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Gyromancer will end our lives on November 18

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 6th 2009 at 7:00PM }

Looks like we're going to have to start working on that Bucket List a lot sooner than we would've guessed. The recently released English language trailer for Square Enix and PopCap's RPG-puzzle mash-up Gyromancer has delivered a release date for our pending doom: November 18. Not only that, but the trailer's now-readable text has revealed a gameplay mechanic which slipped our attention in the original, Japanese trailer: Monster collection.

So, it's Bejeweled, Final Fantasy and Pokémon all rolled into one, then? Awesome. That's really awesome. We hope you guys have enjoyed reading our humble site, because Gyromancer looks to be addictive enough make us forget to feed ourselves, let alone work.

Trademark: PopCap going off the rails on a 'Yetitrain'

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 21st 2009 at 10:05AM }

PopCap, we're afraid we've got an unpleasant task for you. At your earliest convenience, we're going to need you to draft letters of apology to everyone who's come within 50 yards of us within the last 15 minutes. See, a little while ago, supererogatory turned our attention to a trademark you just filed, reserving the name Yetitrain for use in a game. Our eyes saw the word, and our brain immediately told us the correct course of action: As loudly as possible, we would need to sing Ozzy Ozbourne's "Crazy Train," and we'd need to swap in the appropriate cryptozoological word.

Though we've aroused general concern from our neighbors and landlords, we can't seem to stop. This word -- Yetitrain -- is too powerful not to sing boisterously. We're sending you an email to request these apologetic correspondences, and to see if you'll tell us exactly what a Yetitrain is, and then to find out where we purchase our ticket to ride it forever.

Plants vs. Zombies to march in NYC Halloween parade

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 17th 2009 at 5:00AM }

This is a just a warning to any zombies considering joining the New York City Halloween parade. Pictured above are some of the plants that PopCap will be sending to march in said parade. As you -- the zombies -- well know, these plants will most certainly assure your demise. Well, except the wall-nuts. They'll pretty much just stand there and let you eat them, but we love 'em anyway. They're just so damned cute. Dumb, but cute.

PopCap receives outside investment in first round of funding

by JC Fletcher { Oct 6th 2009 at 2:30PM }

Casual gaming leviathan PopCap Games announced that it has lined up an extra $22.5 million in funding from sources including investment firm Meritech Capital Partners and private investors Larry Bowman and John McCaw.

"While other video game companies put out more flops than hits, PopCap has never produced a game that wasn't a critical and commercial success," said Meritech's managing director, Rob Ward. "Taking the company's boutique development style and universally appealing product lineup to the top of the video game food chain will be an exciting, potentially industry-changing, experience and we're happy to be a part of it."

Well, okay, so we know why the investors did it -- guaranteed returns. But why does PopCap, to whom we have all handed money over the years, need extra money? PopCap CEO David Roberts claims that the investment "lets us be more aggressive with our expansion into social media and reaching new geographies," but we've heard that PopCap is researching an unstable form of the match-three puzzle that can currently only be created in a laboratory, and only for a few nanoseconds.

Square Enix & PopCap team for puzzle RPG 'Gyromancer'

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 24th 2009 at 1:41PM }

Square Enix is teaming up with the "broadly appealing" e-crack peddling masters at PopCap Games on Gyromancer, a new puzzle RPG for XBLA and PC. At its core, Gyromancer is a re-skinned version of PopCap's Bejeweled Twist with Square Enix delivering the ... um, big hair? Maybe some writing -- or 20-minute cutscenes? We have no idea.

There's currently no scheduled release date for Gyromancer, but we've definitely had our fill of Puzzle Quest clones recently. Give it some time and, you know, something different. Then again, PopCap has a nasty habit of turning tired casual-gaming genres into gold.

Bejeweled, Bookworm coming to DSiWare

by Justin McElroy { Sep 21st 2009 at 10:13AM }

If you've been trying to convince your casual-minded significant other that you don't just want, but rather need, a DSi in addition to the DS you own, your moment may have just arrived. PopCap has announced that it'll be bringing its stupefyingly popular puzzle titles Bookworm and Bejeweled Twist to DSiWare this month and the next, respectively.

Sure, they'll be out later on retail shelves (December 1, 2009 for Bookworm and Q1 2010 for Bejeweled Twist), but if you're going to score yourself a new DSi, your significant other can never know this. They can never, ever know.

Peggle Nights falling into XBLA

by JC Fletcher { Aug 26th 2009 at 7:30PM }

Peggle, after releasing pretty much everywhere else to critical acclaim, came out on Xbox Live Arcade this March, to additional critical acclaim, thanks to its new multiplayer modes. Now Peggle fans intent on either playing the game only on Xbox or on buying every Peggle release will have something else to look forward to as PopCap has announced the XBLA release of the sequel, Peggle Nights, coming by way of an XBLA expansion for the original Peggle.

Like other releases of Peggle Nights, the XBLA version includes a new Peggle Master named Marina, 60 new levels, and 60 new challenges and will be available to all Peggle players as a Title Update. Most importantly to some status-obsessed gamers, Peggle Nights will include three new Achievements, worth a total of 50 points.

Peggle Nights will be available sometime this fall for an undisclosed price.

PopCap reveals Zuma's Revenge

by Justin McElroy { Aug 18th 2009 at 9:30AM }

When we heard from MTV that PopCap was releasing a PC game called Zuma's Revenge on September 15th, we, of course, assumed it was the casual, interactive retelling of South African president Jacob Zuma's election in 2009 after he served as deputy president until 2005. You can imagine our disappointment to learn that it's actually a game about a frog that shoots colorful clay balls out of its mouth.

