News

Educational game developer Mindshapes receives $5 million in series A funding

Magic Town and Language City out next

Educational game developer Mindshapes receives $5 million in series A funding
Letting children play games on phones has been the source of some controversy, as parents have been faced with monumental IAP fuelled phone bills via titles such as Capcom's Smurfs' Village.

London and San-Francisco-based developer Mindshapes harbors a more noble aim, however - producing mobile games with the potential to help educate kids.

To that end, it has received $5 million in a series A round of investment, although the companies who invested weren't disclosed. 

Virtual worlds, real education

This investment will be used to push two of Mindshapes' upcoming titles, interactive story world Magic Town and "task based, language learning virtual world" Language City.

"We are passionate about using the latest technology and contemporary educational thinking to change the way that children learn around the world," said CEO David Begg.

"This investment will accelerate our plans to become the world's most trusted digital publisher of high quality educational games, books and learning worlds as we continue to expand."

The team at Mindshapes is made up of former members of some of the most influential children's entertainment companies out there, including Playfish, Sesame Workshop, Scholastic, HarperCollins, CBeebies, Sega, and Sony.

Earlier in 2011, director of product development for mobile at Mindshapes, Jinhee Ahn Kim spoke to us about how a mix a fun and education is possible over smartphone and tablet-based platforms.

"We're trying to establish a brand that parents can trust, where they can be reassured that their kids will learn something as well as be thoroughly entertained," she said.

[source: Mindshapes]

When Matt was 7 years old he didn't write to Santa like the other little boys and girls. He wrote to Mario. When the rotund plumber replied, Matt's dedication to a life of gaming was established. Like an otaku David Carradine, he wandered the planet until becoming a writer at Pocket Gamer.