Google Buys Mobile Social Game Developer SocialDeck

In its latest social acquisition, Google has bought mobile game developer SocialDeck, according to a letter posted by the company. SocialDeck is located in Waterloo, Ontario, close to a regional Google office.

SocialDeck’s games were downloaded about a million times in 2009. Its games include Shake & Spell, Color Connect and Pet Hero.

What makes this more interesting than just a game developer acquisition is that SocialDeck has significant cross-platform experience. A non-game product it offers, called Spark, provides social integration across Blackberry, the iPhone and Facebook, while Shake & Spell also works on all three of those platforms.

Google’s gaming interest is obviously with Android. But it’s also reportedly working on a social platform to rival Facebook; Google’s technology plans could be advanced by SocialDeck’s experience in extending the social experience across multiple devices.

Buying SocialDeck also seems to fit in with Google’s broader plans, which we wrote about following its acquisition of Slide. With Slide, Google is likely working on a broad, viral platform for both the web and its own mobile devices.

The effort is being headed up by Slide founder Max Levchin, as we reported last week; it’s possible he had a hand in buying SocialDeck, although the timing may have been too close.

As for SocialDeck’s team, founders Anish Acharya and Jeson Patel came from Amazon and Microsoft, while CEO Dan Servos was formerly head of casual and social game developer NeoEdge.

There’s no word yet on how much Google paid for SocialDeck. The company had raised $250,000 from the Blackberry Fund in 209.

The text of the letter:

SocialDeck is joining Google!

Big news! We’re super excited to announce that someone found our social games as fun as you have — in this case, that “someone” is Google. SocialDeck has been acquired and we’ve joined the Google team.

We started this company with the goal of connecting friends through social games on all kinds of exciting mobile devices. We’ve been amazed and humbled by all the stories and experiences our customers (you!) have shared with us.

Thank you for all your support and for being part of SocialDeck’s success so far.

Happy Shaking!

– The SocialDeck Team

AppData - Facebook application stats and data from Inside Network

19 Responses to Google Buys Mobile Social Game Developer SocialDeck

  1. Pingback: Google Buys SocialDeck « Raja Jasti’s Blog - Renaissance Thinking

  2. Pingback: Google in Social Gaming Acquisition Trifecta | John Paczkowski | Digital Daily | AllThingsD

  3. Pingback: Google Acquires Mobile Social Game Development Company SocialDeck

  4. Pingback: กูเกิลซื้อบริษัทเกมอีก คราวนี้เป็น Mobile Social Games | ข่าวไอที ข่าวเทคโนโลยี ข่าวคอมพิวเตอร์ บทความค

  5. Pingback: Google sigue llenando el carrito de compras…lo último: SocialDeck en ALT1040 (Economía y Empresas)

  6. Pingback: Goole sigue llenando su cesta de la compra | Limoneando

  7. Pingback: Google compra SocialDeck | ReadWriteWeb España

  8. Pingback: Google Acquires Canadian Smartphone Gaming Company SocialDeck | BlackBerry Cool

  9. Pingback: Google kauft Spieleentwickler SocialDeck - Business | News | ZDNet.de

  10. Pingback: Mobile Test Kitchen » Goggle Buys Social Deck, a Mobile Game Builder

  11. Pingback: SocialDeck Announces Acquisition by Google « Rodney Payne

  12. Pingback: Inside the Google Gaming Hivemind « Eric Gonzalez

  13. Pingback: This Week in Startups #73 with Larry Drebes « ThisWeekIn

  14. Pingback: How PopCap Games Cracked the Code for Cross Platform Synchronization with Bejeweled Blitz - W3i Blog

  15. Pingback: How PopCap Games Cracked the Cross Platform Code on Facebook & iOS with Bejeweled Blitz  | App Marketing Tips

  16. Pingback: This Week in Startups #73 with Larry Drebes

  17. Pingback: Social Games & Advertising « MauricioGochez's Blog

  18. Pingback: Amazon Wants to Hire Game Designer to Create Facebook and Mobile Social Games

  19. Pingback: Google Gobbles up Mobile Social Game Developer SocialDeck

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Inside Social Games Sponsors
maudau Peak Games Frima SocialClicks TinyCo 6waves Kontagent
Featured Company
Jobs of the Day

American Society of Landscape Architects
Washington, DC

More Research & Information from Inside Facebook

Sign up for free email updates beyond today's news.

 

WebMediaBrands
Mediabistro | All Creative World | Inside Network
Jobs | Education | Research | Events | News
Advertise | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Copyright 2012 WebMediaBrands Inc. All rights reserved.