Crimson Skies revival planned

Q&A: Smith & Tinker founder and FASA IP creator Jordan Weisman discusses his new kid-friendly game Nanovor, future of famed tabletop RPG licenses.

Earlier this month, FASA Corp. founder Jordan Weisman reemerged with news that his latest company Smith & Tinker had joined with Piranha Games on a new installment in the venerable MechWarrior franchise. The announcement was made possible through a deal Weisman made with Microsoft in 2007, in which the notable game designer licensed the rights to make games based on FASA's lauded IP, which also includes Crimson Skies and Shadowrun, through 2015.

MechWarrior isn't the only FASA IP Smith & Tinker hopes to revive.

And if Weisman has it his way, MechWarrior isn't the only FASA IP that will see a revival in the near future. Speaking to GameSpot, Weisman confirmed that a new installment in the Crimson Skies franchise may be not far off. Originally conceived at FASA Corp. as a tabletop role-playing game, Crimson Skies first saw release on the PC in 2000, before migrating to the original Xbox in 2003, where it received exemplary critical approbation.

"I wanted to start with MechWarrior because it really struck me as the one that had the largest existing fan base and it had been the longest since a MechWarrior title was done right," he said. "Most of my time is invested in [Smith & Tinker], but in the wee hours of the night, I spend time thinking about the older properties. I think Crimson Skies is something we'd love to get some energy around, and we have some devious plans...we'll see if those materialize."

Nanovor has a range of freaky critters.

The same can not be said for Shadowrun, however. "Shadowrun was recently...not treated well...shall we say. So the thought was let a little time pass before approaching that one again," Weisman noted. Shortly before Microsoft pulled the plug on Weisman's FASA Studios in 2007, the techno-punk franchise with origins in the pen-and-paper RPG genre was reimagined as a first-person shooter for the Xbox 360 and PC, receiving mostly lackluster reviews in the process.

As with MechWarrior, Weisman doesn't plan to have Smith & Tinker do the heavy lifting when it comes to bringing additional FASA IP to market. Instead, the noted designer plans to serve as a creative consultant on the games, leaving the day-to-day duties of developing and publishing the titles to Smith & Tinker's partners.

"The older properties--MechWarrior, Crimson Skies, Shadowrun, those kinds of things--are kind of grandfathered in," he said. "They're not really what we're all about, and we won't be developing and publishing those ourselves as a result. We'll be, like we are now, talking to other publishers and finding good homes for those. But they're not what Smith & Tinker at its core is about."

The strategy lies in building the most complementary Nanosquad.

So what is Smith & Tinker about, then? Having briefly surfaced in December 2007, the company has since been keeping a low profile as it launches its first wholly owned property, Nanovor. Aimed squarely at the 7-to-12-year-old demographic, Nanovor is a free-to-play, microtransaction-supported online game that went live this weekend.

A strategy-oriented collectible card game at heart, Nanovor sees players collecting the titular microscopic monsters in an effort to build a fighting force with which they can battle up to three other competitors. More than 100 Nanovor in various states of evolution are available, with gamers able to supplement their squads by purchasing booster packs using in-game currency called Nanocash.

Beyond the online game, Smith & Tinker felt it was important to also have a tangible element in the form of a handheld device. The device in question, called the Nanoscope, is expected to launch at retailers such as Toys "R" Us and Best Buy this October for $49.99.

Up to four Nanoscopes can synch up at once.

"The organizing principle of the company is looking at how younger and younger kids' lives have become bifurcated," commented Weisman. "They have this attraction to online, which has ever-fresh content, wide social circle, any asset you have you can enhance inside of the games. Plastic just doesn't do that stuff. Yet, there's still nothing more interesting to them than another 10 year old in the same room."

Players can synch up the Nanoscope with their online account, letting them bring their roster of creatures offline to compete in single-player minigame challenges. The device also incorporates the battling component of the online game, letting up to four friends attach their devices for offline competitions.

More information on Nanovor is available through Smith & Tinker's official Web site for the game.

113 Comments

  • Sechu

    Posted Sep 2, 2009 9:54 am PT

    It is a superb game. I am glad to see that MS will give it a go on the 360.

  • SR71halo

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 7:44 pm PT

    I just got the original Xbox version the other day, it's a great game. It's about time Microsoft resurrects some of their older franchises.

  • Red-Beard18

    Posted Aug 6, 2009 10:51 am PT

    Can't wait! I loved the original XBX version.

  • Zanderthe1st

    Posted Aug 6, 2009 10:22 am PT

    i wanna 2nd original CRIMSON SKIES

  • NeonNinja

    Posted Aug 6, 2009 8:53 am PT

    OH. MY. GOD. NEW CRIMSON SKIES.... PLEASE!

  • zekere

    Posted Aug 6, 2009 3:41 am PT

    Make a Mechwarrior movie, fasa ! It will blast transformers into outer space !!!

