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Makers of 'Clumsy Ninja' app acquired by Zynga for $527 million, and other news for January 31

<!--CONTENT START--><p><img data-credit="zynga" data-mep="110924" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/adam/823a3439e506c74d7ad863e21a31798c/Clumsy-Ninja-4.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Zynga has acquired the makers behind the popular Clumsy Ninja (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/clumsy-ninja/id561416817?mt=8) app for a reported US$527 million, according to MacRumors (http://www.macrumors.com/2014/01/30/zynga-acquires-natural-motion/). Clumsy Ninja by NaturalMotion (http://www.naturalmotion.com/clumsy-ninja/) was spotlighted by Apple at the iPhone 5 launch event back in 2012 and released a little more than a year later in November 2013. The game allows users to manipulate a ninja who responds with life-like motion and movement. It has been widely praised for its level of interactive animation and motion capabilities. Announcing the buyout, Zynga CEO Don Mattrick said:</p>

<p>NaturalMotion expands Zynga's creative pipeline, accelerates our mobile growth, and brings next-generation technology and tools to Zynga that will fast-track our ability to deliver consumers more hit games. Bringing Zynga and NaturalMotion together is a bold step in the right direction at the right time.</p>

<p>Combining NaturalMotion's strengths with Zynga's ability to develop breakthrough social features while sustaining live games over time, offers us a huge opportunity to redefine the gaming industry and deliver consumers blockbuster entertainment experiences.</p>

<p>Zynga also laid off 15 percent of its workforce (http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/30/zynga-layoffs-2/).</p>

<p>In other news:</p>

<ul>
   <li>The NFL has announced it is launching a new streaming-video service called NFL Now (http://business.time.com/2014/01/30/nfl-launches-new-online-sports-network/) for mobile devices ahead of the 2014 season. The service will only be available in the US on Verizon due to its partnership with the NFL.</li>
   <li>In what is sure to annoy users, The New York Times iOS app (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nytimes/id284862083?mt=8) now limits non-paying subscribers to 10 articles per month. However, quality content means a publication needs to make revenue through subscription fees or ads, or else there will be no article to read, so hopefully more publications will follow the NYT's example.</li>
   <li>OWC has announced that it is now selling 32 GB and 64 GB memory upgrade kits for Apple's new Mac Pro (http://blog.macsales.com/22617-owc-makes-memory-upgrades-for-apple-mac-pro-2013-even-more-compelling-with-easier-than-ever-installation-and-savings-of-up-to-40-vs-factory-memory-options?sf22150339=1). The 32 GB kit costs US$449 and the 64 GB kit costs $859 -- a 10 percent and 31 percent savings over Apple's prices, respectively.</li>
</ul>

<p></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;">Makers of 'Clumsy Ninja' app acquired by Zynga for $527 million, and other news for January 31 (http://www.tuaw.com/2014/01/31/makers-of-clumsy-ninja-app-acquired-by-zynga-for-527-million/) originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (http://www.tuaw.com) on Fri, 31 Jan 2014 10:30:00 EST.  Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/).<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6>Source (http://www.tuaw.com/tag/news-roundup)&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2014/01/31/makers-of-clumsy-ninja-app-acquired-by-zynga-for-527-million/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink[/url]&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/20820190/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this[/url]&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2014/01/31/makers-of-clumsy-ninja-app-acquired-by-zynga-for-527-million/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments[/url]

Source: Makers of 'Clumsy Ninja' app acquired by Zynga for $527 million, and other news for January 31 (http://www.tuaw.com/2014/01/31/makers-of-clumsy-ninja-app-acquired-by-zynga-for-527-million/)