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Naughty Bear stuffed into Gold Edition
Some of gaming's grandest adventures have been repackaged in special editions. Oblivion, Dragon Age: Origins, Fable 2 and now ... Naughty Bear? 505 Games has announced Naughty Bear Gold Edition, which crams the original (and mediocre) game and all three of its downloadable content episodes into one stuffing-filled package. According to the press release, Naughty Bear Gold Edition is available now for PS3 and Xbox 360, though both Amazon and GameStop list a May 24 release date. It can be pre-ordered now for $30.
Download Naughty Bear on iPhone for free today
Redundant question: Want free stuff? Of course you do! That's why we'd like to inform you that the iPhone port of A2M Behaviour Interactive's game about a cuddly curmudgeon, Naughty Bear, is free today. Head on over to the App Store and give it a download -- you know, if you want. No pressure!
Artificial Mind and Movement rebrands; (re)introducing Behaviour Interactive
You may not know the name "Artificial Mind and Movement" but its one of the oldest and largest independent game developers working today and also the oldest operating developer in gaming superhub Montreal. A2M, as it's been called, began work on original IP, creating Jersey Devil for the PlayStation in 1998. But back then it was known as Behaviour Interactive and, beginning today, it will be Behaviour Interactive once again. We spoke with CEO and founder Rémi Racine about the name change, what it means for his studio and its goal of becoming a consumer-facing developer instead of a business-facing work-for-hire studio. "We're trying to do more and more of our own IP," Racine told Joystiq. "Our name becomes more and more present to the game community when you do your own stuff, so that triggered the change" to Behaviour Interactive. "Because of Wet and Naughty Bear and the Wanako brand and Assault Heroes, we're moving more and more into our own IP."
Naughty Bear 'Chapter 9' DLC now available for $5
You know how it goes -- they always offer the first fix for free. And then, when you need more, you have to pay up. A2M and 505 Games have employed this classic strategy for the release of a new piece of Naughty Bear DLC, dubbed "Chapter 9." The add-on is out today on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, but unlike the previous DLC release, it'll cost you: 400 Microsoft Points or $4.99, respectively. Chapter 9 introduces the Island of Perfection, replete with "exclusive hidden treasures, deadly weapons and brutal buccaneers," and two boss bears for the cuddly curmudgeon to conquer: Admiral Giggles and The Great Bear Beard. The DLC also includes four new challenges. For avast look (see what we did there?) check out the trailer past the break and the images below. %Gallery-104302%
'Crash Course' from A2M outed by Australian classification board
An Australian classification board rating has outed Artificial Mind and Movement's unannounced "Crash Course." Apparently, the game will be available on multiple platforms, though it appears to be heading to Xbox 360 at the very least -- the game's publisher is listed as Microsoft Game Studios, giving us the impression that Crash Course is en route to Xbox Live Arcade. Also of interest in the listing is its country of origin: Chile. Given that A2M's Santiago, Chile development house Wanako Games is based out of the South American country, we're thinking those folks could be behind Crash Course. Neither A2M nor Microsoft got back to us by publishing time.
Naughty Bear doesn't really like boating enthusiasts
Sadists, sit up. We've got another Naughty Bear video now, which highlights how our cotton-filled curmudgeon likes to handle would-be boaters. It's odd, because this is perhaps the tamest video we've seen for A2M's game yet. If you're going to kill a guy on a boat, wouldn't you get a bit more creative? You've got a rotor and rope to work with -- heck, you could even blow the whole thing up and watch your prey burn to death. You know what? We should probably stop posting so many Naughty Bear videos. It's beginning to ... affect us.
Don't fall for this Naughty Bear trailer's trap
As advanced as the bear populace seems in Naughty Bear, some things never change. Raw fish and honey are still mainstays of their diet, for example. As you can see in the trailer above, they also remain susceptible to the bear trap. Apparently, when it comes to objects that look like gigantic metal shark mouths, these bears just tune 'em out. Oh well, we're sure the bear corpses piling up will force an evolutionary adaptation eventually. Just not today, it seems.
