It’s already this time of the year, gathering with our family to eat and share a special moment. And even though we all love those peaceful family events there’s always a moment (usually just before dessert) when we wish we could escape our aunt’s speech on the annual wildbeest migration.
Fortunately Gameloft thought about it and invites you to its special Black Friday Sale for the Apple iPhone / iTouch iPod with all your favorite games at only$0.99 until Sunday! With this you can safely hide in the closet to play while waiting for the Pumpkin Pie.
But don’t forget it only last until Sunday! Happy Thanksgiving!
Available at $0.99 for the Thanksgiving/Black Friday Sale:
Clicking on the links will take you directly to the itunes store
Zuma’s Revenge Platform: PC Publisher: PopCap Games Developer: PopCap Games Release Date: September 15, 2009 Price: $4.99 BUY HERE
The ribbeting sequel to the ball-blasting classic!
Enter an all-new world of Zuma where evil tiki bosses rule the land! Conquer over 60 levels by firing stone spheres to make matches and destroy the deadly stream of balls, then take on six tiki boss battles and guide your agile amphibian to victory!
Leap into action in four game modes with explosive new features and amazing new gameplay: Slide and hop for smarter shots, hit targets for exotic bonuses, and detonate new power-up balls! Will you succumb to the perilous pitfalls, or can you tame the jungle in this PopCap ball-blasting challenge?
Our cute little Green ball spitting frog is back in his greatest adventure ever !! Zuma’s Revenge is possibly the one of the best puzzle games ever made, the amount of new content that’s been added to Zuma’s Revenge will make your head spin. From power-ups including three new shots, reverse, slow, lasers and even cannon ball shots.
There is a new lily pad jump moving you from one spot to another creating a more complex and challenging style gameplay, to a controlled slide shoot and aiming mechanic. Combine that with new bigger and badder end of level BIG BOSS Battles, where you have to not just worry about taking down the Boss of the Island section but also ensure that you still connect and hit your colored balls and match 3 or more of a kind of the same color.
With 60 challenging levels and 4 game modes Zuma’s Revenge is fun for the whole family, even grandma and grandpa can join in on the fun. With the multiple profile setting you can login/create a profile for each member of the family this way everyone can login to their own profile and continue where they left off without having to worry about someone jumping in and deleting or continuing from your saved spot.
Graphically Zuma’s Revenge is possibly one of the best looking puzzle games made by PoP Cap Games and certainly by far the most challenging, with so many modes and the new added features of the BOSS Battles Zuma’s Revenge is a title that shouldn’t be missed.
Check out the video review below and see our little green buddy in action !!
Plants vs Zombies Platform: PC Publisher: PopCap Games Developer: PopCap Games Release Date: May 5, 2009
Overview :
Get ready to soil your plants in an all-new action-strategy game from PopCap! A mob of fun-loving zombies is about to invade your home, and your only defense is an arsenal of 49 zombie-zapping plants. Use peashooters, wall-nuts, cherry bombs and more to mulchify 26 types of zombies before they can reach your front door.
Each zombie has its own special skills, so you’ll need to think fast and plant faster to combat them all. But be careful how you use your limited supply of greens and seeds… as you battle the fun-dead, obstacles like a setting sun, creeping fog and a swimming pool add to the challenge. And with five game modes to dig into, the fun never dies!
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The Zombies ARE BACK !! And this time they want BRAINS !!! .. Wait .. hang on .. don’t they always want brains ? Well yeah they normally eat brains. I don’t know why they couldn’t just settle for a cute little daisy or a yummy looking sunflower or even better .. A NICE BIG PLUMP Magic Mushroom !! The horde just keep on coming. All they want is you and your tasty grey matter. And all thats stopping them from accomplishing their goal is your flourishing garden of cute little plants.
