App store merger: ngmoco acquires Freeverse


At any given time ngmoco and Freeverse are likely to hold at least one spot in the iTunes app store charts. Today TechCrunch is reporting ngmoco has acquired Freeverse.

TechCrunch reports the move comes after ngmoco raised $25 million in venture funding. The goal appears to be to get bigger, ngmoco CEO Neil Young told TechCrunch they want to "amass enough scale to accelerate away from the pack." Young is a former exec at gaming giant Electronic Arts and joined ngmoco in 2008.

Freeverse is the maker of popular iPhone titles such as Skee-Ball, Flick Fishing, and Flick Bowling. Prior to the iPhone, Freeverse made many games on both Mac and PC platform. Most games were card and board type games. Lately the company seems to have focused on iPhone development where it appears to have been quite successful.

TechCrunch notes that most of ngmoco's recent titles have embraced the in-app purchase ability of the iTunes Store. The company's business model has been to offer free apps and collect fees for purchases inside the app. It appears that future Freeverse development will be moved to that model also, away from the traditional single purchase app.

iPhone Game House ngmoco Raises $25 Million Series C, Buys Freeverse