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Playdom Bets On BA Social Gaming Company

On March 18, 2010, In arts & entertainment, creative class, foreign investment, technology, us companies, by InvestBA
Mountain View-based Playdom is investing $5 million in BA-based MetroGames.

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 on other players in the BA gaming arena, send your inquiry to in@investba.com.

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Codear: Video Game Development Booming in BA

On December 16, 2009, In arts & entertainment, creative class, foreign investment, technology, by InvestBA
This original South Park online game was developed by Buenos Aires-based QB9.

This original South Park online game was developed by Buenos Aires-based videogame studio QB9.

The talent and cost advantages behind the animation resurgence in Argentina are also evident in the video game development industry, according to Gamasutra, a leading online resource for programmers and gamers alike. Gamasutra visited this month’s EVA, the Argentine Video game Expo, and tells readers about “the dramatic qualitative game industry growth on full display in Buenos Aires.” The Expo gave local video game studios like QB9, Sabarasa and Three Melons the opportunity to showcase their various online and iPhone games designed for major industry players like Sony, Nintendo and Comedy Central. Gamasutra summarizes the cost and talent advantages of BA for foreign companies: “An exchange rate of 3.81:1 of the Argentine Peso to the US Dollar makes investment capital go a long way in Buenos Aires…these companies are the game start-up equivalent of a Prius, so perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that the number of companies is growing even as the established studios begin to consolidate and move away from work-for-hire.” A strong entrepreneurial streak is also evident as talented artists, developers and designers begin to strike out on their own. Gamasutra concludes, “many people who have experience working in those larger companies have branched out to begin their own, more lightweight ventures. The future of the industry here may be just as uncertain as the fate of the global industry, but the feeling of freedom will always be part of the package for the Argentine game community.” (Full article)

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