It seems like only yesterday that Enviro-Bear 2010 [App Store] first appeared on our forums, met with skepticism and confusion.
Several brave forum members decided to take the plunge and experience what it feels like playing as a bear, driving a car, desperately searching for food to survive through the winter. Since then, Enviro-Bear-mania has been spreading across the Internet at an alarming rate between iPhone blogs and near constant Twitter chatter.
Reviews on iTunes have been overwhelmingly positive, and as of this evening, Enviro-Bear 2010 is sitting at a solid 4.5 star rating, with 92 players reporting in at 5 stars, and 14 confused people who must have meant to hit 5 but accidentally hit some other number when submitting a review.
Some select iTunes reviews successfully capture the spirit of the game:
This game perfectly captures the ennui of daily life in a modern post-industrial society juxtaposed with the simplicity and beauty of the natural world, bringing both into sharp focus and triggering a new level of understanding of our place in the universe. Plus it’s a frickin’ BEAR driving a car!! — DFSDave
My friends all play nothing but one-armed bear sims. I just couldn’t get into the genre. UNTIL NOW!!! The innovative rabid badger feature is exactly what one-armed driving bear sims need. I’m hooked! I’ll be deleting every other game from my iPhone. And all my contacts and calendar events for good measure — M A 4
As a practicing bear biologist in Yellowstone National park, I can state with authority that Enviro-Bear 2010 is the most accurate software representation of the plight of the modern bear. Bravo, Mr. Smith. Bravo. — RAFontaine
Sure I [spent] all my time learning about the behavior of bears who only have access to one paw while driving a car instead of studying for the MCATs. But what I got in return was something priceless. It can only be described as enlightenment. — Gotgame327
Since our first look at Enviro-Bear 2010, the game has seen unparalleled levels of popularity (well, compared to all other bear driving simulators). Yesterday the game was featured by Apple, and by this morning Enviro-Bear 2010 had shot up the top 100 game charts. All of these things take a back seat to being featured on this evening’s episode of G4’s Attack of the Show:
The future of Enviro-Bear was shrouded in mystery up until a few moments ago when developer Justin Smith posted on our forums to announce the creation of the official Enviro-Bear 2010 Twitter feed (@EnviroBearCorp) and hint at future updates.
The first of which is said to be a boring update, but the second may bring about a new era of bear driving simulators with the addition of exploding bees and time traveling chainsaws. “Oh the possibilities!", Smith writes.
Mr. Smith, the entire internet awaits updates to your magnum opus.
App Store Link: Enviro-Bear 2010, 99¢