There's a long list of PopCap games we'd love to see in sequel form -- yes, Plants vs. Zombies is at the top, but it's not the only one. 2003's Zuma may not necessarily be high on that list, but we suspect fans have already waited long enough.

PopCap Games pegs Robert Chamberlain as new CFO

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Aug 17th 2009 at 11:00PM }

PopCap Games, which modestly labels itself as producer of "broadly appealing" games, has announced the hiring of Robert Chamberlain as Chief Financial Officer. Chamberlain, who replaces interim CFO Karla Horwitz on August 31, 2009, will oversee the giant mountain of cash kept in the company's backlot and comically scamper after bills should a strong gust of wind allow them to escape.

Though we jest, Mr. Chamberlain's 30 years of experience as a finance executive are sure to serve him well in his new role. And just imagine the incredible resolve and concentration required to get any work done inside the Peggle factory!

PopCap announces Bookworm Adventures 2

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 15th 2009 at 11:55AM }

There's a ton of good lookin' games coming out this fall, though few offerings seem as though they'll help beef up our vocabulary while indulging our base desire for molasses-slow turn-based combat. Yes, we realize that's a rather specific niche -- but it's one that will be filled quite nicely by PopCap's Bookworm Adventures 2, which will be released on July 30 for $19.99 on the casual game developer's official site.

If you never experienced the Boggle meets Final Fantasy action of the original Bookworm Adventures, PopCap has a free trial available. Just don't blame us when your friends start complaining about your new proclivity for dropping six-dollar words.

Surprise! Plants vs Zombies headed to more platforms

by Richard Mitchell { Jul 10th 2009 at 12:15PM }

In what might be the most shocking turn of events in recent history, PopCap Games' Garth Chouteau recently told Kombo.com that the company is looking to bring its most recent addictive substance, Plants vs Zombies, to more platforms. The game is currently available only on PC and Mac. In other news, it turns out that PopCap enjoys making giant piles of cash. Garth noted that PopCap spent a great deal of time making Peggle work on consoles (the XBLA version, specifically) and would take the same approach with Plants vs Zombies, though he didn't specify which consoles the game is destined to see.

He did, however, say that it's unlikely to appear on mobile phones. Well, regular mobile phones, actually: An iPhone version is a possibility. We have to say that we're both excited and a little terrified at the prospect of playing Plants vs Zombies anywhere. It's done enough damage to our work ethic already.

Play World of Warcraft Peggle now for free

by Justin McElroy { Jul 8th 2009 at 10:30AM }

So, Blizzard and PopCap have teamed up create 10 World of Warcraft-themed Peggle levels, which you can grab now for no money whatsoever. Exciting news? Maybe. But we can't help but wonder at what point the DEA needs to step in and start regulating this kind of stuff.

Like, this is is a combination of Peggle ... and World of Warcraft. At what point does, "Oh, sweetie, you're so addicted to Peggle! <giggle>" become, "You just blacked out on the keyboard for the 17th time, and I'm leaving you for Tracy and taking the kids with me"?

PopCap's $1 Peggle sale on App Store a hit, specials for other titles 'TBD'

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jun 15th 2009 at 4:45PM }

PopCap's Peggle sale on the App Store was clearly another blow to the productivity of thousands (millions?) of lost souls. A representative for the publisher told us, "We sold nearly as many units in the three or four days of the sale as we did in the preceding three weeks." MTV's Multiplayer takes note of the deeper politics of the App Store sale and Peggle's success, which saw the app move on the sales chart from #60 to to #1 during the sale.

PopCap tells us it's still trying to determine what the right price is for games on the iPhone/iPod Touch, expressing that the "App Store is still kind of an experimental arena or environment for anyone who is making products there." When asked if the company plans a similar sale for any of its other highly addictive titles, we were informed that's still "TBD."

Peggle (iPhone/iPod Touch) only $1 for a limited time

by David Hinkle { Jun 11th 2009 at 3:45PM }

Look, guys and gals, there is a crazy sale going on right now. If you're observant and like to read post titles before you dive right in to the meaty body of text you're reading right this second, then you already know the score: Peggle on the iPhone is only $1 for a limited time. Seriously, it's only a buck up until midnight, June 14. We're talking about one of the most addictive game experiences ever, for only $1. That's like ... we can't even compare it to anything, because, dude, Peggle is only $1. That's like ordering some chicken fingers and the server hands you some filet mignon, too.

Act fast, though. The sale is only going on for a couple more days.

[Via Shacknews]

Download Peggle for iPhone/iPod Touch -

Plants vs. Zombies is PopCap's fastest-selling game

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 20th 2009 at 10:00PM }

Plants vs. Zombies' sales certainly aren't shambling, as PopCap tells Joystiq that it has been the fastest-selling game in the company's electronic narcotic pharmacy.

PopCap's Garth Chouteau believes this is just the tip of the iceberg for the the flora vs. undead simulator, telling Joystiq, "It's as strategic as any game launched this year ... in it's own humble cutesy sort of way." He believes that players will continue to find incredible depth in the title, especially after they are done with the adventure's story and move into the survival mode. It appears that PopCap is happy with the sales of its latest piece of interactive crack, but it knows it'll only get better as the junkie word-of-mouth increases.