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"Mobile gaming firm GREE has upped its efforts to appeal in Western countries and produce more of its own titles with the aquisition of US-based social game developer\u00A0Funzio for $210 million.\r\n\r\nThe Japanese firm, which provides both a mobile social gaming platform and develops titles itself, is eyeing the North American market and other new growth opportunities having already established itself in its homeland.\r\n\r\nThe deal is due to be completed by the end of May, and\u00A0founder Yoshikazu Tanaka said that it &amp;quot;means a lot to enhancing our global expansion.&amp;quot;\r\nThe deal follow's Zynga's purchase of OMGPOP\u00A0and, though GREE is undoubtedly lesser know than its rival, the Funzio acquisition will increase the competition in the global mobile gaming space.\r\nThe acquisition isn't GREE's first major deal, it bought Openfeint for $109 million back in 2010. That deal boosted its platform, and the Funzio purchase will now strengthen its capability to produce titles and, crucially, those that will appeal to Western gamers.\r\n\r\nGREE is scheduled to unveil its new\u00A0global gaming platform -- which will integrate Openfeint -- within the next few months, and this deal shows that its plan to make a name for itself across the world are in place.\r\n\r\nThe is already successful in its own right and is tipped to post significant financial figures\u00A0in June, with estimates suggesting profits could rise 300 percent to hit a record $910 million over twelve months.\r\nFunzio is best known for its Facebook games and titles like Crime City and Modern War. It\u00A0recently raised funds which helped it prepare it for its sale."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://thenextweb.com/asia/2012/05/02/japans-gree-buys-game-developer-funzio-for-210m-sharpens-its-focus-on-western-markets/>