CASUAL CONNECT: FlowPlay nabs $3.7m funding

Seattle-based developer FlowPlay has received some $3.7m in funding after a round A financing from four investors.

The cash comes from Intel Capital and Ambient Sound Investments, who lead the round, and other investors Ben Feingold, former president of Worldwide Home Entertainment at Sony Pictures and Michael Schutzler, former SVP of Games at RealNetworks, already a board member of the firm.

The $3.7m will be used to complete and launch the studio’s first project which ‘aggregates popular online casual games in a virtual environment’. In a Flash environment players will be able to log on to FlowPlay’s online world, create an avatar and play games.

“Casual gaming is poised for further growth and ripe for innovation,” says Mike Buckley, director of Strategic Investments, Intel Capital. “With its experienced management team, solid core technology and unique approach to this space, FlowPlay is well positioned to provide unique gaming solutions to this expanding market segment.”

“We’re very pleased to have both Intel Capital and ASI as investors,” says Derrick Morton, CEO of FlowPlay. “Intel Capital has incredible industry relationships and a deep understanding of the future of interactive entertainment. The principals of ASI know what it takes to build a startup into a multibillion dollar company. You couldn’t ask for a better combination.”