The creator of FarmVille Mark Skaggs who resigned almost five months ago from his post as SVP of games at the social game company Zynga will now be taking on a new role as a director at Moonfrog Labs, where he will develop new smartphone games for Indian players.
In his LinkedIn profile, Skaggs said, “I’ve decided to spend my time focusing on the game industry in India, working with Moonfrog Labs and all the great talent across the country to create a ‘Center of Excellence’ for game making.”
Moonfrog Labs, which has raised $15 million in funding from Tiger Global and Sequoia Capital so far, was founded in 2013 by former Zynga India developers. The company has developed two hit games till date – Teen Patti and Smash Cricket. Skaggs had earlier interacted with co founder of Moonfrog Labs, Tanay Tayal back in 2011 when Tayal was working in Zynga’s Bengaluru studio. Skaggs said, “During that visit, I was inspired by the smart, creative and motivated game makers I met including the team that would eventually leave to create Moonfrog Labs, in Bangalore.”
On joining Moonfrog Labs, he said, “Joining Moonfrog on their mission means making great games and also an opportunity to ‘give back’ by helping and mentoring smart, creative and hungry game makers like others did for me.”
Now Skaggs plans to split his time between Bengaluru and his home in Texas. While in India, he will help launch projects and mentor Moonfrog Labs’ game creators. “I’m an expert at making games and Moonfrog is an expert at India, so we’ll combine forces and make some really special things for gamers here,” said Skaggs.