G.I. Joe: Special Ops, which can be played on Facebook or the Syfy Games website, will feature arena-based action and strategy, plus a battalion of heroes and villains to choose from, including Joe teamers Snake Eyes, Duke and Flint, as well as Cobra baddies such as Cobra Commander, Destro, the Baroness and Firefly.

It made sense for the folks at Syfy Games, which is also launching Rise of Villains this spring — they wanted to do something different in social gaming and target the male social gamer who was "somewhat underrepresented on Facebook," says Dave Howe, Syfy president.

The launch is timed to the June 29 release of the movie sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation, starring Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis and Channing Tatum. DePriest says G.I. Joe: Special Ops will focus on the classic Joe vs. Cobra conceit from the 1980s cartoons and comics, so dads and dudes can continue experiencing stories they grew up with, but also feature newer aspects that offer stuff for little Joe nerds-in-the-making.