  • monson21502

    Posted Aug 5, 2009 11:57 pm PT

    crimson skies was the first game i ever played online. i soon found myself searching for any game that xboxlive online play on it. crimson skies was awsome!!!

  • XanderZane

    Posted Aug 5, 2009 6:26 pm PT

    About time. I've been screaming for them to make a Crimson Skies sequel since the XBox 360 launched. I'm still waiting for another MechAssault and Links game. I don't know why Microsoft have gotten these titles going for the XBox 360.

  • rann89

    Posted Aug 5, 2009 5:49 pm PT

    I thought Crimson Skies fell off the radar. I was confused for years because I never understood why no one ever brought it up. I'm so psyched that they're finally going to update it. With Crimson Skies taken care of, all they need now is a revamp of Chrome Hounds and my mind can rest peacefully.

  • MitchBAM06

    Posted Aug 5, 2009 12:04 pm PT

    Crimson Skies=YES
    Shadowrun (FPS)= Bleh
    Shadowrun (RPG)= YESSSSSSS

  • Shinkada

    Posted Aug 5, 2009 7:12 am PT

    NEW CRIMSON SKIES NEW CRIMSON SKIES NEW CRIMSON SKIES NEW CRIMSON SKIES NEW CRIMSON SKIES NEW CRIMSON SKIES NEW CRIMSON SKIES NEW CRIMSON SKIES NEW CRIMSON SKIES NEW CRIMSON SKIES FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

  • Khalathwyr

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 7:41 pm PT

    At least Weisman acknowledges that Shadowrun as an FPS was the wrong way to go. Some IPs are what they are, and Shadowrun is an RPG. Making an RPG is where you'll get the majority of your sales because that's where the majority of Shadowrun's fans are.

    Can't wait for a Shadowrun RPG game and also for the new Mechwarrior!

  • H3llrazah420

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 11:40 am PT

    i loved crimson skies they should of came out with one sooner

  • ChidoriBoyU

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 6:43 am PT

    i wish the title had been "skies of arcadia revival"

  • shawn7324

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 5:51 am PT

    Sweet!

  • rohit9891

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 1:14 am PT

    This guy is awesome!!!both mechwarrior and crimson skies...it's gonna be great!!!

  • The_Owner

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 12:47 am PT

    Does this mean it will be multi-platform? I enjoyed the game on the Xbox, but never got a 360. I also know some of the team that worked on that game are working on Dark Void. This is definitely great news.

  • polsci1503

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 11:20 pm PT

    Another Crimson Skies would be great

  • warp10ck

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 11:09 pm PT

    I really enjoyed the first two Crimson Skies so this is good news

  • BloodMist

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 4:47 pm PT

    If they were to release another Crimson Skies game that's like the classic PC one, i'd be ecstatic.

  • doubalfa

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 4:00 pm PT

    the first big xbox live game uhhhh

  • -HCMF-

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 3:52 pm PT

    I would love to see a full on Crimson Skies sequil

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 3:50 pm PT

    I think Crimson Skies is something we'd love to get some energy around, and we have some devious plans...we'll see if those materialize."


    Please tell me that some of those devious plans involve letting us play as a girl pilot and occasionally hop out to use an out house with her...

    The same can not be said for Shadowrun, however. "Shadowrun was recently...not treated well...shall we say. So the thought was let a little time pass before approaching that one again," Weisman noted. Shortly before Microsoft pulled the plug on Weisman's FASA Studios in 2007, the techno-punk franchise with origins in the pen-and-paper RPG genre was reimagined as a first-person shooter for the Xbox 360 and PC, receiving mostly lackluster reviews in the process

    Thanks a lot GERSTMAN! What a jerk.

    Ironically enough this is the only game I play on a day to day basis never COD never Halo 3 nor any other FPS just Shadowrun. Consequentially my fragdoll FRIEND dropped me for that.

    Sorry it... got a little under my skin.

    If they do make another Shadowrun I want to have some interactivity with the environment. For instance on the Powerstation level in the office?

    There is some plumbing how cool would it be to actually be able to shoot those pipes open and have some blinding steam pour out

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 3:44 pm PT

    ,

    or to be able to not only shoot the lighting fixtures down but to actually have the lighting affect the lighting of the office if you were to shoot out the fluorescent light bulbs.

    Also how about some destructibility to the maps' environments. To such extent that you can shoot out the ground underneath you or...even someone else...

    Heck maybe even summoned Minions could claw and burst their way through walls to go after an opponent on the other side.

    So many ideas for how they could make the sequel better. If they do do Shadowrun (FPS 2) I don't want a rehash I already got Shadowrun (FPS 1), and while I like the gameplay it 's sequel needs to evolve beyond what 1 offers.