A trio of twisted Naughty Bear trailers
505 Games has released a new batch of Naughty Bear trailers. The standout of the three trailers is probably the Blair Witch parody we've embedded above. While the homage to the movie is appreciated, it's a little low on bear-on-bear violence for our taste. The other two trailers, thankfully, fall a bit closer to the mark. The second is actually a snippet from the third level of the game, which tasks Naughty Bear with destroying cameras mounted on birds (no, really). Finally, the third trailer gives us the violence we crave, as the demented fiend pushes a poor, defenseless comrade into a giant cake mixer. If that's not good, clean fun, we don't know what is.
Naughty Bear stuffing shelves on June 8
505 Games has announced that A2M's adorable cotton-shredder, Naughty Bear, will stalk retail shelves this summer on June 8. The game follows the eponymous Naughty Bear, who finds something very odd about his usually pleasant surroundings and neighbors -- and then attempts to resolve it by making everyone hug ... a shotgun. Check out our impressions if you're not sure where you stand on the issue of cruelty to stuffed cartoon animals. %Gallery-79926%
New Naughty Bear trailer stuffed with violence
505 Games has released another trailer for A2M's upcoming Xbox 360 and PS3 project, Naughty Bear. Like the first screens released, the trailer pretty much conforms to what you would imagine. In the grand tradition of taking eternally cute cliches and making them violent -- think Happy Tree Friends, Conker's Bad Fur Day -- the trailer features Naughty Bear gunning down another bear as it flees in terror. The cute violence concept isn't exactly new in games -- Fairytale Fights says hi -- but we have to admit it's pretty funny to see stuffing spray out of a teddy bear as the result of a shotgun wound. Check it out in the trailer above. If you think you can bear it, of course. %Gallery-79926%
Naughty Bear trailer features pre-Naughty Bear
This trailer for Artificial Mind and Movement's Naughty Bear sets up the story, depicting the social slight that turns the title animal toward thoughts of revenge. Which means that this trailer consists almost entirely of footage of a sad, stuffed bear. We kind of think the "sadistic stuffed animal" idea is cute, but seeing Sad Bear just makes us feel, well, sad. That poor bear! Well, maybe not. After looking at the screenshots, we totally see why his bear pals shunned him. Would you want to invite the kind of guy over who boils people in a cauldron in response to perceived social offenses? Guy's a jerk! %Gallery-79926%
ESRB rates SOE-published 2D brawler 'Revenge of the Wounded Dragons' [update]
Update: An SOE rep has confirmed to Joystiq that more details on the game will be released next Monday. Hold tight! If it weren't strange enough that Sony Online Entertainment is listed as the publisher for recently ESRB rated PlayStation 3 side-scrolling brawler Revenge of the Wounded Dragons, we find it all the stranger that a trademark filing from last September puts Wet developer A2M in the developer's seat. The game's description, aside from pinning it as a PS3 exclusive, tells us that it's a "2D fighting game" where players will "frequently punch, kick, and throw enemies as they 'side-scroll' forward through the platform city environments." We put our top men on deciphering this rating-wary, encrypted message, and they have surmised that the title will likely be some form of a Double Dragon clone. Reading further into the description, we see that the game follows "two brothers attempting to avenge their grandfather's death and rescue their sister from the local mafia boss." A 2D, sidescrolling brawler that follows the tale of two brothers out for revenge? You don't say! We contacted both A2M and Sony Online Entertainment for comment, but have yet to hear back. Source 1 - ESRB Source 2 - USPTO Congratulations to osuiscoolteam2008 on being the first to comment. You've been emailed a free Battlefield: Bad Company 2 beta code. Click here, for more information on this giveaway. Official rules apply.
Video: Dante deals with Anger, kills demons
The latest in a series of developer diaries for Dante's Inferno has been released and, as we've come to expect, it's more familiar gameplay wrapped up in the hideous guise of a ruinous literary interpretation (one that Dante himself would supposedly approve of, no less). It's hard to say that the game doesn't look enjoyable, because it really does. The scythe and cross, which feature heavily in the video, look like a lot of fun to wield. The pursuit of a smooth, 60 FPS frame rate is admirable as well. Unfortunately, the arrival of this "Anger" video also likely means the arrival of something in our own Chris Grant's mailbox. Some grim, tasteless thing that will shake our faith in humanity and the wisdom of EA's marketing department. And so, we wait.
