Bejeweled
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bejeweled | |
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| Developer(s) | PopCap Games |
| Publisher(s) | PopCap Games |
| Distributor(s) | Various |
| Designer(s) | Jason Kapalka |
| Series | Bejeweled |
| Engine | PopCap Games Framework |
| Version | 1.87 (2007) |
| Platform(s) | PC (Windows, Mac OS X), Browser (Flash), PDA (Palm OS, PocketPC, Smartphone), J2ME, Xbox, iPod |
| Release date | 1.0 (May 30, 2001) |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone (E) |
| System requirements | OS: Win 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista. Memory: 128 MB RAM. DirectX: 7.0. Processor: Pentium II, 350MHz or faster. |
| Input methods | Keyboard, Mouse, Gamepad, Stylus |
Bejeweled is a puzzle game by PopCap Games, first developed for the browser in 2001. A sequel to this game, Bejeweled 2, was released by PopCap Games in 2004. More than 10 million copies of Bejeweled have been sold, and the game has been downloaded more than 150 million times.[1]
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[edit] History
Initially it was created by PopCap Games as a web-based Flash game called Diamond Mine. The game was reportedly successful for PopCap - a company formed in 2000. PopCap created partnerships with well 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 Bejeweled Deluxe for Microsoft Windows. Astraware produced Bejeweled for PDAs on the Palm OS, PocketPC, 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.
PopCap Games announced a version of Bejeweled for the iPhone. It is not a standalone game but rather a web application playable over the Safari browser.[2]
Recently, skill games like Bejeweled have become been features in online competitions for prizes.
Its influence has crossed the virtual divide, as a scratchcard based on the game has been issued by Lotterywest.
PopCap Games announced October 9, 2007 Bejeweled for the Playstation 2 and Xbox 360 platforms in a compilation with other puzzler games.[3]
Bejeweled can be seen being played by Singaporean Hollywood star Fann Wong in a scene of the 2007 film Just Follow Law.
[edit] Gameplay
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.
[edit] Normal
- Level up when the player reaches certain score
- Game over when no move can be performed
[edit] 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).
[edit] Influence
The popularity of Bejeweled has spawned countless clones, which is ironic because bejeweled is knock-off of Puzzle League itself,[citation needed] 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 developed jointly and published by PopCap Games.
- Goober's Lab, a clone featured on Webkinz.com.
- Sutek's Tomb, a variant featured on Neopets.com.
- Jewel Quest
- Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, an RPG where combat is fought using a match three board
- Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates Bilge pumping mini-game
- Zoo Keeper, a Japanese game with an animal theme
- A variety of coin-operated touchscreen game machines also offer a time-limited version of the game
- A Bejeweled clone called Three-In-A-Row is featured as a minigame and as a sub-game in Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Best Friends for the PC and Macintosh.
- A fruit themed clone at the Cheveron Cars site
- Monster Match, featured on the BBC's Doctor Who website http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/games/.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official Bejeweled download and Original Flash version
- History of Bejeweled
