With a claim to be the largest game development tool on iOS, GameSalad has closed a fresh funding round worth $6.1 million, the company has revealed.

The investment - which was led by Steamboat Ventures, but also included the likes of Greycroft Partners, DFJ Mercury, DFJ Frontier and ff Asset Management - is to be pumped into the firm's technical and product teams and used to develop its technology.

Salad spinner

"We are focused on growing GameSalad into a world-class gaming company," said CEO Steve Felter.

"By making game creation accessible to anyone with a passion for games, we've empowered a new breed of game designers through GameSalad."

Aside from its GameSalad Creator tools, the company also recently launched its own publishing initiative, GameSalad Accelerator, which looks to link up development talents with industry professionals and brands.

Indie studios can also submit their titles through the system with a view to them being picked up and published.

"We'll continue to build on this momentum in 2011 and unveil some exciting new technologies that will bring people together through the creation, sharing and playing of games."

Board boost

As a result of the deal, Steamboat Ventures MS Beau Lasky has joined GameSalad's board of directors alongside existing director Blair Garrou from DFJ Mercury.

Greycroft Partners Dana Settle has also joined the board as an observer.

In total, GameSalad claims its free-to-use, drag-and-drop game creation platform has been employed in over 8,500 games, including more than 30 top 100 App Store games in the US.

[source: PR Newswire]