iGame Radio

In 2000, PopCap Games introduced the match-three game Bejeweled. Ten years and more than half a billion players later, PopCap has announced Bejeweled 3, the first true sequel to the series in six years. Bejeweled 3 will launch December 7 for US $19.95.

Featuring new content, Bejeweled 3 takes the original four game modes of Bejeweled 2 and re-imagines them. Four new secret games, including Ice Storm and Poker, provide a new interpretation of the Bejeweled theme, while Quest mode features eleven mini-games that are hybrids of Bejeweled game-play and other classic game mechanics, resulting in 40 total mini-games. Other features will include Zen, the traditional way to zone out while doing your matches, and Classic, the original game that will include new gems.

PopCap promises smooth graphics and dulcet tones during Bejeweled 3 matches, unless you are playing the Lightning mode (in which case you will apparently be experiencing “heart-pounding, beat-the-clock” gameplay). You’ll also be able to earn up to 65 badges to prove your skills.

Bejeweled 3 will be available initially for Windows and Mac throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific at PopCap.com, other leading online portals, and major retail outlets for $19.95.

UPDATE: Spoke with PopCap Games, and they stated that at this time Zuma Blitz, which will be coming out on Facebook in a matter of weeks, will be the “online multiplayer” adaptation of Zuma for North America. “Super Zuma is rather different from Zuma Blitz, but won’t be coming to N. America anytime soon.”


PopCap Games today announced a deal with NCsoft to bring PopCap’s first online multiplayer social game service to Korea later this year. The new platform, PopCap World, is the first product to be developed and released by PopCap’s Shanghai game studio.

PopCap World will be operated by NCsoft and will launch with 13 of PopCap’s award-winning games, including Bejeweled, Plants vs. Zombies, and Zuma, as well as an all-new multiplayer game, Super Zuma, built exclusively for Korean players. All of the games will be free to play, with optional, premium paid elements to be added later.

Since its launch, PopCap Games has released hit games Bejeweled, Bejeweled 2, Plants vs. Zombies, and Zuma, as well as versions for the iPhone and iPad which have reached the top 10 on the App Store. Though there is no news as of this post on extending Super Zuma outside of the Korean world, or creating a different multiplayer game for other International markets, I’m quite certain if Super Zuma does well we can expect more announcements in the same vein to follow.

Now that the Micheal Jackson dancing Zombie of PopCap Game’s immensely popular game, Plants vs Zombies, is no more, we have been waiting with baited breath for its replacement. PopCap has now revealed the new dancing zombie:

PopCap revealed the new arrival yesterday, confirming that he is now called the “Disco Zombie”.

‘I can confirm that there is in fact a new ‘disco zombie’ (see image attached) and I would really appreciate if you could ‘be nice to the new guy’…the disco zombie is starting to feel like a second class zombie citizen, which is really unfair considering the length of time he spent doing his hair! I actually managed to catch up with him earlier today and, while he’s a little adverse to public speaking, he gave me the following (badly) written statement:

“Dear Alive Peeples, I am pleazed too join the big brainz at PopCap and can’t wait to meat you all. And yes, I du my own heir.”’

UPDATE: PopCap Games has issued a notice regarding an unintentional effect that the PvZ update has had to any iDevice using iOS4…there have been reports of crashes. From PopCap:

Plants vs Zombies has many different zombies in the game, including one iconic dancing zombie that cannot be mistaken for anything other than a tribute to Michael Jackson. Dressed in red jacket/pants, white socks, and one white glove (as in Jackson’s Thriller video from years gone), the dancing zombie keeps going and keeps bringing up more zombies until you destroy the dancing zombie itself.

But now, according to MTV, the estate of Michael Jackson has decided that this tribute is, in fact, objectionable, and wants it gone. Despite the fact that this clearly falls under the venue of parody, and thus free use, PopCap has decided that it isn’t worth it to fuss. So they are in the process of making changes to the dancing zombie to produce a new “dancing zombie” that is more disco-themed, and will be available in a later update.

The Estate of Michael Jackson objected to our use of the ‘dancing zombie’ in PLANTS vs. ZOMBIES based on its view that the zombie too closely resembled Michael Jackson. After receiving this objection, PopCap made a business decision to retire the original ‘dancing zombie’ and replace it with a different ‘dancing zombie’ character for future builds of PLANTS vs.ZOMBIES on all platforms. The phase-out and replacement process is underway.

For iPhone and iPad, this means that the next time you plug your iDevice in for a sync, you’ll probably loose that original dancing zombie. But what about your Mac version? I contacted PopCap Games about this, but they said that they could not release any further information at this time.

Dancing Zombie is dead! All hail Dancing Zombie!

via GamePolitics

I was introduced to Zuma Blitz for Facebook at the PopCap luncheon today. A merging of the ball shooting game Zuma with the fast-paced arcade concepts of Bejeweled Blitz, players in Zuma Blitz must face attacks from two sides in a limited time period to gain points. Time for attacks can increase in game with the right powerups.

Though the game is weeks from release still, there are plans for some pretty awesome social gameplay, such as players being able to level curses on each other to hinder gameplay, or sharing points, etc.

I also confirmed that the lovely rumor from July 12 about a possible Plants vs Zombies 2 is just that…rumor. I spoke directly with Garth Chouteau of PopCap Games to get the skinny on this rumor once and for all, and found that the “announcement” is really a celebration regarding the release of Plants vs Zombies for XBLA.

