Interactive Corp. (NSDQ: IACI) is getting serious about games: it has taken a majority stake in game developer GarageGames.com, and will launch gaming site, InstantAction in private beta today, reports WSJ. The company plans to focus on 3-D games in the browser, more advanced than the casual games genre.

Eugene, Oregon-based GarageGames launched in 1999, and has provided game development tools for platforms like Xbox 360. But more recently it began developing its Web-based platform as a step toward distributing games as well.

IAC is also launching a multimillion-dollar fund to develop new online action games. Meanwhile, its Zwinky virtual platform is taking off thanks to those annoying and ubiquitous TV ads, and it says now has 9 million members, and just today it launched virtual trading/e-commerce within its Zwinky community.