a number of games for the Android platform.
Currently Android has fairly few quality gaming application available so there is definitely room for Google Ventures’ new acquisition to develop games for the Android. However it is possible that ngmoco may offend its current host Apple should it go ahead to port its popular games to Android. Of course Apple should not let such a decision interfere with the approval process but this may or may not become a problem.
Ngmoco is short for Next Generation Mobile COmpany. The company is run by Neil Young, a former executive from major games developer Electronic Arts. Bing Gordon, also an Electronic Arts veteran and currently partner Kleiner Perkins also sits on the board.
