PopCap Games
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PopCap Games is an online gaming developer and publisher, based in Seattle, Washington. PopCap Games was founded in 2000 by John Vechey, Brian Fiete, and Jason Kapalka. Most of Popcap's games can be played in a limited form for free, either online or as a trial download, with the full version available for a fee.
PopCap’s games have been downloaded more than 150 million times, and its flagship title Bejeweled has sold more than 5 million units across all major platforms. PopCap games are available for Web, PC and Mac, Xbox, Xbox 360, cell-phones, PDAs, and other mobile devices. PopCap also runs a developer program to provide an opportunity for independent game developers to create and spread their games.
Games
PopCap games are best described as simple, but addictive; game tutorials often take up a single screen with usually just two-three rules displayed - only these are essential to fully enjoy the game. Many games display additional rules as the player progresses in the game, such as information about bonus items. The games each feature unique design and story/concept, often developed with remarkable detail.Most games both run with and without hardware acceleration, are usually controllable with the mouse, and often feature various game modes based on the same concept (although in many cases, this is just the introduction of a time limit).
List of games published and/or developed by PopCap
- Alchemy
- AstroPop
- Atomica
- Bejeweled
- Bejeweled 2
- Big Money
- Bonnie's Bookstore
- Bookworm
- Chuzzle
- Feeding Frenzy
- Feeding Frenzy 2
- Dynomite
- Hammer Heads
- Heavy Weapon
- Iggle Pop
- Insaniquarium
- Mummy Maze
- NingPo Mahjong
- Noah's Ark
- Pixelus
- Pizza Frenzy
- Rocket Mania
- Seven Seas
- TipTop
- Typer Shark
- Word Harmony
- WordStalk (no longer supported)
- Zuma
Awards
According to the official company website, PopCap games have won at least 19 industry awards, including Computer Gaming World Hall of Fame status for Bejeweled.Music
Games generally use tracker music as soundtracks, often written by Future Crew members Jonne Valtonen and Peter Hajba.Trivia and Easter eggs
- In Astropop, do the following:
- # In the options, turn down the music volume and turn up the sound effects volume; this step is not necessary but it helps.
- # In the main menu, hover the mouse over the menu items in the following order: "Hall of Fame", "Hall of Fame", "Classic Game", "Hall of Fame", "Survival Game", "Survival Game", "Hall of Fame", "Options", "More Games", "Quit". Done correctly, the buttons should play the melody of Funkytown.
- # Four rockets will appear flying across the screen with the phrase "LET'S GO!".
- The Big Money soundtrack bears some resemblances to Peter Gabriel's Big Time.
External links
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