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Ngmoco says Mobage for smartphones will launch this summer, and there will also be new iOS and Android games

It's Suntory time

Ngmoco says Mobage for smartphones will launch this summer, and there will also be new iOS and Android games
There's been a certain amount of confusion - at least in my mind - about what ngmoco is up to.

Bought in October 2010 by Japanese mobile giant DeNA, it's deep into integrating its Plus+ iOS social mobile gaming network with DeNA's Japanese-only platform Mobage.

The plan is to combine the two, also transitioning Mobage to smartphone platforms, and building out web tools to enable developers to be able to quickly make and deploy their games globally.

What you talkin bout?

So, when I read that DeNA had said, "ngmoco is concentrating its resources on preparations for the start-up of Mobage Global and has suspended the development of new social games," as part of its financial filings, it wasn't a big surprise.

It was to ngmoco however. Apparently, it is so working on games for iOS and Android phones and tablets.

According to CEO Neil Young:

"We are pressing ahead aggressively with the global release of Mobage for smartphones. Our first launch will be in Japan followed by the US and Europe later this summer, supported with a wide range of first and third party games."

As to the issue of what game teams are up to, he says; "ngmoco's first party development is bigger and better than ever, with a host of new titles shipping throughout the year on iOS and Android, phone and tablet."

The issue of DeNA's original statement is put down to "a translation/transcription error".
Contributing Editor

A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.