Naughty Bear Q&A - Kicking it Bear Stylee!

Well, after games about farming and being nice to people, one bear has had enough and decided to kick some furries in the nads.  Naughty Bear looks like a great fun title and we have an exclusive interview from no other than his creators Artificial Mind and Movement. Read on after the leap to find out whats in their twisted little minds...

1)    Tell us about Naughty Bear. It looks intriguing, are there any other games like it?

The game is for anyone who wants to smile playing a game. It’s also a game for gamers searching for something new and different. There’s a lot in the game that feels familiar and the premise will definitely appeal to the more casual gamer but there’s a depth included for those looking for a harder challenge as well.

2)    So the premise is cuddly revenge, what’s the most fun I can have taking a bear out?

There are many ways to go about this. Each weapon has its own unique takedown .My personal favourite is the sledgehammer!

3)    Points for maniacal and deviant activities sounds fun, how does it work?

The game revolves around Naughty Points and the scoring system. The system is deep but easy to understand: you earn points for any naughty thing you do and even more for naughtiness the other bears witness. The player is awarded even more points if he’s creative and changes his tactics often.
Every bear is unique and will react differently to you, so it is important to understand each of their personalities to get points from them. The tactics you choose, the timing and the where you do it are also important to your success.
Points unlock levels, costumes and earn you Naughty Cups. Earning Naughty Points and discovering new ways to earn them is what gives the game some of its depth. There are hundreds of different ways to be naughty from smashing stuff to much more in-depth ways like getting the other bears to witness the carnage. Also, as you play, your points are added to leaderboards and your friends’ high scores are shown, encouraging you to beat them. There are also more than 50 different ranks to unlock from Naughty Cub to Naughtomotron.

4)    What can we expect from the AI? It’s already been described as innovative – why?

Our AI is completely unscripted. We give each character some knowledge and a personality. Then we let them go about their business. There are no set patrol paths or zones they can’t go. They are only limited by their wants and needs. This makes for a very unpredictable enemy and means Players have to be alive to where they all are.

5)    What sorts of gameplay can we to expect in the campaign and what kind of modes are available in the 4 player multiplayer? Can I improve my bears killing skills by ranking up?

The campaign features 35 levels that offer a range of different gameplay styles and objectives from all out action to stealth and more. As you progress through the game you will unlock costumes that will give you advantages in how you like to play. Each costume alters your appearance and your stats, so choosing the right costume for the right challenge is important.

There are 4 different multiplayer modes in Naughty Bear which all feature the same humour found in the single player experience and are sure to make you laugh. You will find some classical modes that have been twisted with the Naughty Bear flavour and other modes that are unique to this game. Naughty Bear multiplayer features competitive and cooperative elements. It is also good to note that there are some perks to unlock for the multiplayer modes and also that all the naughty points you score in multiplayer are stored on your global score. As we say here, it’s sweet as a moose.

6)    So let’s say I just finished my first play through. How long will it take and what kind of bear body count should I have racked up?

To be honest it just depends on how you want to play – you could do it with killing very few as the game revolves about being Naughty and not just killing. It could range from a few dead bears – to well…hundreds. You could also do it very fast – but your score will be very poor.

7)    You must have some unnerving brainstorming sessions - Has any Dev ever thrown an idea into the pot so disturbing and cringe worthy that you all avoided / looked at them differently from there on?

Absolutely ? I don’t think any of us have escaped unscathed from this one.   We had a rule that it had to make you laugh (or at least giggle guiltily).

8)    Okay so we’ve met Naughty Bear...which other characters will play a part?

The island is populated with a cast of characters each with their own personality. As you play through the game you may come to know some of them better. Each one plays a small part in the story of why Naughty is the way he is. From Daddles, Sunbeam, Cozy and Giggles to the specialist bosses, Robo Prime and Cop Gordon, they are all responsible and you will make them pay.

9)    People have compared the gameplay and humour to Conkers Bad Fur Day, is this a fair comparison?

There are ‘some’ similarities but I wouldn’t describe it as ‘like’ Conker. We share a similar humour.

10)    Kill Bill? Hitman? Friday the 13th? Which influences have crept into Naughty Bear culture and what has inspired the team?

All of the above ;) and more. It’s probably closer to those than it is Conker!

11)    With the release of The PS Move and upcoming release of Natal – Is standing in my living room acting out a backstabbing (ala psycho) to brutally murder a furry foe ever likely to become a reality?

Never say never – but no plans for this one.

12)    As a very different game to develop, has the process thrown up any unusual challenges?

Every day there were tough design challenges – but we have an excellent team and we knew what we wanted to make.

13)    Violence and stuffed animals seems like a recipe for success: how does an idea like that get into production? Where does the idea come from?

Sheer will power, mainly. It’s a tough sell from the start (surprisingly) and something that can only ever come about iteratively. We had huge support from the management team here at Artificial Mind and Movement and a great partner in 505 games.

14)    Any ideas for the special edition? Perhaps throw in a chainsaw wielding window sucker?

Sadly not. There were many ideas but we decided to spend our time on the multiplayer and dlc side of things. Would have been great though.

15)    Weapons...how many and how bizarre? Are everyday objects going to come into play – can I drop a blender in a bath?

Lots and lots – there are over 70 different ways of finishing bears off in the environment and over 250 different ways to be naughty.  Discovering them will be the difference between those on the top of the leaderboards…and…well - the rest.

16)    Are you expecting to field any tough questions on the inclusion/ encouragement of bear suicide, or is that something for the PR bods to worry about?

It made us laugh a lot and so we included it. It all fits in the context of the crazy game we made.

17)    Okay so it’s a sandbox experience...is this GTA with Bears? If not...please explain.

Sandbox refers to the way that you want to play. You can approach any of the levels any way you like.  How you go about being Naughty is up to you. You can sneak about and discover all the secret interaction or go running out and beat everyone up. The game tries to be as flexible in its approach as to how people want to play.

18)    We’ve already seen the Game Pre Order comes with new in game outfits such as KrueBear so what sort of DLC are you planning? (Please be as specific as possible.)

Now we have come close to finishing the main game we are planning on supporting the game post launch. An announcement will be made soon.

19)    Above all else, what do you want people to know about Naughty Bear?

The game is fun and crazy.

20)    When is Naughty Bear hitting the shelves? (Eu/Na)

This summer

21)    As with all our developer Q&A’s please complete the following"if men had wings....."

“If men had wings... it would make getting back from the pub a lot more dangerous! “