Bejeweled Blitz, the beautifully addictive Facebook edition of the popular puzzle series by Popcap, has been nominated for Online Game of the Year in the 28th Annual Golden Joystick Awards. The gem-bursting puzzler join 15 others like Zynga's FarmVille, Champions Online by Cryptic and Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online (which recently went free-to-play).
Players enjoy Bejeweled Blitz in rapid fire, one-minute-long high score competitions that are posted to online leaderboards on Facebook. The game boasts over 12 million active users on Facebook and can also be played on most mobile devices.
The Golden Joystick Awards are run by U.K.-based Future Media and allow you, the gamers, to vote on your favorite games each year by category. For not one, but two social games (no FrontierVille?) to make it into the nominees this year serves as even more proof that the industry is taking social gaming seriously.
Showing posts with label popcap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label popcap. Show all posts
Monday, February 6, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Plants vs Zombies for iPhone update unearths nine new mini games
Look, Plants vs Zombies might be PopCap's most entertaining game to date (next to Peggle), but even flinging seeds at ravenous zombies gets stale after awhile. Luckily, PopCap thinks so too, and has updated PvZ for iPhone, bringing with it a whopping nine new mini games that players can buy using coins in Crazy Dave's Shop. Well, at least these mini games are new to the iPhone--they're all from the PC and Mac version of PvZ.
Each of the nine new games comes in a pack of three for 50,000 coins, which players can collect through just playing the Adventure Mode or tending to their Zen Gardens (released in the previous update). Of course, you can expedite the process by purchasing bundles of 100,000 coins for $.99 apiece. Here's a sneak peek at all nine mini games, courtesy of PopCap:
Game Pack #3
Walnut Bowling 2: Knock 'em dead in this killer twist to an old favorite sport.
Seeing Stars: Unravel the mystery of the star-shaped pattern.
Bobsled Bonanza: Melt the ice and defeat bobsledders and Zombonis in this frosty battle.
Game Pack #4
Invisi-Ghoul: Test your prowess to take on invisible zombies.
Last Stand: Not your average day at the pool!
ZomBotany 2: Hybrid zombies sport plant heads and abilities to up the challenge ante.
Game Pack #5
Beghouled Twist: An homage to Bejeweled Twist, this mash-up requires match-3 skill.
Pogo Party: Crash the pogo party of your roof!
Zombie Nimble Zombie Quick: Get ready to move faster than ever!
PvZ mini games
All nine mini games sound like fun, but we're most interested in this homage to Bejeweled Twist, and Walnut Bowling has always been a blast when it comes up in Adventure Mode. This update also introduces more Achievements to brag about share on Apple Game Center, most notable of which is Peking Express.
This is a micro game of sorts in which you're timed on how quickly you scroll all the way down the Achievements page to visit China and its zombies. I made it in just over 10 seconds--can you beat my time? If you're game, then click on the link below and get to diggin'. If anything, this should hold you over until Peggle and PvZ hit Facebook ... maybe.
Each of the nine new games comes in a pack of three for 50,000 coins, which players can collect through just playing the Adventure Mode or tending to their Zen Gardens (released in the previous update). Of course, you can expedite the process by purchasing bundles of 100,000 coins for $.99 apiece. Here's a sneak peek at all nine mini games, courtesy of PopCap:
Game Pack #3
Walnut Bowling 2: Knock 'em dead in this killer twist to an old favorite sport.
Seeing Stars: Unravel the mystery of the star-shaped pattern.
Bobsled Bonanza: Melt the ice and defeat bobsledders and Zombonis in this frosty battle.
Game Pack #4
Invisi-Ghoul: Test your prowess to take on invisible zombies.
Last Stand: Not your average day at the pool!
ZomBotany 2: Hybrid zombies sport plant heads and abilities to up the challenge ante.
Game Pack #5
Beghouled Twist: An homage to Bejeweled Twist, this mash-up requires match-3 skill.
Pogo Party: Crash the pogo party of your roof!
Zombie Nimble Zombie Quick: Get ready to move faster than ever!
PvZ mini games
All nine mini games sound like fun, but we're most interested in this homage to Bejeweled Twist, and Walnut Bowling has always been a blast when it comes up in Adventure Mode. This update also introduces more Achievements to brag about share on Apple Game Center, most notable of which is Peking Express.
This is a micro game of sorts in which you're timed on how quickly you scroll all the way down the Achievements page to visit China and its zombies. I made it in just over 10 seconds--can you beat my time? If you're game, then click on the link below and get to diggin'. If anything, this should hold you over until Peggle and PvZ hit Facebook ... maybe.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Games.com Weekly Roundup: Brought to you by the letter 'P' (as in PopCap)
Couldn't get your daily Games.com news fix and want to know what you've missed? Whether it's a major FarmVille guide or the launch of a new Facebook game, the Roundup will bring you up to speed on the most important or popular, or just plain out amazing and weird social gaming stories of the week.
