Charles Huang and new company Green Throttle Games raise $6 million in early stage funding for development of Atlas game controller, Arena app.

Guitar Hero franchise co-creator Charles Huang and his new company Green Throttle Games have raised $6 million in early stage funding to create an Android-powered controller and development ecosystem. The funding is led by venture capital groups Trinity Ventures and DCM.

As part of the deal, Trinity Ventures general partner Ajay Chopra will join the board of directors at Green Throttle Games. The funds provided to the studio will be used to develop internal games, support external development, and "advance software services."

Green Throttle Games' Atlas controller transforms smartphones users already own into a gaming console. Players will attach their phone to a television through a standard MHL adapter and use the wireless Atlas controller to play games. Development kits are available to preorder today beginning at $45, with shipments expected to begin going out December 12.

In addition to the Atlas controller, Green Throttle Games is also at work on an Arena app that will highlight games developed internally, as well as those from other independent developers and publishers. Developers attached to the project thus far include nWay, Free Range Games, Mercenary, and Monstrous.

"We believe a large percentage of consumers will use their phones or tablets to play games on a TV, and mobile-to-TV gaming could quickly grow to surpass the console market," Huang said in a statement. "By building a straightforward way to enjoy mobile games together with your friends, we hope to revolutionize how mobile games are played."

In addition to Huang, Green Throttle Games was founded by Pal Pre development Matt Crowley and Handspring and Palm Treo designer Karl Townsend.

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