PopCap launches Bejeweled Twist

Bejeweled Twist takes the match-3 gameplay of the previous Bejeweled games and changes the core mechanic, exchanging the concept of swapping gems for one where players make matches by rotating 2x2 blocks of gems. Players also no longer have to make a match with every move, but can rotate gems anywhere on the board giving more option for strategic play.

The game is available now from PopCap's website, and will be launched on MSN Games, ORB, RealArcade/Zylom, Steam.com, Telstra and WildTangent on November 18th. North American retail outlets will start selling the game on the same day, while a European retail release is planned for 2009.

“It took considerably more time, more money and more people than the original Bejeweled, but we feel it was worth every ounce of that effort,” said Jason Kapalka, chief creative officer and co-founder of PopCap, and co-creator of all three Bejeweled titles.

“We promised ourselves we’d come up with something really new for ‘the next Bejeweled’ and we must have gone through at least a hundred ideas before settling on the ‘twist mechanic’ in the new game. Then it was a question of making that mechanic as fun and intuitive as possible, and that took a lot of tinkering and tweaking, but we’re really happy with the final result.

He added: "We believe the new game will be immediately recognisable to Bejeweled fans, and as easily accessible to novice players as the original game, but allow far more flexibility and freedom in play. So it can provide a challenging game for those who enjoy strategy, a fast-paced blitz for players with a passion for action, and a more relaxing, Zen-like experience for those just looking for a quick stress-busting break.”