Monday:
FrontierVille Pioneer Trail Map revealed: come get a look at Beaver Valley
Now that the legal brouhaha between The Learning Company's "The Oregon Trail" and Zynga's FrontierVille expansion is settled, here's a sneak peak on what's next for the game.
Activision Blizzard and Social Gaming: Call of Duty: Elite is the first step
The key point here is that Activision sees social and mobile "as a way to strengthen our core business." Subtly implying that social and mobile are not their core business.
Rovio's Angry Birds become physics teachers
Questions like these teach us not to take physics for granted: "Determine the coefficient of restitution and the mass of the angry bird." A lot of science goes into that flick of the finger.
Want a $10 FarmVille Game Card? Use Bing Rewards
"Every time you search for something on Bing and click through to a website from the search engine, you will earn a small amount of credits (not to be confused with Facebook Credits). Once you earn 1,176 credits, you can redeem the $10 FarmVille Game Card, which will be sent to your house with free shipping."
Realm of the Mad God busts out of beta on Chrome Web Store
This is here because we think it's awesome. Yeah, we can do that. Neener, neener!
inFAMOUS Anarchy combines CityVille and Mafia Wars on Facebook
Now you don't need a PS3 to play it! Brought to you by Mob Science and Sony.
Tuesday:
Professor Layton: Brain-bending game goes social and mobile later this year
"It's interesting that one of the Nintendo DS' most popular games is headed to mobile. Will this be a wake-up call to Nintendo, whose president recently said that the gaming company is 'not interested' in mobile and Facebook?"
Lego Universe goes free-to-play this August, who needs plastic bricks?
Here's what I remember most about Legos. Luckily, you can't stab your feet with the internet.
PopCap's Bejeweled 3 coming to Nintendo DS, go zen on the go
Feeling too tethered to Facebook to enjoy Bejeweled Blitz anymore? Get yourself a DS.
Vatican Wars on Facebook increases desire to attend church - honest!
I wonder what Pope Benedict XVI has to say about this.
HotShot on Facebook: Peggle has arrived, but it's not PopCap's game
"There is no denying that the idea and largely all of PlayQ's inspiration for HotShot came from Peggle and its absence from Facebook."
Wonderful City Rio brings the CityVille formula across Latin America
Wonderful City Rio is a CityVille clone, but as clones go, it might actually be more fun than the original.
FrontierVille: Dancing Bear given away for game's first birthday
Wow, has it really been a year?
Wednesday:
Better Business Bureau processed 436 Zynga complaints in 36 months, study says
I think one of our readers said it best, "How shocking!! A company that has over 200 million monthly users received 436 BBB complaints!!" Also check out the awesome social gaming infographic we scooped the headline from.
Report: Pottermore will be Harry Potter's online gaming hub [Updated]
"Author J.K. Rowling has revealed that Pottermore will not be a social game, but an interactive reading experience for Harry Potter fans . . . However, there will be virtual rewards for tasks completed on the site, Mashable reports."
Rumor: Bejeweled-maker PopCap to sell for over $1 billion
"EA could be the lucky shopper, but $1 billion is a far cry from the $400 million it paid for Playfish in 2009."
Thursday:
Empires & Allies receives first round of bug fixes and gameplay updates
Bugs are the number one gripe of Facebook gamers. So it's great to see Zynga take charge. Now all they need to do is keep at it.
Earn 2 free FarmVille Farm Cash in Captain America promotion
Let us get something straight here -- Norton, an anti-virus software provider, is promoting the Captain America movie via FarmVille? But hey, 2 free Farm Cash! Why not?
Civilization World for Facebook reveals a crazy complex city [Video]
And we mean that in a good way.
Plants vs. Zombies, unite! PopCap's charity auction enters Week 2
BEHOLD! Peashooter head costume! Plants vs. Zombies ceramic mug and bowl set! Wooden box diorama! It's all PvZ love here.
Sir 'Baby Got Back' Mix-A-Lot launches Facebook trivia game
Probably the most fascinating thing about this isn't the game itself, but the stalker-ish PR stunt videos personally addressed to our writer, Brandy Shaul, and our EIC, Libe Goad.
Marc Ecko's Weeds Facebook game (puffs then) passes this month
"Weeds, the hit show on Showtime revolving around a pot-dealing suburban soccer mom, will have its very own marijuana-making Facebook game this month."
