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Bejeweled (iPhone)

Bejeweled (iPhone)PopCap Games offers up a new edition of Bejeweled and a standalone edition of Bejeweled Blitz today for iPhone and iPod touch players. Retiring the previously available Bejeweled 2, Bejeweled Blitz becomes available as a standalone “freemium edition.” Bejeweled Blitz was previously included in Bejeweled 2 and offers a fast-paced, one-minute round of trying to attain the highest score possible. Share your scores on Facebook to challenge friends! The newest edition of Bejeweled offers all-new high resolution retina display support, three game modes and more. Bejeweled is available at a tempting 99 cents. Be prepared to get hooked on these latest shiny editions of the popular match-3 puzzle game.

“With nearly 40 million mobile units sold over the past eight years, Bejeweled is the second best-selling mobile game of all time, behind only Tetris,” noted Giordano Bruno Contestabile, Bejeweled franchise business director at PopCap Games.

Here are the complete details from PopCap Games on the latest Bejeweled and Bejeweled Blitz iOS games, hitting the App Store today:

Bejeweled (iPhone)All-New Bejeweled for iPhone

The all-new Bejeweled for iPhone and iPod touch is the next major installment of PopCap’s flagship franchise on mobile, and will continually evolve with a range of new and exciting features well into the future. Initially, the all-new Bejeweled features popular game modes, eye-popping, enhanced high-res graphics, plus new, optimized gameplay, including:

- New high-res graphics and retina display support

- 3 game modes: Classic, Zen (featuring 6 ambient sound tracks and 6 mantras) and Diamond Mine

- In-game leaderboards to track personal high scores

- User profiles with gameplay statistics and 30 PopCap icons to personalize the experience

- 7 achievement badges with 4 levels each (bronze, silver, gold, platinum),  plus 3 elite badges

- A player ranking system

See more screenshots from Bejeweled for iOS here.

Bejeweled Blitz (iPhone)Bejeweled Blitz Standalone Freemium Edition for iPhone

Marking the first time PopCap has offered a freemium title, the new standalone edition of Bejeweled Blitz for iPhone and iPod touch is an exciting spin-off of the phenomenally popular game mode — available now as a free download with full Facebook integration and cool new content. The freemium edition offers the same riveting 60-second game action, just as in the original Bejeweled Blitz experience, but now adds a number of new features, including:

- An entirely new and irresistible user-interface

- The Daily Spin feature where players try their luck to get bonus coins

- A fun new tutorial system to help get new players moving up the leaderboards as quickly as possible

- Retina display support and more

See more screenshots from Bejeweled Blitz here.

Keep a lookout for these latest Bejeweled games here on the App Store today.

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Peggle

Playing casual games can be good in reducing clinical depression and anxiety, says a recent study released by East Carolina University’s Psychophysiology Lab and Biofeedback Clinic. During a year study of 60 subjects with clinical depression, half of the group were prescribed three casual games: Bejeweled 2, Peggle and Bookworm Adventures from PopCap Games. The group that played the games, all being non-violent and involving puzzle solving challenges, showed a 57% reduction in depressive symptoms.

“The results of this study clearly demonstrate the intrinsic value of certain casual games in terms of significant, positive effects on the moods and anxiety levels of people suffering from any level of depression,” stated Dr. Carmen Russoniello, Director of the Psychophysiology Lab and Biofeedback Clinic at ECU and the professor who oversaw the study (as well as previous studies involving the same games’ effects on stress levels). “In my opinion the findings support the possibility of using prescribed casual video games for treating depression and anxiety as an adjunct to, or perhaps even a replacement for, standard therapies including medication.”

In addition to the 57% drop in depressive symptoms, a 65% improvement in overall mood and a 20% reduction in anxiety levels were also a result of the casual gameplay. “Equally important, the data supports the hypothesis that video game play provokes physiological and biochemical changes consistent with positive changes in mood and anxiety,” said the ECU study. Engaging in select casual games, which also provide brightly colored graphics and soothing music, is a good way to lift yourself up when feeling down. Read more specific details in the East Carolina University and PopCap Games’ press release below or at www.ecu.edu/biofeedback.

