Bejeweled

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Bejeweled
Developer(s) PopCap Games
Astraware (ports)
Publisher(s) PopCap Games
Release date(s) 2001
Genre(s) Puzzle game
Mode(s) Single player
Platform(s) PC (Windows, Mac OS X), Browser (Flash), PDA (Palm OS, PocketPC, Smartphone), Xbox, iPod
Input Mouse, Gamepad, Stylus

Bejeweled (or Diamond Mine) is a popular puzzle game first developed as a browser game by PopCap Games in 2001.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

The rectangular area of play starts filled with colored gems. The only valid move is to swap adjacent gems to make three or more gems of the same color line up horizontally or vertically. When that happens, the player earns points, the lined-up gems disappear, the gems above them fall and the extra space is filled with random gems. Once this has happened, there may once again be three or more gems lined up, in which case the process is repeated. This is called a "cascade". The game ends when there are no valid moves. Bejeweled is somewhat similar to Tetris Attack.

In the "Time Trial" mode, renamed to "action" in Bejeweled 2, the progress through the level goes down faster and faster and when it reaches 0, the player loses.

[edit] History

Initially it was created by PopCap Games as a web-based Flash game called Diamond Mine. The game was an incredible success for PopCap, which had only formed in 2000. PopCap created partnerships with well established Internet gaming sites such as Microsoft Zone to host Bejeweled as well. The game has also been ported to other platforms, including Bejeweled Deluxe for Microsoft Windows. Astraware produced Bejeweled for PDAs on the Palm OS, PocketPC and Smartphone 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.

Recently, skill games like Bejeweled have been retooled for head-to-head gaming sites like SkillJam and WorldWinner. Players can play in "vs." games for cash prizes or join tournaments.

[edit] Bejeweled 2

Bejeweled 2
Developer(s) PopCap Games, Astraware (ports)
Publisher(s) PopCap Games
Release date(s) 2004 (Browser)
22 November 2005 (Xbox Live Arcade)
Genre(s) Puzzle game
Mode(s) Single player
Platform(s) PC (Windows, Mac OS X), Browser (Flash), PDA (Palm OS, PocketPC, Smartphone), Xbox 360, iPod
Input Mouse, Gamepad, Stylus, Click wheel, Touch screen

Bejeweled 2 is another free web-based game. In 2004 Bejeweled 2 Deluxe was released. They both add extra game modes and features to the game. The deluxe version has a free 60-minute trial and can be unlocked by entering a key after buying it. Bejeweled 2 Deluxe was released for the Xbox 360 as a downloadable Xbox Live Arcade game in November 2005. Popcap also released a version for Apple's media player iPod in 2006. Bejeweled 2 for iPod is available from the iTunes store.

Bejeweled 2 adds a "puzzle" mode, in which various patterns of gems appear at the start, and the aim is to clear all the gems. The deluxe version adds more puzzles.

Bejeweled 2 also has a new name for the timed mode, "action". The deluxe version adds an "endless" mode. In both cases the gems are random except that there is always at least one valid move. A free version of the game is available on Station.com.

Bejeweled 2 also features various secret gameplay modes that can be accessed by beating levels of Classic, Puzzle, Endless and Action modes.

[edit] Influence

The popularity of Bejeweled has spawned countless clones, collectively known as "match three" games, since they all revolve around the mechanic of creating a three-in-a-row line of identical pieces. "Match three" games include:

  • Chuzzle, named after the fuzzballs around which it revolves. It was also published, but not created, by PopCap
  • High Roller
  • Jellyboom
  • Jewel Quest
  • Magic Lanterns
  • Paris Hilton's Diamond Quest
  • Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, is an RPG where combat is fought using a match three board
  • Sea Jewels, extends the bejeweled theme to a larger playing grid and bonus time for extra chain linking
  • Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates Bilge pumping mini-game
  • Zoo Keeper, a Japanese game with an animal theme
  • Bewitched[1], A variant released by Sony Entertainment based on the classic TV show Bewitched's franchise.
  • A variant called Three in a Row exists in the Strawberry Shortcake:Berry Best Friends educational CD-ROM game as a mini-game.
  • A variety of coin-operated touchscreen game machines also offer a time-limited version of the game.
A screenshot of a Bejeweled puzzle clone found in the Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Best Friends game
A screenshot of a Bejeweled puzzle clone found in the Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Best Friends game

[edit] Trivia

  • Bejeweled has also been made into a mobile phone/Palm version
  • A Bejeweled 3 is expected in the summer of 2007
  • 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

[edit] External links

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