We’ve played the original Bejeweled Twist and liked it, although it’s to be noted that the game is harder than the original Bejeweled and definitely presents a steeper level of challenge. Fans of the title will be happy to hear that PopCap has announced Bejeweled Twist Mobile, which will be available for a wide variety of mobile phones in the very near future. The game was already available as an exclusive for Verizon Wireless customers, but its success has pushed it further!
Speaking of PopCap games I’d like to have in mobile form, I’m putting all my hopes on an iPhone version of Plants vs. Zombies, a game which satisfied and delighted me more deeply than any casual title has in years. Word from PopCap is that this may be a possibility depending on how well PvZ sells, so if you want that, show some love and buy the game. I hear it’s ten bucks through Steam, so even the gamer on the tightest budget can’t complain about that!
PopCap Games Launches Mobile Version of Bejeweled Twist™
Mobile Version of Latest Bejeweled® Installment Revolutionizes Fun On-the-Go with Remarkably Faithful Adaptation of Top-Selling Puzzle Game
SEATTLE, Washington – May 7, 2009 — PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual games, today announced the launch of Bejeweled Twist™ Mobile, a faithful adaptation of the highly acclaimed PC game — now the deepest, most attractive puzzle game to hit the wireless market. The game is available now on a wide array of handsets from major North American and European wireless carriers.
PopCap’s fourth in-house title for mobile, Bejeweled Twist puts a completely new spin on the top-selling puzzle franchise of the 21st century. Since its launch on the PC late last year, and over the past month as an exclusive release on Verizon Wireless phones, Bejeweled Twist has been a top-seller at retail and on wireless.
“We’re excited to launch what we believe will be the mobile game of 2009 – an amazingly accurate translation that offers truly deep and fun gameplay with tremendous visual appeal,” noted Andrew Stein, director of mobile business development at PopCap. “Bejeweled Twist is a milestone title in the mobile games category: novice players can pick it up and enjoy it immediately, while avid gamers will appreciate the depth of strategy, challenge and the overall flexibility in its gameplay.”
Bejeweled Twist features a revolutionary new style of play and the highest production values of any casual game ever created — removing the barriers of traditional match-3 games. Instead of swapping adjacent jewels to make a set, players rotate an entire 2×2 block of gems clockwise in an effort to create a line of three or more gems of the same type. Additionally, in Bejeweled Twist, players don’t have to make a match with every move – instead they can freely rotate gems anywhere on the board, allowing far greater liberty of movement and vastly increased strategic freedom to plan combinations, cascades and chains.
Beyond the completely different method of moving gems, Bejeweled Twist provides a wealth of new power-ups and obstacles. New gem types include Flame, Lightning and Fruit gems that produce fiery explosions and other powerful effects; and new obstacles such as Bomb and Locked gems as well as Coal will challenge players as never before. In addition, four game modes (Classic, Blitz, Challenge and Zen) offer vastly different ways to experience Bejeweled Twist. The game will also offer touch support on compatible phones.
About PopCap
PopCap Games (www.popcap.com) is the leading multi-platform provider of “casual games” — fun, easy-to-learn, irresistible computer games that appeal to everyone from age 6 to 106. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000 and has a worldwide staff of over 200 people in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin, and Shanghai. Its timeless games have been downloaded more than 1 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its flagship title, Bejeweled®, has sold more than 25 million units across all platforms. Constantly acclaimed by consumers and critics, PopCap’s games are played on the Web, desktop computers, myriad mobile devices (cell phones, smartphones, PDAs, Pocket PCs, iPod, iPhone and more), popular game consoles (such as Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS), and in-flight entertainment systems. PopCap is the only casual games developer with leading market share across all major sales channels, including Web portals, retail stores, consoles, mobile phones and MP3 players.
