[Russia] Russian online game developer Nival Network has closed a $5 million round from an undisclosed investor but will use the funds to develop Prime World, its online strategy game with social networking features aimed at the Russia and former Soviet countries.
Nival Network is currently majority owned by founder and CEO Sergey Orlovskiy. Software vendor 1C Group owns a 30% stake in Nival Network, reports Quintura.
Formed in September 2008, Nival’s game portfolio includes MMORPG titles like as Dragonica; Shaiya: Light and Darkness; Cabal Online; multiplayer racer Level-R; browser-based strategy game Khan Wars 2.0 and music game RockFree. It also runs the online gaming and social networking portal ZZima. The company has game development studios in Moscow and Minsk.
The Russian online game market is reportedly valued at $238 million this year 2009, and MMOGs account for around $210 million, while casual games make up $28 million of that.