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Bejeweled (video game)

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Bejeweled
File:Bejeweled cover.jpg
Steam header
Developer(s)PopCap Games
Publisher(s)PopCap Games
Designer(s)Jason Kapalka[2]
SeriesBejeweled
EnginePopCap Games Framework
Platform(s)PC (Windows, Mac OS X), Browser (Flash)
PDA (Palm OS, Windows Mobile, Smartphone), Mobile
iPhone, iPod,
Java ME, Xbox, Facebook
ReleaseMay 30, 2001[1]
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single player

Bejeweled is a puzzle game by PopCap Games, first developed for the browser in 2001. Three follow-ups to this game have been released, Bejeweled 2, in 2004, Bejeweled Twist in 2008, and Bejeweled Blitz in 2010, all also by Popcap Games. Blitz is a one minute timed version which can be played by linking to Facebook, or in an offline mode. More than 25 million copies of Bejeweled have been sold, and the game has been downloaded more than 150 million times.[3]

History

The game was initially created by PopCap Games as a web-based Flash game called Diamond Mine. It was reportedly successful for PopCap—a company formed in 2000. PopCap created partnerships with established Internet gaming sites such as Microsoft Zone to host Bejeweled as well. The name Bejeweled was suggested by Microsoft, who thought that the original name Diamond Mine was too similar to that of an existing game, Diamond Mines.

The game has also been ported to other platforms, including Microsoft Windows, where it was called Bejeweled Deluxe. Astraware produced versions for PDAs on the Palm OS, Windows Mobile, Smartphone and Palm platforms. They also released Bejeweled Deluxe on the Xbox as a downloadable Xbox Live Arcade game. On September 12, 2006, it was released as one of the first games downloadable from the iTunes Store for the Apple iPod.[citation needed]

PopCap Games initially announced a version of Bejeweled for the iPhone that was not a standalone game but rather a web application playable over the Safari browser.[4] A native application for the iPhone has since been made available for purchase in the iTunes store, although the web-based version still exists.

Recently, skill games like Bejeweled have been featured in online competitions for prizes.

Its influence has crossed the virtual divide, as a scratchcard based on the game has been issued by Lotterywest.

On October 9, 2007, PopCap Games announced Bejeweled for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 platforms in a compilation with other puzzler games.[5]

On September 20, 2008, a World of Warcraft fansite known as WoW Insider revealed that PopCap Games would be releasing a free version of Bejeweled as an add-on for World of Warcraft's interface for download the following week.[6]

On October 27, 2008, PopCap released the official third installment in the Bejeweled series: Bejeweled Twist. It is similar to the classic design, except now instead of swapping two gems, the player rotates clusters of four gems clockwise to make matches. The gems also will not move back if they do not initially match up, unlike in previous games.

On December 20, 2008, Popcap released Bejeweled Blitz, an application on the Facebook social networking site that allows players to compete with other Facebook users in a timed, one minute game.[7]

On November 11, 2009, Popcap released a Bejeweled Blitz add-on for the iPhone version of Bejeweled 2.[8]

On November 18, 2009, Popcap and Square-Enix released Gyromancer, which combines the gameplay of Bejeweled Twist with RPG elements, for Windows and Xbox Live Arcade.

On December 14, 2009, Popcap released a Bejeweled Twist for the Nintendo DSiWare.

On February 10, 2010, Popcap released a statement announcing that at that time, a copy of the Bejeweled franchise was sold every 4.3 seconds and that more than 50 million units had been purchased, making it one of the top ten best-selling video games of all time.[9]

On May 29, 2010, PopCap released a Bejeweled 2 in iPad on the United Kingdom.

On June 13, 2010 PopCap released a Bejeweled for the PlayStation Network. Played 5 users on PS3.

Gameplay

File:Bejeweled deluxe sc1.jpg
Bejeweled Deluxe Version

The objective of this game is to swap one gem with an adjacent gem to form a horizontal or vertical chain of three or more gems. Bonus points are given when more than three identical gems are formed or forms two lines of identical gems in one swap. Gems disappear when chains are formed and gems fall from the top to fill in gaps. Sometimes chain reactions, called cascades, are triggered, where chains are formed by the falling gems. Cascades are awarded with bonus points. There are two variations of the game to choose from.

Although normally the player gets only 3 in a row for gems, sometimes they can get 4 or 5 in a row. And in rare conditions, they can get 6, 7 and even 8 in a row. However, some versions of the engine do not register it. The player gets more points and sometimes special powerups from more than 3 gems in a row.[10]

Normal

  • Level up when the player reaches certain score
  • Game over when no move can be performed
  • Game over also when the timer runs out

Timed

  • The level up bar starts in the middle, level up when the bar reaches the end.
  • Over time, the bar decreases. The bar decreases faster as the stage level increases (and in some versions, the longer the level lasts).
  • The game is over when the bar reaches the beginning (if a situation arises where no valid move can be made, the board is cleared and randomly re-filled).

Influence

File:Ssc-bbf-3inarow.jpg
A screenshot of a Bejeweled puzzle clone found in the Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Best Friends game

Bejeweled was most likely influenced by the Shariki game[11], written in 1988 by Russian developer Eugene Alemzhin, which had nearly identical gameplay. The popularity of Bejeweled has spawned countless clones. Collectively known as "match three" games, these all revolve around the mechanic of creating a three-in-a-row line of identical pieces. They include:

References

  1. ^ Bejeweled Readme
  2. ^ Bejeweled Readme: Credits
  3. ^ Mark Ward (2008-03-18). "Casual games make a serious impact". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  4. ^ "Bejeweled for the iPhone, Blast Magazine" (in English). Retrieved 2007-08-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  5. ^ "Bejeweled, PopCap hits to debut on Xbox and PS2, Blast Magazine" (in English). Retrieved 2007-10-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  6. ^ "WoW Insider's preview of PopCap Games' Bejeweled add-on, WoW Insider" (in English). Retrieved 2008-09-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  7. ^ Bejeweled Blitz Beta is live! via Twitter
  8. ^ Twitter.com
  9. ^ "The Bejeweled In PopCap's Crown" (in English). Retrieved 2010-02-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  10. ^ BeJeweled 6, 7, and 8 in a Row from eDepot.com
  11. ^ "Museum of the Schariki game" (in Russian). Retrieved 2008-11-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
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