DragonVale developer Backflip Studios gets into third-party publishing

Mobile developer Backflip Studios doesn’t just want to make its own games — it wants to help release other companies’ titles as well.

The studio responsible for mobile hits like DragonVale and Paper Toss is starting up a publishing division. Backflip will use its experience to guide other developers through the process of making mobile games. Former Ngmoco chief publishing officer Simon Jeffrey is joining Backflip to oversee this new initiative. Backflip Publishing is already working with developers LightBox Interactive and HandCircus on a pair of upcoming releases under this new label. Mobile gaming is a $16 billion industry worldwide, and this new effort may help Backflip get a bigger piece of that.