PopCap Launches Free "Blitz" Update for Bejeweled(R) 2 for iPhone(TM) and iPod(R) Touch
By Popcap Games International, PRNETuesday, November 10, 2009
Top-5 Best-Selling App Store Game Now Includes Facebook(R) Connect for On-The-Go Social Gaming
DUBLIN, November 11 - PopCap Games today announced a free update for Bejeweled(R) 2
for iPhone(TM) and iPod(R) touch (collectively referred to below as iPhone).
Bejeweled 2 is one of the five best-selling iPhone games of all time, and the
new update - available at no cost to current owners of Bejeweled 2 for iPhone
- adds an exciting new mode featuring Facebook Connect integration of the
"Bejeweled Blitz" game previously found only on Facebook.com.
The new iPhone Blitz game mode replicates the wildly popular
connected version of the game that allows consumers to play anywhere,
anytime, with scores and achievements reflected on their own and their
friends' Facebook profiles. Bejeweled 2 for iPhone is available worldwide via
the App Store. Anyone who has previously purchased Bejeweled 2 for the iPhone
can receive the new Blitz mode as a free update via the App Store or iTunes.
"Ultimately, social gaming is about being able to play games
with and against your friends, and the new Blitz update for Bejeweled 2 on
iPhone lets you play against your friends anywhere," explained John Vechey,
co-founder and director of PopCap's social gaming initiative. "This is a
natural next stage in our multi-platform and social strategies. Blending the
Facebook and iPhone Bejeweled communities should prove very compelling for
players."
The new Blitz update for Bejeweled 2 on iPhone offers the full
feature set of Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook, including bonus multipliers,
laser gems, star medals, real-time gem swapping (even while the gems are
falling into place) and posting of scores to your (and your friends') shared
leaderboards. Scores and medals achieved while offline will be recorded the
next time you connect your iPhone.
After connecting to Facebook and launching the Blitz mode of
Bejeweled 2, iPhone players will be able to see their full list of Facebook
friends who are playing Blitz (either on the Web or on an iPhone), including
pictures and their friends' scores - just like the leaderboard from the Web
game. During play, scores are automatically uploaded to Facebook, including
any earned achievement star medals. Leaderboards will seamlessly reflect
scores achieved on both the iPhone and Web in a single integrated list so
players can try to improve their scores and track their friends' performances
from either place. This marks the first time that PopCap has released
multi-platform interoperable adaptations of a game and the very first time
that PopCap has extended social gaming beyond a Web application.
About PopCap
PopCap Games (www.popcap.com) is the leading
multi-platform provider of fun, easy-to-learn, captivating video 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 240 people in Seattle,
San Francisco, Chicago, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin, and Shanghai. Its games have
been downloaded more than 1 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its
flagship title, Bejeweled(R), 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 and 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, mobile phones, MP3
players, and game devices.
The PopCap logo and all other trademarks used herein that are
listed at www.popcap.com/trademarks are owned by PopCap Games, Inc. or
its licensors and may be registered in some countries. Facebook(R) is a
registered trademark of Facebook Inc. Other company and product names used
herein may be trademarks of their respective owners and are used for the
benefit of those owners.
Cathy Orr, corr@popcap.com, +353-1-646-8107
Cathy Orr, corr at popcap.com, +353-1-646-8107
Tags: Dublin, PopCap Games International, United Kingdom