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MechWarrior Developer's New Company Cuts 30% Of Staff
Ever heard of Nanovor? Well, you'll be hearing plenty about it soon if Jordan Weisman has his way. One of the main brains behind such beloved video games as MechWarrior, Shadowrun, and Crimson Skies, in 2007 Weisman founded a new company named Smith & Tinker. Despite raising $29 million in venture capital earlier in the year and launching their first major project (the aforementioned Nanovor toy/online game), the company is now facing major layoffs.
VentureBeat reports that Smith & Tinker cut around 30% of their staff on Monday, estimated to be 15 people. The company says the layoffs are a result of aggressive staffing early in their life to prepare for their first product launch.
That first product, Nanovor, is a mix of physical toy products and online card-battling game complete with a planned multimedia franchise. Players can buy "nanoscopes" that allow them to train creatures, battle friends, or hook up to a computer for online multiplayer. Smith & Tinker has not commented on how closely the layoffs are tied to how Nanovor is selling thus far.
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