Plants vs. Zombies is a highly addictive, innovative, challenging, and certainly very funny tower defence style game with so many variations and curve balls thrown in it will have you coming back for more and more and BRAIIINNSS !!!.. Opps sorry got carried away. To see what happens in the next level of the adventure and what cool plants you get to unlock or what super cool items you can purchase from your wacky nutjob of a neighbour.
The action does get fast and furious and you have to keep on your toes. At the start it’s pretty tame but in the later levels you’ll be running around like a head-less zombie.. um I mean chook, trying to stop these pesky and very determined zombies from entering your house and dining on your brains. If they do that the game ends and you can start the level again.
At your disposal you will have a total of 49 loyal and trustworthy little plants to do your bidding. And on the other side of the fence we have 26 different style of zombies, ranging from slow and dumb to moonwalking thriller style ones that dance their way through your defences if you don’t watch out. Along the way you collect coins that can be used to upgrade your seed slots so that you can hold more seeds to use in battle against the horde and other cool extra like a pet snail. Erm yes a pet snail. I’ll let you guys figure out what he can do 😉
I could go on all day and night about Plants vs Zombies but I’ll let the video review do the rest .. sit back and enjoy the review.
Capsule Computers gives Plants Vs Zombies a 8.5 Capsule Out Of 10.
Its highly addictive, VERY VERY FUNNY, and certainly a lot of fun, graphically its pleasant on the eyes and quite easy to play with the game easing you in and teaching you how to play at a very good speed.
If you want to reign PEAS and Cherry Bombs on these poor old Zombies .. All you have to do is download and buy your copy of Plants vs Zombies from the PoP Cap Website. Click on the link below : (currently available on PC, Apple Mac and also on the WEB)
Peggle Nights Platform: PC Publisher: PopCap Games Developer: PopCap Games Release Date: November 18, 2009
Overview :
Play the next episode of the peg-busting phenomenon from PopCap! Shoot and clear the orange pegs from 60 wild, dreamscape levels and bask in Extreme Fever glory. Meet the Peggle Masters’ alter egos and wield 11 Magic Powers, and then try the ultimate Peggle test — 60 Grand Master challenges!
The fun doesn’t end there. Take a brain break in Quick Play mode, compete against friends or the computer in Duel, and add to the action with downloadable Bonus Levels. Plus, you can celebrate your Peggle prowess with Instant Replay and a Trophy Room!
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Peggle Nights is the next installment of peg popping addicting game Peggle, that took and still has taken the world by storm. In Peggle Nights you get to bust through another 60 well designed and challenging levels. The action doesn’t stop there though, with four game modes: Adventure, Quick Play, Duel and Challenge this is going to keep you busy for weeks and even months. Especially when you attempt to become the Grand Master in the 60 challenges that have been set to test you and your skills.
You also have duel mode where you can challenge your friends or even the computer. One thing that could have been added to make this game even cooler for the PC version would be to have an online challenge duel mode where you can take on other Peggle Grand Masters from all over the world and show them the power of your Peggle-shot. But thats a minor issue, you’re going to be too busy trying to get through all the challenges to worry about anyone else.
Another cool option that does come in handy for the purpose of bragging rights is the instant replay and save option that will allows you to save that super dooper OH MY GOSH .. did you see that FLUKE.. erm i mean masterful shot I just did that took out the entire game board in one go ;).. You can save it and then share it out with all your mates. More game should offer this reply & save option as perfect to prove to the world that you really do have the skills and it wasn’t a complete fluke 😉
Lets take a look at the video review now shall we, and watch a true Peggle Master in action 😉
Capsule Computers gives Peggle Nights a 9 Capsules Out Of 10
If you love the original Peggle and you’ve Peggled the Pegs out of it, and need something new to sink your Peggle into .. then look no further Peggle Nights is the game for you. Grab it now on PC at the PoP Cap Games website :
Mystery P.I. New York Fortune Platform: PC Publisher: PopCap Games Developer: PopCap Games Release Date: July 31, 2009
Overview : A fun-loving New York billionaire has hidden his will somewhere in New York City! You are the world famous Mystery P.I. and the family has hired you to track down the will. But here’s the catch: you only have 17 hours to do it!
