Playdom Bets Big On Buenos Aires Social Gaming Company

Game On: Mountain View-based social gamer Playdom is investing $5 million in BA-based MetroGames.com.

When Gamasutra last reported from Buenos Aires, it was on the heels of November’s Argentina Video Game Expo where the gaming industry news source described the dramatic qualitative game industry growth on full display in Buenos Aires.” Well, apparently someone in Mountain View took notice.

Gamasutra is reporting that California-based social gaming giant Playdom is investing $5 million in BA-based MetroGames. Playdom, the self-described “best kept secret in social gaming,” has been making strategic acquisitions since raising $43 million last November.

Here in Argentina, MetroGames has been busy developing more than 30 games for Facebook including Typing Maniac, Archer Piglets and Aquaball. Creator of online games like Mobsters and Sorority Life, “Playdom describes the Argentinian developer as ‘promising’ and expects ‘explosive growth’ from the company,”  Gamasutra reports, “MetroGames intends to use this Series A investment to expand its pipeline of games and to continue work on its Metrogames.com social gaming platform.”

With the announcement, MetroGames CEO Damian Harburger expressed optimism and appreciation, “We are very confident MetroGames will become one of the world leaders in social gaming. We are pleased Playdom has recognized our potential and chosen to invest in us.” Given the combined talent and cost advantages of game development in Argentina, more BA game studios will likely be the beneficiaries of future foreign investment.

For more information about social gaming companies in Buenos Aires, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.