iOS game developer OMGPOP recently rose to prominence with its mobile hit Draw Something, a Pictionary-like play-by-email-esque game. Though Zynga obviously didn’t invent the play-by-email mechanic, one of the most popular mobile games, Words With Friends, is both a Zynga property and probably introduced the mechanic to a whole new demographic. So, it seems like a fit that the developer of Draw Something, a game that is basically “Words With Friends but drawing,” just got acquired by Zynga.
Dan Porter, CEO of OMGPOP, assured everyone that the acquisition is exciting and good for OMGPOP fans, so if you dig Draw Something, worry not. Though, if you saw the news yesterday about OMGPOP’s next game, a Facebook game that seems to be a FarmVille clone, but featuring Wu-Tang Clan, you might be a little worried. Unless you really like Wu-Tang and also FarmVille.
“I want to thank our players, our fans, everyone who’s ever drawn something. You’ve made this game into something truly special. Zynga offered us a chance to focus on Draw Something — they know the power of the game and they planned with us how to let it keep rolling in the same fun, irreverent, social way that it has been. That was really important to us.
The game will stay true to you and what you love, and it’s my solemn vow that the magic of Draw Something will not change. I know without a doubt that Zynga is the right partner for OMGPOP. Our new partners at Zynga know how to innovate at scale, and they’re pushing the limits of social with their mobile games. With the added resources we now have, and the deep gaming experience we can draw from, we can’t wait to continue to surprise our users. If you’re a fan, a player of ours, I can’t wait to show you what’s in store — it’s going to be drawsome.”
OMGPOP will stay in their New York offices, and (at the moment at least) won’t get physically sucked into Zynga.
Though Zynga has a reputation for being fairly evil, the acquisition will probably be a good thing for OMGPOP, as they’ll have access to precious, precious Zynga money, which — if Zynga stays out of it — will only help fund new games.
(via Yahoo!)
