PopCap Launches Bejeweled® Blitz for PC Facebook-Connected Adaptation of #1 Puzzle Game Features High-Res Full-Screen Play, 48 New Achievements and 1 Million Coins for In-Game "Boosts"
Sydney, Australia – December 14, 2010 — The worldwide leader in casual games PopCap Games, in partnership with software publisher and distributor Mindscape, today announced that Bejeweled® Blitz, the 1-minute social adaptation of its mega-hit franchise Bejeweled for the Facebook® platform, is now available in all major Australian retailers. Carrying a suggested retail price of A$19.95, Bejeweled Blitz PC offers a range of enhancements to, and advantages over, the free Facebook game, including full-screen play, dramatically enhanced sound and graphics, dozens of new achievements and corresponding badges, and 1 million coins redeemable for “Blitz Boosts” — power-ups and other score-stimulating effects.
“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, making 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.”
In the new Bejeweled Blitz PC, players can connect Facebook from the game's main menu and play the game from their PC without having to open a Web browser. High scores and corresponding star medals can be published to players' Facebook pages when they are logged in to Facebook. Blitz Coins are a new form of currency recently added to the game, which can be earned via gameplay or purchased and then redeemed for various Blitz Boosts — power-ups and effects to improve in-game performance.
Bejeweled Blitz, already available for Web and as an update to Bejeweled 2 on iPhone, has grown dramatically since its original launch on Facebook a year ago, now attracting roughly 11 million active users each month and more than 25 million users overall. Even more amazing, about 3.5 million unique users play Bejeweled Blitz every day, playing more than 100 million sessions per day and destroying half a billion gems per hour! About PopCap PopCap Games is the leading global developer, publisher and operator of casual video games: fun, easy-to-learn, captivating games that appeal to all ages across PC, mobile, social and other platforms. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000 and has a worldwide staff of more than 350 people in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. PopCap's games have been downloaded over 1.5 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its flagship franchise, Bejeweled®, has sold more than 50 million units.
About Mindscape Mindscape develops, publishes and distributes kids, family and NextGen games, productivity and reference software on the PC, Mac, DS, Wii, Playstation, XBox and online platforms. The company’s rich portfolio of award-winning products include Broderbund, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Endemol, Hoyle Games, IMSI Design, Konami, Legacy Interactive, Mark Burnett Productions, Myhorseclub, Nancy Drew, Nuance, Playfirst, PopCap, Punch, Roxio, The Learning Company and Universal Music. Mindscape is a publicly listed company on the Paris Stock Market – Alternext since December 2007, with offices throughout Europe and Australia. www.mindscape.com.au
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