Gaming Startup Launches Today With First Ever Dominion And Settlers of Catan Social Games, Plus An HTML5 Developer Platform

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the launch of Goko, an ambitious new HTML5 games company. Goko offers a platform for game developers, and is also releasing truly cross-platform social games, including the first multiplayer version of Dominion, and Catan World, a new MMO based on one of the bestselling board games of all time, Settlers of Catan.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120816/SF58221LOGO)

Goko has acquired the rights for 150 games, licenses from Mayfair Games, Rio Grande Games, Reiner Knizia and many more. The company is partnering with brilliant developers worldwide to reimagine these popular board and card games for HTML5.

Dominion is now live, and Catan World is in beta. Both are playable across Facebook, Google+ and Goko.com, and will be available as tablet-ready games on Google Play and the Apple App Store. Also live today at Goko.com are Forbidden City, a tile-placing digital game designed by famed board game designer Reiner Knizia; War Factory, a puzzle and war strategy mashup; and All the King's Men, a new tower defense game.

"Only the biggest games companies have had tools for creating and launching social games across all the big platforms. Now we're bringing that massive advantage within reach of all developers," said Goko CEO, Ted Griggs. "Today we're starting to release new games across Facebook, Google+, and Goko.com, Windows Store, Android and iOS. And we're also turning all of the tools and services that we've created over to developers so that they are empowered to do the same thing."

Goko games are built and distributed on the Goko platform. An SDK is available today that gives developers the tools to launch and monetize engaging cross-platform social games. Platform features include player authentication, leaderboards and achievements, game hosting and testing, virtual goods and virtual stores, and payments. Developers can build their own games on the platform, or partner with Goko to build a game based on one of the company's many licenses. Goko games launching on Android and iOS will leverage Ludei's CocoonJS and CAAT that wraps them in a performance-accelerated app that is distributable in the Apple App Store and on Google Play. 

"Mayfair Games' alliance with Goko allows us to build a comprehensive and scalable digital game portfolio using one reliable development platform. Goko is aligned with our commitment to excellent content and understands how to adapt substantive, graphically pleasing content to the digital space," said Pete Fenlon, CEO of Mayfair Games. "We're juiced about the upcoming releases of the Catan-based, Steam-based, and Empire Builder-based games because they will serve long-hungry audiences who have sought thoughtful and beautiful variations of three of our most enduring game engines."

"Dominion as a social game is something fans have been looking forward to, and it's great to watch them all enjoy it in a new way," said Jay Tummelson, co-owner of Rio Grande Games. "Goko is getting us there quickly and making it available through Facebook, on mobile and on the web."

Gamers interested in playing these new games can get started at Goko.com. Developers interested in building HTML5 games on the Goko platform can learn more and sign up for the SDK at developer.goko.com.

Ted Griggs and Kevin Binkley founded Goko. Griggs previously co-founded the platform company Ribbit, which was acquired by BT. Before that he and Binkley co-founded Electric Gravity, which was acquired by Microsoft and renamed MSN Gaming Zone. Erik Scheelke, vice president of engineering, and John Q. Smith, vice president of products, were also at Ribbit. Brian Howell, vice president of marketing, and Tina Tran, vice president of developer relations, both joined from GREE (formerly OpenFeint). Goko's vice president of monetization, Greg Mills, comes from Digital Chocolate, and David Rohrl, vice president of game production, joined from Playdom and was previously game design director at Zynga.

About Goko
Goko is an HTML5 games company dedicated to providing game developers with a way to easily distribute and monetize social games. In addition to the Goko platform and tools for developers, the company creates its own social games based on a deep catalog of licenses for many beloved board and card games. Goko is based in Redwood City, California and backed by Redpoint Ventures and Alsop Louie Partners. Go to www.goko.com for more information. 

Contact:
Erica Schaefer
Mighty PR for Goko
[email protected] 
401-714-6883

SOURCE Goko