Source – East Carolina University & PopCap Games

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Bejeweled Blitz LIVE (XBLA)

Addictive fun comes in the form of 60 seconds and 16-player matches with Bejeweled Blitz LIVE for Xbox LIVE Arcade. PopCap Games announced today that it is bringing the hyper fast version of Bejeweled Blitz with some features that add even more excitement to the match-3 game.

Bejeweled Blitz LIVE is similar in gameplay to PopCap Games’ Bejeweled Blitz 60-second game on facebook. In addition to the fast paced gameplay, the XBLA release of Bejeweled Blitz LIVE will include a Twist Mode and Classic Mode. A head-to-head Battle mode, 16-player simultaneous Party mode and real-time leaderboards will keep offering a healthy dose of challenge. Adding even more challenge for you and your Xbox LIVE friends is a cumulative Friendscore. “Friendscore allows you to combine your score with the scores of your Xbox LIVE friends for the highest weekly and all-time totals,” said the announcement from PopCap Games.

Watch for the release of Bejeweled Blitz LIVE on the Xbox 360′s Xbox LIVE Arcade in Quarter 1 2011. Pricing has not been announced. Source – PopCap Games

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Bejeweled 3

The simple and addicting, or simply addicting, Bejeweled from PopCap Games gets a new addition to the family with Bejeweled 3. Today PopCap Games announced the upcoming December 7, 2010 release of Bejeweled 3, to be available for purchase from PopCap.com and other retailers at $19.95. What can players expect from this shiny match-3 puzzle game this time? Here’s a breakdown of the gameplay modes and new features, as noted by PopCap Games:

  • Classic: Play the most popular puzzle game of the century, with powerful new gems and new ultra-smooth gameplay
  • Quest: Journey through 40 magical puzzles in this multifaceted Bejeweled challenge!
  • Zen: Personalize your experience with ambient sounds and binaural beats — a revolutionary new way to relax!
  • Lightning: Charge up with a heart-pounding, beat-the-clock bout of gem-blasting fun!
  • Secret Games: Unlock 4 all-new games including Butterflies and Ice Storm
  • Badges: Earn up to 65 badges to prove your skills
  • High-definition graphics and high-fidelity audio: Bejeweled is now more dazzling than ever before!
  • Ultra-smooth gameplay: Make multiple matches while new gems fall into place

You can’t deny the fun of Bejeweled games, and this looks like it’s going to be another must play time sucker! PopCap Games balances the fine line of fun and non-stop challenge once again. Keep a lookout for more on Bejeweled 3 at PopCap.com!

Bejeweled 3

Source – PopCap Games

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The popularity of the online web version of Bejeweled Blitz has proven popular, and addictive, enough to warrant a full PC release. Today PopCap Games announced the release of Bejeweled Blitz for Windows. It’s available here from popcap.com for $19.99.

“Bejeweled Blitz is 10 years of the most popular puzzle game of the century packed into a minute-long experience,” said Jason Kapalka, co-founder and chief creative officer at PopCap Games. “It’s the purest form of Bejeweled that we’ve ever concocted, factoring in everything PopCap has learned from a decade of development and feedback from millions of fans. By adding social and competitive elements and a time limit, we’ve distilled Bejeweled down to its essence with Bejeweled Blitz, and the new PC downloadable version makes the game available in the largest, most vibrant form factor yet by far. For some players this could be the version that takes their Bejeweled Blitz game to new heights.”

Besides being able to play this version of Bejeweled Blitz without having to go online, Bejeweled Blitz allows "full-screen play, dramatically enhanced sound and graphics, dozens of new achievements and corresponding badges," as the PopCap Games press release stated. You’ll still be able to publish your scores and medals to Facebook as well. Play the 1-minute web version of Bejeweled Blitz here on Facebook (warning: you will be hooked). PopCap Games stated that the Facebook version of Bejeweled Blitz has about 11 million active players a month, with 3.5 million unique users a day.

See more on Bejeweled Blitz and try the demo from www.popcap.com/bejeweledblitz.


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