Los Angeles - Verse Studios, an independent game developer formed in May 2006, announced on Monday that it has commenced an external funding round and hopes to raise $500,000 over the next year. "We are really excited to be moving forward as a company, and are looking forward to talking with investors and colleagues at GDC. This round of funding will allow us to realize the initiatives that are so important to us as a gaming company, and as members of the gaming community," said Verse co-founder and CEO Travis Savo. Los Angeles-based Verse is currently at work on "Verse: Tactics," a multiplayer online real-time strategy PC game.