Gamespot reports on it in detail about the same time I was getting the info, so I’ll let them tell you more. I’m too heartbroken. Other than to say that Chouteau did say that while he wouldn’t rule out a Plants vs Zombies 2 game, there aren’t any plans for one right now.

TouchArcade is reporting on an announcement floating around the past weekend that hints at something interesting in the Plants vs Zombies universe. An image with a date of August 2nd in San Fancisco has been emailed to select journalists. Judging by what is in the image, and knowing little else, one can only make wild guesses, but of course the first guess is that a Plants vs Zombies sequel may be announced.

Considering the success of the desktop, iPhone, and iPad versions, this would be no surprise. Yours truly will be meeting with PopCap at the Casual Connect convention in two weeks, so perhaps another tidbit of information might find its way to this blog. Check back and see!

PopCap Games is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Bejeweled, one of the most popular match-three games of all time, in style. The Show Your Bejeweled Love contest encourages you to submit a YouTube video illustrating or describing in some way your love for this simple, yet well-loved, video game in two minutes or less. All types of submissions are welcome, from weird to fanatical, and anywhere in between.

The top ten winners have access to $5000 US in prizes, including a limited edition notebook PC and two iPads, each with custom-designed, “Bejeweled 10th Anniversary” engravings. The contest ends May 26th 2010 and is open to residents of the US, Canada (except Quebec) and the UK.

Judging will be performed by members of PopCap’s art and game design teams throughout the contest period, and will be based on three criteria: enthusiasm, presentation and knowledge of Bejeweled. All top entries, as well as complete contest rules and the official submission form, will be posted on the site during the contest.

Someone got a head start.

 

What’s inside this episode:

• A review of Plants vs Zombies HD (no, really, this is the real thing!) by PopCap Games, in which the loveable zombies come back to crunch our brains some more. Wait…no Zen Garden?? Heresy!
  
• And a review of PartyPlace: Marble Mixer for the iPad by GameHouse. The timeless game of marbles brought back for the next generation to enjoy. Watch out for that monster! Nom, nom, nom…
• Plus, a review of Babo Crash for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad by Playbrains. A universal release, still, the platform makes a difference. Check out which one you’d rather play on.
  

Show Notes:

• Omaha Sternberg and Peter Cohen of The Loop talk about the recent 3.3.1 issues and what it really doesn’t mean for just about everyone.
• Peter talks about his trip to PAX Boston, his impressions, and what he did.
• Did you know that even the government doesn’t trust the counterfeiting and piracy numbers?
• Peter and Omaha are sad that their friends overseas can’t get their iPads yet. Yeah. Real sad.
• Omaha and Peter talk about which games for the iPad are currently their favorite.
• And Omaha asks Peter if he also sold his sold to GameStation.

Music Notes:

• Digital Droo produced our theme music here at iGame Radio.
• Pedro Camacho featured his game demo music.
• Rob Howard featured music from The Broken Hourglass

 

What’s inside this episode:

• An interview with Marc Gumpinger of Scoreloop about the newest updates to the social networking SDK for iPhone/iPod Touch and Android game developers. New features include support for in-game currency DLC.
• Plus, an exclusive preview of Plants vs Zombies HD for the iPad. *Magical* device indeed! Just make sure that you have enough munchies on hand, or you, too, will become a zombie. And believe me, brains are pretty bland.

Show Notes:

• A run-down of the week’s news. Omaha won’t tell you which ones are real and which ones aren’t…you’ll have to figure that one out on your own!
• Did Valve really decide to cancel porting Steam and their games to the Mac?! Does Game Newell really hate the Mac?! Does Gabe really need lots of Tums for that chili cheese dog problem?!

Music Notes:

• Digital Droo produced our theme music here at iGame Radio.

PopCap has done it again, and this time totally under wraps. The next Bejeweled edition has been announced today…but you better be ready to open your wallet for this one. Crafted from the very best cubic zirconia and only sold through the PopCap.com portal, Celebrity Bejeweled replaces the traditional gem pieces with holographic likenesses of popular superstars from film, television, music and sports whose names bear similarity to the gems they replace.

Likenesses include musicians Neil Diamond, Jewel and Crystal Gayle; renowned artist Jasper Johns; and action movie star and former big-time wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Singer Pearl Bailey and NBA Hall of Famer Earl “The Pearl” Monroe will share the honor of replacing the white gem in the game…apparently Oprah Winfrey was given the opportunity should she legally change her name to “Opal” but refused. Lastly Amber Smith, former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and first model of the original Wonderbra ad campaign, will thumb-wrestle TV and film actress Amber Tamblyn (of General Hospital and Joan of Arcadia fame) for the seventh and final gem spot. There’s no word on whether this will be a contest that could result in winners receiving a copy of the game.

But that’s not all. The special collector’s edition package includes actual genetic samples of featured celebrities. PopCap suggests that these samples might be useful in “home chemistry experiments, various forms of extortion and/or sale on eBay.” PopCap also warns that some copies might contain trace amounts of Alec Baldwin spliced with Lady Gaga. This, in our opinion, could lead to some significant legal problems for PopCap, considering the amount of damage that might actually result to someone’s eyes should they actually decide to take that genetic sample and do any biological experiments. But I note that PopCap has not recommended any biological experiments…that must be the reason why.

Celebrity Bejeweled carries a suggested retail price of US$2000. One can see why extortions might be useful. There are no screens available as yet, nor any date of release. And if you want me to review a game that could potentially have an image of Alec Baldwin spliced with Lady Gaga, you’re gonna have to pay me!