Eliza Dushku interested in live-action Wet
While the idea of getting wet at the movies doesn't sound all that great (wet clothes and air conditioning don't mix, people!), the prospect of a Wet movie is certainly something we can get behind. That's just what voice of Rubi Malone Eliza Dushku proposed during an interview with MTV, stating that the game "maybe could turn into a live-action Dushku vehicle."Of course, it's best to keep in mind that there aren't any actual plans yet; Dushku isn't confirming things are in motion to make a live-action Wet film a reality, rather she wouldn't mind playing Rubi Malone in the film if it ever happens. We wouldn't mind it, either -- it'd give her a chance to make up for her underwhelming performance in the game.
A2M trademarks 'Naughty Bear,' no one shocked
Artificial Mind and Movement, better known to those in the gaming world as A2M, seems to be in the business of inappropriate euphemism name mashups. Starting with the company's own name's abbreviation, moving into the recently published Wet, and recently filing a trademark (spotted by Superannuation) for a new game titled "Naughty Bear," it appears as though the developer is on a mission to bring devilish grimaces to the faces of 13-year-old boys everywhere (ours included).Oh, and just in case you were thinking about quickly snatching up the merchandising or film trademarks to such an impressive sounding name, A2M covered its bases and nabbed those too. We do hear that "Sexy Gorilla" might be available, though. [Image credit] [Via Superannuation]
Review: Wet
You have to love a game that works solely on the strength of its convictions. Deep down in the very core of its rockabilly heart, Wet knows that shooting dudes while you slow-mo dive and slide is fun. Fun enough to build an entire game around without too much ancillary garbage? Yes. A thousands times yes. Sure, Artificial Mind and Movement has sexed it up with a gritty grindhouse feel and some outstanding music, but Wet is a game that never forgets on which side its bread is buttered. And that's the murder side ... of the, um, bread. %Gallery-51182%
WET demo slips onto Xbox Live
If there's one thing we've learned about video games marketing we've learned here at Joystiq, it's that most game designers and PR firms assume that the average gamer loves the idea of attractive women with swords (and zombies, if possible). Enter WET, a game featuring an attractive woman with a sword and guns and bullet-time. Thankfully, based on our time with the game, it does more than simply play on the attractions of the male gamer stereotype, it's actually pretty fun. If taking control of sword-wielding, gun-toting, bullet time-using female badass sounds like your cup of tea, you'll be happy to know that a demo is now available on Xbox Live. Go get it. [Via Evil Avatar]
GameStop knocks $10 off Wet and Rogue Warrior pre-orders
GameStop is looking to entice those on the video game-purchasing fence (it's a real thing ... look it up!) regarding upcoming Bethesda-published titles Wet and Rogue Warrior by offering $10 off each game's price should they pre-order through the retailer. If you decide to snag both games (what are you, a millionaire?), we only ask that, should you leave the two games alone in a room, you keep the door cracked. We'd hate to see what kind of super-killer offspring they'd produce. [Via Bethesda Blog] Source – Wet at GameStop Source – Rogue Warrior at GameStop
Eliza Dushku: Games 'acceptable and cool for grown ups'
BBC News caught up with Eliza Dushku recently, noted actress (uh, you've seen Bring it On, right?!) and voice of protagonist Rubi in the upcoming A2M-developed Wet. When it comes to games, she's apparently a fan and says they're a pretty acceptable form of entertainment (thanks!).She says that games have "almost become acceptable and cool for grown ups -- not for people who are just in their teens." In fact, some of her own friends and colleagues used to be ashamed of their gaming, but now do so "loud and proud." In all fairness, though, most of her friends are Blinx: The Time Sweeper fans, so they probably should be ashamed.
Wet to slash and shoot retail on September 15
Bethesda's new publishing arm is prepared to bring the Eliza Dushku-voiced, Artificial Mind and Movement-developed Wet to retail shelves in North America on September 15. Back at E3, we thought the game showed a lot of promise, yet the experience was kind of dampened by environmental inconsistencies. It's tough to be a super badass and stylishly murder countless goons when you barely have elbow room, you know?
