Smith & Tinker Announce Marvel Game For Facebook/iOS, Launches Nanovor Evolution

Toy and online game company Smith & Tinker revealed an agreement with Marvel Entertainment to create a superhero digital collectible game for Facebook and iOS devices, and announced the launch of its Nanovor Evolution browser-based title. Scheduled to begin rolling out in 2011, the licensed Marvel game will draw on the comic book company's stable of iconic characters such as Iron Man, Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, Wolverine, Thor, and Captain America. "Marvel has done an amazing job connecting generations of fans to an enormous universe of characters through comic books, movies, television and merchandise," says Smith & Tinker's co-founder Joe Lawandus. He adds, "At Smith & Tinker we’re excited to bring their huge portfolio of superheroes to Facebook and Apple’s mobile platform, letting fans collect and battle while at their computer or on the go. Supernatural things are sure to happen with our companies joining forces." The developer also announced the launch of a 3D, browser-based follow-up to its Nanovor digital collectible game released last year. Nanovor Evolution is now available to play on both PC and Mac, and will receive a complementary iOS version later this year. This release continues the free-to-play game's plot of nanoscopic monsters living and battling on silicon chips inside computers, and promises a redesign of features meant to simplify the game's battle mechanics while adding overworld exploration, filtered chat, and minigames. Founded in 2007 and based in Seattle, Smith & Tinker specializes in creating web and mobile games that target "today's connected generation". It's Nanovor series also features a toy component, in which kids purchased figure starter kits and devices to train and battle their virtual bugs. The firm raised $29 million in venture capital in August 2009 to support Nanovor's launch, maintain operations, and update the game, but needed to trim its staff last December, laying off around 15 employees in order to "bring [its] organization to a healthy operational size".