Seek and find over 2,100 cleverly concealed objects in 25 amazing locations like Times Square, Central Park, Coney Island, the Brooklyn Bridge and more. Solve puzzles to collect clues that lead to the will. Find it in time, and you’ll earn a $25 million payday!
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Mystery P.I. The New York Fortune is a classic and well thought out Hidden Object Game, where you get to explore New York’s exciting locales in your search for a billionaire’s will hidden somewhere in this huge city. You’ve been hired for the job because you have a knack of sniffing out hidden objects that are placed throughout each location. The items you must collect are randomly generated at the beginning of each location and are hidden quite well, sometimes a clue is given that explains the item, so you must figure out what that clue might mean before being able to find the item.
It’s very addictive and hard to put down. Once you get a taste of sniffing out the hidden items you will want to move on to the next local. At the end of each round/level your presented with a puzzle to solve that will then provide you with a very small clue that will bring you one step closer to your final objective at the end.
Now down to business, lets enjoy the video review :
Capsule Computers gives Mystery P.I. The New York Fortune a 7.5 Capsules Out Of 10.
With 25 amazing locations and 2100 cleverly hidden objects to possibly find Mystery P.I. The New York Fortune has hours of fun gameplay to be had. If you need a relaxing break with a mesmerizing game, Mystery P.I. The New York Fortune’s seek-and-solve hidden-object game is perfect.
Want to be a P.I. well its as simple as clicking on this link below (available only on PC)
Bookworm Adventures Vol 2 Platform: PC Publisher: PopCap Games Developer: PopCap Games Release Date: Jan 14, 2009
Overview : The vocabularious sequel to the hit PopCap word game!
Stop the presses! The walls of fiction are collapsing as characters run wild through the Great Library, and only Lex the Bookworm can save the world from certain doom! Build words and battle monsters to survive three storybooks with 10 chapters each. Trade barbs, banter and body blows with over 130 foes, and earn help from fighting friends along the way!
The better the word, the badder the damage — so power up with over 20 treasures, including all-new Rainbow Tiles. Work wordy wonders in all four game modes and flex your lexicon in six mini-games. It’s a role-playing word game you can’t set down!
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If I could say this is certainly the BEST word puzzle adventure game available on the market at the moment. It’s challenging, addictive, witty, amazingly creative and most of all FUN !!
Lex is back for another EPIC adventure !! It’s amazing how much one little green worm can get up to using the power of his vocabulary, guide Lex through 3 imaginative and creative books consisting of 10 chapters each. Meet weird and wonderful characters inspired by Fractured Fairytales, The Monkey King and Astounding Planet!
Lex might be small but his words BITE HARD !! To move forward in this game and beat the baddies all you have to do is string words together that are presented to you on a tile board. Sound easy enough. But when the baddies you face have tricks up their sleeve it’s not as simple as that.
This is where you call upon the aid of and for the first time ever, combine forces with six colorful companions including Mother Goose, the Cheshire Cat and the mischievous Monkey King! These companions you meet along the way and once on your side they will offer their powers and abilities as services to aid you in your quest.
Now enough reading more watching .. Sit back and enjoy the video review :
Bookworm adventures will have you hooked from the word GO !! And you wont be able to put it down till the last tile is used and you have made it to the end of your adventure.
Capsule Computers gives Bookworm Adventure Vol 2 a 9 Capsules out of 10
What are you waiting for !! LEX NEEDS YOUR HELP !! Don’t just stand there click on the links below to POP CAP Games and buy your copy today.
Bonnie’s Bookstore Platform: PC Publisher: PopCap Games Developer: PopCap Games Release Date: November 28, 2005
Overview :Flex your word muscles to help Bonnie become a children’s author in this masterpiece. Turn the tiles green as you weave your way through the word grid… capture the consonants… vex the vowels… but watch out for the dreaded Writer’s Blocks!