    Also why can't we have a little bit more choice as to the models how 'bout some female versions of each race and some ethnic variants within each race not just the same 4 models with a palette swap and little to no difference other than Lineage or RNA

    Will there be a map creator/editor included too? Cause I want one, End rant

  • chibi-acer

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 3:38 pm PT

    That's great stuff. MechWarrior, Crimson Skies, and Shadowrun are all great series. The mech games took a bit of a beating on the Xbox, and Shadowrun (which I still enjoyed) fell short of it's potential, but I'd love to see more games for both.

  • ldonyo

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 3:14 pm PT

    I would love to see this brought back!

  • CrackerMcGee

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 3:09 pm PT

    Another Crimson Skies would be great, with more plane customization and RPG elements. Also a little 3rd person shooting aspect, jump out of your plane to run to AAA or hijack other planes, raid the other teams zeppelin in multiplayer to plant dynamite then parachute out and get picked up by other plane and then man the tail gun. Steal the bacon with planes and on foot. etc

  • falconclan

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 3:01 pm PT

    @WolfGrey
    While powerstone 1 and 2 would be great if they remade (even better if they made a 3) I think its unlikely, at least for a while. For whatever reason, capcom decided to see which series they would revive by releasing them on PSP, i believe they even said they'd bring powerstone back if it sold well on PSP. However it did not. Maybe in a few years

  • WolfGrey

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 2:54 pm PT

    @JayyRadd08 Dude you just made my day. A Power Stone 2 remake on the ps3 and xbox36 would be god.Those games were so addictive and online would be nice.Would certainly beat the hell out of smash brothers brawl.I miss it.

  • JayyRadd08

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 2:31 pm PT

    YES!! A new crimson skies is what i've been hoping for! now all i need is a Power Stone remake and i'll be complete.

  • redstormrisen

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 2:29 pm PT

    @WillT12345 Yet it did nothing with the massive expanse that is the Shadowrun setting.

  • scarface_dm

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 2:22 pm PT

    The more great games coming to 360 the better !

  • WillT12345

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 2:05 pm PT

    I am one of the few, but SHADOWRUN was a great game. Very addictive, Class based, counterstrike style rounds, and mix and match attributes/weapons system. It should of been released at a budget price and it might of caught on, plus halo 3 being 2 months away didn't help it either.

  • FidelSarcastro

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 2:03 pm PT

    I cant wait to see another Crimson Skies... multiplayer for the XBOX was one of my favs, second only to Halo.

  • falconclan

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 1:33 pm PT

    Great news, Crimson Skies was stellar.

  • FightingFool

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 1:27 pm PT

    SWEET! Been wanting a sequel for a while.

  • akhauskinz

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 1:24 pm PT

    I would rather have a Freelancer sequel, but crimson skies is next on my list.

  • spacer69

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 1:21 pm PT

    I want a Mechassault 1 revival ! With A new River City blue and yellow matches with Timberwolves and Atlas. Pancake!!!!!!!!

  • Rougehunter

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 1:15 pm PT

    First came Starcraft 2, then Diablo 3, new Alien vs predator, Mechwarrior, and now Crimson skies. Is the the revival of the 90s or something. Awesome news

  • sportwarrior

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 1:12 pm PT

    Just make Crimson Skies multiplatform (PS3) and I'll be extremely happy.

  • Ranma_X_basic

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 1:08 pm PT

    THERE IS A GAMING GOD!!! I was hoping and praying crimson skies would get revived and i say it's about time and long over due. it was one of my favorite games on the original xbox and still is.

    Now with this and mechwarrior getting revived that's two games to look forward too.

  • DeeCrutch

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 1:05 pm PT

    I loved Crimson Skies on Xbox. It is the best flying game I have played in a LOOOOOONG time. I'd love to see another on the 360.

    I wasn't that much off into the whole MechWarrior thing, but I did love MechAssault, and if another game along MA's line is coming, then I'd definitely be interested.

  • MrNib

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 12:54 pm PT

    I loved Crimson skies, I remember playing it with my Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick, the thing still works, mabey I'll be able to use it again in the future!

  • bertm1975

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 12:53 pm PT

    Thank God for Crimson Skies. I still have it and love to play it. Really captures the 40s adventure serials like Raiders of the Lost Ark did. Hope they keep it the same and I'll be sure to pick it up.

  • UnamedThing

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 12:50 pm PT

    Horray! I loved Crimson Skies!

  • athenian29

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 12:47 pm PT

    I'm going to just call them "Tith & Sminker." It sounds funnier. Spoonerisms always do.

  • skinny_man_69

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 12:22 pm PT

    Crimson Skies came with my original Xbox and I couldn't stop playing it. Great to hear about another one

  • sonicmask posted Aug 3, 2009 12:14 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    sonicmask

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 12:14 pm PT (hide)

    if microsoft doesnt mess this up, this might be the 3rd good game on the whole entire console!

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