[This article originally appeared at edge-online.com. To see the original, click here.]
written by Kris Graft
Emergent Game Technologies, the firm behind Gamebryo middleware, said Tuesday it has closed a $12.5 million funding round.
The funding comes as the games industry weathers a poor economic climate. A rep for the company said in an e-mail, "Good ideas can still get funding. Especially if the field is videogames."
A new investor in Emergent, Hopewell Ventures, led this latest round, which also included Worldview Technology Partners, Jerusalem Venture Partners, Walker Ventures and Adena Ventures.
Emergent's Gamebryo middleware, which has been used by companies including Bethesda Softworks, Firaxis Games, Mythic Entertainment, Take-Two and others, aims to help cut down cost and time needed to develop interactive entertainment.
Acacia Research Group analyst Christine Arrington stated, "Demand for middleware that performs these tasks is likely to remain solid through the tough times ahead and then quickly return to strong growth during the next five years.”
Hopewell Ventures partner Thomas Parkinson added, "The market for middleware keeps expanding, as innovation and consumer expectations grow. Everyone is looking for ways to minimize risk without compromising quality."
Emergent also said it plans to announce a new product, built on Gamebryo technology, at this year's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this March.
Gamebryo has been used in over 250 shipped games, according to Emergent.