Bonnie’s Bookstore is a fun and very addictive letter/word puzzle game. It will get your brain ticking and thinking. Letters are presented to you on a game board which appears in different shapes and sizes with every level you access. The object of the game is to LINK letter tiles together to form words that are 3 or more characters in length. Once you use a specific tile it will turn green for the remainder of the level. To clear the level all letter tiles must be used and green. Sounds hard ?? Well it’s not that hard. Well if you play it on Genius it might be, but with three levels of difficulty you can ease yourself in and gradually try the harder ones, once you get the hang of it.
Check out the Video review below which covers everything you need to know about Bonnie’s Bookstore :
MasterAbbott kicks off POP CAP Games FEVER with an interview with Garth Chouteau VP of Communications at PoP CaP Games. Garth answers in fine detail information on POP CAP Games, designs and development on certain games available at the moment. PLUS A LOT MORE !!
Enjoy the read.
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Capsule Computers Question 1: Do POPCAP Games create games on all the major platforms, such as PC, XBOX, PS3, Nintendo, DS, iPhone?
Garth Chouteau : Yes PopCap is available on all major platforms –
These breakdown by market as follows:
Apple iPod/itouch – US & Worldwide
Apple iPhone US & Worldwide
Gameboy Advance – US & Worldwide
Gameboy Micro – US & Worldwide
In-Flight – US & Worldwide
Lottery Tickets – US (Bejeweled, Chuzzle and Bookworm)
Mac – US & Worldwide
Mobile phones – US & Worldwide
On-Demand TV– US (in numerous hotel chains)
PalmOS – US & Worldwide
PC – Worldwide
Pocket PC – US & Worldwide
Retail – US & UK
Ultra-Mobile PCs – US & Worldwide
Web – US & Worldwide
Windows Mobile PDA – US & Worldwide
Xbox 360 – US & Worldwide
Sony Playstation – US & Worldwide
Facebook/social – Worldwide
Nintendo/DS – Worldwide
Capsule Computers Question 2 : Is development of POPCAP Games done in-house? How many software developers are employed by POPCAP Games?
Garth Chouteau : More than 150 of our 250 employees are directly involved in the design and/or development of our games. We have perhaps two dozen games in the pipeline at any given time, including adaptations of existing games for new platforms, sequels, add-ons and expansions of/to existing games, and all-new games. Most – roughly 80% – of the development of our games occurs in-house; occasionally we’ll farm out the adapting of an existing game for a particular platform or work with another developer who we admire, such as our collaboration with Q Entertainment on Peggle Dual Shot for DS or our work with Square Enix on Gyromancer.
Capsule Computers Question 3: The Apple iphone / iTouch is starting to be one of the biggest consumer products used worldwide at the moment for mobile gaming. Currently how many iPhone / iTouch games do POPCAP Games have available for purchase via iTunes?
Garth Chouteau : We have currently 3 games available in the iTunes store – Peggle, Bookworm and Bejeweled 2 which also has the free update to Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook – you can connect to Facebook and play Bejeweled Blitz online or an option to play offline. We’ve got several other iPhone/iPod Touch games coming soon – stay tuned!
Capsule Computers Question 4 : And what are your best sellers and are there any plans on bringing out more of your original titles and new titles to this market?
Garth Chouteau :Bejeweled 2 has been a Top 5 best-selling application since its release. Our games are quick, simple fun and are perfect for on-the-go gaming where the user doesn’t have to spend a lot of time learning how to play the game or struggling against complicated controls. Our games appeal to the masses and the masses seem to be buying iPhones and iPod Touches.
Bejeweled 2 is, according to Apple, the #4 best-selling paid app of all time.
Peggle is the #11 top paid app for iPhone (#10 for iPod touch) and #8 top paid games.
