As Moai picks up steam with devs, Zipline raises cash for crossplatform tools

Developer and tools maker Zipline Games has secured new funding to build up Moai, its crossplatform framework that more high-profile developers are starting to use and pay attention to. The small Seattle-based studio has added $750,000 in new financing to the $2 million it previously raised from local investors, according to SEC documents filed earlier this week. Launched with a public beta exactly one year ago, the development platform has attracted a growing number of studios looking for an alternative to HTML5 when building crossplatform games for smartphones, tablets, PCs, and browsers. Two notable developers creating Kickstarter-funded crossplatform games have already jumped on Moai: Double Fine, which is working on an adventure title; and Harebrained Schemes, which is making Shadowrun Returns. The latter just released a Moai-based title, the 6waves-published Strikefleet Omega, to iOS and Android last month, too. The platform is driven by the LUA scripting language, and hosts elements like game logic, databases, extra game content, and other key features on the Moai Cloud service. Zipline offers its Moai SDK for free and with a commercial license.