Award-winning video game developer Mind Control Software announced today that it has joined forces with Richard Garfield and Skaff Elias-creators of Magic: The Gathering and its Pro Tour-to develop a revolutionary online strategy game, code-named Mind Twist (www.themindtwist.com).

Since Garfield invented his genre-creating product, Magic: The Gathering, the market for tabletop strategy games has consistently passed the billion dollar mark each year. In his work with Mind Control Software, Garfield plans to bring the elements of tabletop gaming to the digital realm, using the same gaming expertise and creative genius that devised one of the biggest tabletop franchises in history.

“We couldn’t be more excited about our partnership with Richard and Skaff, and the genuine rock star talent they bring to our team,” said Andrew Leker, CEO, Founder, and Chief Designer of Mind Control Software. “These guys have been delivering compelling social entertainment experiences in the tabletop realm for years, and it’s only now in this new era of social media that the same experiences are possible online.”

“The potential of digital games fascinates me and I left Wizards of the Coast to pursue them,” said Richard Garfield. “Mind Control has the expertise to bring my designs to a new generation of gamers, and the platform technology to build the right ‘meta-game’ around them.” Both Garfield and Elias have also joined Mind Control Software’s advisory board and will be involved with several other projects at Mind Control, in addition to the development of Mind Twist.

Mind Twist is a free-to-play game with a microtransaction-based business model built on Mind Control Software’s state-of-the-art Orbital Game Platform. Orbital is a soup-to-nuts game engine at the heart of dozens of shipped games, and now, in addition, it supports play across different gaming devices. Mind Twist will launch on Facebook and iPhone, with other platforms added over time. Players can currently follow the game on Twitter (@TheMindTwist) and Facebook.

“We are proud that our technology will be bringing Richard’s vision to life,” Leker continued. “We are confident that the man who rebuilt tabletop games into a billion dollar industry will be instrumental in leading a new age of online gaming.”