Bookworm has been a top 100 paid game for most of its lifetime on the App Store
Capsule Computers Question 5 : What was the development process like in creating one of the most popular games in POPCAPS Line up: PEGGLE?
Garth Chouteau : (This is regarding the original PC version of Peggle, not the iPhone version.) In the first 5 months or so of developing Peggle there was just the Producer and Developer. Then Walter Wilson joined the team as Lead Artist. In the last third of the project, Marcia Broderick (Background Artist) and Eric Tams (Developer) joined the core team. We also had lots of great input from our QA team – and the rest of the PopCap staff throughout the project. So depending on how you look at it, you could say 5 people created Peggle, or you could say 150 people were involved! It took almost 2 and half years from prototyping to release.
Capsule Computers Question 6 : What sort of research was done in creating a new and certainly a very enjoyable and challenging game for players, please explain the entire process from Storyboarding, concept art, QA etc.
Garth Chouteau : The idea for Peggle first came about by one of our PopCap’s peeps had played an imported pachinko game back in the late ‘90’s and thought “this game is awesome!” The trouble was pachinko was purely luck-based and didn’t translate well to a downloadable PC game. Then another PopCap staffer started work on a 2D physics engine, and we talked about one day making some sort of pachinko/pinball/breakout style game. John Vechey, one of PopCap’s founders, thought it was a great idea and basically pushed us forward even though we both weren’t quite ready to start.
We spent the first few months working on a basic engine and level editor that would let us create pinball or pachinko levels. We basically tried to one up each other with our levels, and came up with some inventive and fun stuff, but it was all either pretty fast paced using the typical non-stop ball shooting that you would see in pachinko, or very skill based.
So, we started simplifying. We made a level that had 100 rotating crosses, which all had to be cleared. This seemed to be the right direction – it was a lot of fun, addictive and replayable but we soon found the frustration factor was really high.
Over the next couple of weeks or so this was distilled down to a field of static round pegs so you could get a more predictable bounce, then we finally decided to just use a subset of randomly selected orange target pegs to help balance levels and ease some of the frustration of getting the last peg. After that, we had to get the scoring right. Since there are fewer pegs to hit as you play, we escalated point values as you progressed through the level so you don’t just earn the bulk of your score with the first few shots. By that point, we were pretty hooked ourselves, as were others who tried it.
Capsule Computers Question 7 : For new players not aware of POPCAP Games. What sort and style of games do you have available for consumers. Please explain in as much detail the broad range of titles available to consumers. Are most of the Games created by POPCAP only suitable for a specific age rating or can anyone enjoy playing PopCap Games.
Garth Chouteau : Everyone is a potential player of PopCap games. We strive to make games that appeal to everyone and anyone – from mothers to their renowned nemesis, hardcore gamers. PopCap research shows that casual games naturally skew towards an older (three quarters of our customers are aged 30+), female (two thirds are female) audience but those are just the people who buy the games on the PC. Many of our games are on Xbox Live Arcade, for example, and are doing well with traditional gamers – while PopCap’s mobile games do very well with younger gamers.
Our mission at PopCap is to be innovators of casual games on as many platforms as possible to make our games as accessible to this audience of ‘everyone’ as possible. As we discover new genres of casual games and make these playable on new platforms, the PopCap audience likewise continues to expand and diversify.
Capsule Computers Question 8 :Finally what can fans and consumers expect to see in terms of innovative, creative and new games from POPCAP. What new titles can we all expect to see in the future and on what gaming platform will they be made available on.
Garth Chouteau : As a company policy, we don’t discuss future plans or upcoming games. However I can say that a priority will always be to make PopCap games as universally available as possible through different markets and platforms.
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MasterAbbott & Capsule Computers would like to thank Garth once again for taking the time to answer all these questions about POP CAP Games. We know our readers and also fans of POP CAP Games have found this interview very interesting and informative.
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Next we move onto the video reviews. Stay tuned !! 🙂
