DeNA enters into 11 game partnership with Japanese dev gloops

Building ten games for the west

DeNA has announced a partnership with Japanese developer gloops that will see the studio produce eleven games for the Mobage platform by the end of 2013.

The agreement states that gloops will deliver five titles in 2012 and another five in 2013, all of which will target the US and European markets. One of these games will be based on an unnamed 'popular American franchise.'

The eleventh game in this partnership will be built for Mobage's networks in China and South Korea.

Big in Japan

This isn't the first time gloops and DeNA have worked together, although until recently, their collaborations have squarely targeted Japanese audiences – a card-battler based on the Monster Hunter franchise, for example, was never localised for the west.

"gloops has a proven track record of making truly captivating social games in Japan," explained DeNA CEO Isao Moriyasu.

"Now that we are starting to see multiple titles from Japanese developers on the top-grossing charts in several countries, we are truly excited to team up with gloops to bring their titles to smartphone gamers worldwide through our Mobage platform."

Two tribes

While social gaming rival GREE has struggled to successfully export its Japanese titles to the west, Mobage's Rage of Bahamut – developed by Japanese studio Cygames – has dominated the app stores' top grossing charts in recent months.

This partnership, then, highlights a divergence in strategy between the warring platforms.
 
DeNA looks set to continue betting on Japanese-developed titles for a worldwide audience, while deep-pocketed GREE embarks on an acquisition binge, tapping up mobile talent throughout the western world.

[source: DeNA]

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