FASA Studio Founder Raises $29 Million for Smith & Tinker

You probably aren't too familiar with Smith & Tinker, but you've likely heard of its CEO and co-founder Jordan Weisman, former creative director for Microsoft's entertainment division and founder of the now defunct FASA Studio (which developed games like Crimson Skies, MechCommander and Shadowrun). Today the company announced that it's successfully raised $29 million in venture capital, led by investments coming from Alsop Louie Partners, DCM, Foundry Group, Leo Capital Holdings and Vulcan Capital.

This funding came in advance of the company's recent launch of its flagship product, Nanovor, which is sort of like a Pokemon monster battle game. Nanovor apparently "draws players into an online world where nanoscopic monsters, known as Nanovor, live and battle on silicon chips deep inside computers. The game integrates multi-player PC gaming with offline, handheld play on its proprietary device, the Nanoscope. This next-generation game seamlessly integrates online and offline play experiences, encourages face-to-face interaction, and enables kids to battle their monsters anywhere and everywhere."

The company has plans to expand the franchise as well with weekly animated webisodes, comics, a graphic novel, field guide and a retail presence at Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Toys 'R Us among others. Ultimately, Smith & Tinker believes that it's "reinventing play for the connected generation... We see a future in which unconnected products like toys, games, books and movies will not be able to compete with the dynamic and exciting world of the internet."

"With the release of Nanovor, we have put a stake in the ground as the first company to merge the best of a game studio, entertainment shop and toy company all under one roof, and with the sole mission of reinventing play for today's connected kids," commented Weisman.