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Former Naughty Dogs pinch Steel Penny

Jason Hughes and Andrew Gilmour announce their new studio, WiiWare development accreditation.

Two ex-Naughty Dogs have officially named their new studio Steel Penny, and announced that the development house has been certified for WiiWare and Xbox Live Arcade development.

Bruiser and Scratch. Guess which is which.

Bruiser and Scratch. Guess which is which.

Jason Hughes is the founder and president of the Austin, Texas-based studio, and Andrew Gilmour is the art director. The company was founded in early 2007, and will initially focus on digital distribution. Its mission statement states that the dev studio will make mass-market casual games which are fresh and kid-friendly.

Steel Penny is currently working on Bruiser and Scratch in the Case of the Puzzling Paw, a new IP which features a dog and cat duo who discover a strange doorway in the woods. Steel Penny describes it as, "a combination of the accessibility of classic arcade games and the depth and quality of play that modern audiences crave."

According to a statement released to the press, the company's next title is due mid-2008, although it's not clear whether this is Bruiser and Scratch or some other, secret title.

35 Comments

  • theKSMM

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 4:02 am GMT

    Many people in the industry believe that in addition to the AAA game with the five-million dollar budget that takes two years to develop, there's room for smaller fare that can be banged out in months. The idea of episodic content hasn't done too well (R.I.P. Sin Episodes), but digital distribution seems almost perfect for small stand-alone games and traditional sequels.

    Whether this cat and dog thing takes off is anybody's guess though...

  • VagrantChild24

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 4:35 pm GMT

    Curious to see how WiiWare in particular will work out. I love the idea but as far as what type of things Nintendo will allow to flow into it is where I am slightly concerned.

  • al6596

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 5:32 am GMT

    I'm confused. What is bruiser and scratch? May be I was living in the cave at that time.

  • V-Nine

    Posted Jan 27, 2008 1:46 pm GMT

    ...a take on Road Rovers......

  • TTDog

    Posted Jan 27, 2008 11:39 am GMT

    Sounds like they could just be sick of having to produce overly colourful kiddy platformers... time to release the grown up software ideas.

  • 4quarters

    Posted Jan 27, 2008 9:50 am GMT

    Yea, that looks like a game for typical little kids on Wii......C'mon, make a game for the "big" boys!!!!

  • felshs

    Posted Jan 26, 2008 5:43 pm GMT

    WHAT ABOUT CRASH?

  • XanderZane

    Posted Jan 26, 2008 8:41 am GMT

    More new IP's for XBox Live Arcade is always welcomed. Many of these games are great fun and pretty cheap too at only $10 or less. You can't beat that if you have little kids who like to play games.

  • christ4ever9889

    Posted Jan 26, 2008 7:39 am GMT

    The jak and daxter games own, I have 1, 2, 3, and wanting X and Daxter!!! I love those games and play them today

  • Angelos13

    Posted Jan 26, 2008 3:13 am GMT

    I remember the good old Crash Bandicoot days. The original, 2, 3, even that cart game was awesome. Then Vivendi bought the franchise... I hope they make this game in the lines of the original Crash Bandicoots, it will surely be a success.

  • jmdude

    Posted Jan 26, 2008 12:50 am GMT

    Anyone remembered Jak and Daxter?

  • SaxxyGamer18

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 3:39 pm GMT

    Any idea when WiiWare will come? Send me a PM if you do, or if you can direct me to a place where I can look.

  • gameloverx

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 1:32 pm GMT

    hmmm sounds good

  • ClassicPlayer

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 1:08 pm GMT

    They better make this as good as Crash Bandicoot 2, that was platformer heaven, and still is. Problem is, a cat and a dog? Thats exactly like Whiplash, 2 different animals as main characters.

  • lancea34

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 1:04 pm GMT

    Former Naughtydogs? Hmm....... Crash Bandicoot anyone?

  • Bgrngod

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 11:41 am GMT

    Everyone has to start somewhere. Grats to these guys for starting up their own thing, and good luck.

  • ctg867 posted Jan 25, 2008 11:17 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ctg867

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 11:17 am GMT (hide)

    Not to be a real downer, but the majority of these small studios, formed by one or two employees of a studio that actually matters, never turn out to be anything. Luckily, they're making a low budget Wii-Ware title, rather then a full priced game or something. Less risk involved. I hope they do alright, but I highly doubt they will. Especially when it's some casual crap. No matter how much quote "innovation" they put in it.

  • solidsnake2525

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 11:00 am GMT

    Hopefully the small projects will lead them back to larger projects, but cool news for now.

  • TTDog

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 10:54 am GMT

    "jdt532:
    Why did these fools leave Sony... Instead of making awesome games for the most powerful console on the planet (PS3) now they'll be making lame kiddie games nobody gives a damn about for the Wii... LOL "

    Maybe having to work with the most arkward console to develop for has finally broken them, and they've chosen to develop for platforms where their product will de appreciated.

  • Hexogen

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 10:35 am GMT

    At first I was excited to hear that ex-Naughty Dog devs were going to develop games for XBLA, but after reading that they're going to be making "mass-market casual games" I'm not too sure.

  • Jaysonguy

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 10:35 am GMT

    This makes perfect sense.
    Jump on Wiiware when it's new and get content out there that you don't have to package and deal with shipping and stores.

    I don't see anything that surprising about supporting the best console this generation in the Wii and the one that's been around the longest in the 360.

  • Bandit_Haze

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 10:04 am GMT

    to jdt532... they left due to the horrifying thought that you might be playing some of their games

  • big_worm

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 9:36 am GMT

    Best of luck on the new studio. Can't wait to see the first game.

  • pandaramaster

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 8:58 am GMT

    I would of thought that the ex Naughty Dogs would have wanted to move away from the platforming genre. But since its their field and what not, best to go with what you know, right?

  • mjc0961

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 8:47 am GMT

    "Jak & Daxter. Ratchet & Clank. Zack & Wikki. And now Bruiser & Scratch... Does every platformer hero need a sidekick now?"

    News flash: Zack and Wiki is a point and click adventure, not a platformer. Get your genres right before you go bashing another title simply for having two main characters.

  • meluvulongtime8

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 8:20 am GMT

    DonutTrooper:

    "Here's a drink for the new studios. I like seeing more new studios in the midst of the massive mergers."

    It's nice to hear of new studios especially created by ppl previously associated with solid studios. Hopefully they make some great titles the Wii could use some more solid titles

  • grafkhun

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 8:18 am GMT

    well we will see.

  • jedimastr

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 8:00 am GMT

    wow that game sounds interesting, i bet their gunna make it far!... XD

  • dynomitemasta

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 7:42 am GMT

    Wow! now there's a game I have NO interest in playing.

  • NyGin07

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 7:42 am GMT

    well idk about you guys, but i still miss the old crash bandicoot games. you know the ones that were GOOD?

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 7:29 am GMT

    I like hearing about new stuff!

  • DonutTrooper

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 7:18 am GMT

    Here's a drink for the new studios. I like seeing more new studios in the midst of the massive mergers.

  • Azwhtknight

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 7:11 am GMT

    Good luck Steel Penny. Hope you put out some great games.

  • 2headedhawaiian

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 7:10 am GMT

    Jak & Daxter. Ratchet & Clank. Zack & Wikki. And now Bruiser & Scratch... Does every platformer hero need a sidekick now?

  • ratchet3

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 6:55 am GMT

    Nice, hopefully some good games will come to the XBLA.

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