FarmVille: One click sharing slowly rolling out for faster news posts
Zynga's just on a roll with these updates, aren't they? Whatever makes it easier to play, makes for a better gaming experience and makes for more gaming.
Monday:
FrontierVille Pioneer Trail Map revealed: come get a look at Beaver Valley
Now that the legal brouhaha between The Learning Company's "The Oregon Trail" and Zynga's FrontierVille expansion is settled, here's a sneak peak on what's next for the game.
Activision Blizzard and Social Gaming: Call of Duty: Elite is the first step
The key point here is that Activision sees social and mobile "as a way to strengthen our core business." Subtly implying that social and mobile are not their core business.
Rovio's Angry Birds become physics teachers
Questions like these teach us not to take physics for granted: "Determine the coefficient of restitution and the mass of the angry bird." A lot of science goes into that flick of the finger.
Want a $10 FarmVille Game Card? Use Bing Rewards
"Every time you search for something on Bing and click through to a website from the search engine, you will earn a small amount of credits (not to be confused with Facebook Credits). Once you earn 1,176 credits, you can redeem the $10 FarmVille Game Card, which will be sent to your house with free shipping."
Realm of the Mad God busts out of beta on Chrome Web Store
This is here because we think it's awesome. Yeah, we can do that. Neener, neener!
inFAMOUS Anarchy combines CityVille and Mafia Wars on Facebook
Now you don't need a PS3 to play it! Brought to you by Mob Science and Sony.
Tuesday:
Professor Layton: Brain-bending game goes social and mobile later this year
"It's interesting that one of the Nintendo DS' most popular games is headed to mobile. Will this be a wake-up call to Nintendo, whose president recently said that the gaming company is 'not interested' in mobile and Facebook?"
Lego Universe goes free-to-play this August, who needs plastic bricks?
Here's what I remember most about Legos. Luckily, you can't stab your feet with the internet.
PopCap's Bejeweled 3 coming to Nintendo DS, go zen on the go
Feeling too tethered to Facebook to enjoy Bejeweled Blitz anymore? Get yourself a DS.
Vatican Wars on Facebook increases desire to attend church - honest!
I wonder what Pope Benedict XVI has to say about this.
HotShot on Facebook: Peggle has arrived, but it's not PopCap's game
"There is no denying that the idea and largely all of PlayQ's inspiration for HotShot came from Peggle and its absence from Facebook."
Wonderful City Rio brings the CityVille formula across Latin America
Wonderful City Rio is a CityVille clone, but as clones go, it might actually be more fun than the original.
FrontierVille: Dancing Bear given away for game's first birthday
Wow, has it really been a year?
Wednesday:
Better Business Bureau processed 436 Zynga complaints in 36 months, study says
I think one of our readers said it best, "How shocking!! A company that has over 200 million monthly users received 436 BBB complaints!!" Also check out the awesome social gaming infographic we scooped the headline from.
Report: Pottermore will be Harry Potter's online gaming hub [Updated]
"Author J.K. Rowling has revealed that Pottermore will not be a social game, but an interactive reading experience for Harry Potter fans . . . However, there will be virtual rewards for tasks completed on the site, Mashable reports."
Rumor: Bejeweled-maker PopCap to sell for over $1 billion
"EA could be the lucky shopper, but $1 billion is a far cry from the $400 million it paid for Playfish in 2009."
Thursday:
Empires & Allies receives first round of bug fixes and gameplay updates
Bugs are the number one gripe of Facebook gamers. So it's great to see Zynga take charge. Now all they need to do is keep at it.
Earn 2 free FarmVille Farm Cash in Captain America promotion
Let us get something straight here -- Norton, an anti-virus software provider, is promoting the Captain America movie via FarmVille? But hey, 2 free Farm Cash! Why not?
Civilization World for Facebook reveals a crazy complex city [Video]
And we mean that in a good way.
Plants vs. Zombies, unite! PopCap's charity auction enters Week 2
BEHOLD! Peashooter head costume! Plants vs. Zombies ceramic mug and bowl set! Wooden box diorama! It's all PvZ love here.
Sir 'Baby Got Back' Mix-A-Lot launches Facebook trivia game
Probably the most fascinating thing about this isn't the game itself, but the stalker-ish PR stunt videos personally addressed to our writer, Brandy Shaul, and our EIC, Libe Goad.
Marc Ecko's Weeds Facebook game (puffs then) passes this month
"Weeds, the hit show on Showtime revolving around a pot-dealing suburban soccer mom, will have its very own marijuana-making Facebook game this month."
FarmVille: One click sharing slowly rolling out for faster news posts
Zynga's just on a roll with these updates, aren't they? Whatever makes it easier to play, makes for a better gaming experience and makes for more gaming.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)