For the series, see Bejeweled (series).
Bejeweled (video game)
DeveloperPopCap Games
Publisher
SeriesBejeweled
DesignerJason Kapalka
ProgrammerBrian Fiete
GenreMatch-three
PlatformsBrowser, Palm OS, Windows, Pocket PC, Mac OS X, Java ME, BREW, Windows Mobile, Xbox, iPod 5G, BlackBerry OS, Symbian

Bejeweled is a match-three video game developed and published by PopCap Games. Bejeweled involves lining up three or more multi-colored gems to clear them from the game board. The game was inspired by a similar browser game, titled Colors Game. Originally released in 2000 under the title Diamond Mine as a browser game on the team's official website, Bejeweled was licensed to be hosted on MSN Games under its current name. PopCap released a retail version titled Bejeweled Deluxe in May 2001.

Bejeweled has since been ported to many platforms, particularly mobile devices. The game has been commercially successful, having sold over 10 million copies and been downloaded more than 150 million times. It is credited with popularizing match-three video games and launching the casual games industry, which grew to be worth $3 billion within a decade. The game was followed by a commercially successful series of sequels and spin-offs.

Gameplay

Bejeweled is a match-three video game. Gameplay centers around gaining points by swapping two adjacent gems within a tile-based grid to create lines of three or more matching gems,[1][2] which will disappear and allow gems from above to fall and occupy the vacant space.[3] If neither of the gems swapped create a line of three or more of the same gem, the two gems will revert to their original positions.[4] Versions such as Bejeweled Deluxe have two game modes: untimed and timed. Untimed mode revolves around attempting to reach a high score and ends when no further matches are possible; timed mode involves trying to gain points to prevent a timer bar from reaching the end.[3][5][6] JAMDAT's Bejeweled Multiplayer includes an additional multiplayer mode, in which opponents compete in timed one-on-one matches. During these matches, players can use special gems, such as bomb gems, to affect their opponent's gameplay.[4][7]

Development

After a failed venture into online erotic video games with the strip poker simulator Foxy Poker (2000), the video game developer Sexy Action Cool shifted to developing simple video games to license to other companies.[1][8] At the time, the company had consisted of its three cofounders: business manager John Vechey, programmer Brian Fiete, and designer Jason Kapalka.[9] In April 2000, Vechey discovered a match-three browser game titled Colors Game, which was reportedly primitive.[10] It used squares as graphics, required the webpage to be refreshed between moves to update the game, and did not have animation or sound effects.[1][11] Finding the match-three mechanic addictive, the team was inspired to develop a more polished version of the game.[1]

Though Kapalka considered using fruits or geometric shapes for the graphics, he ultimately picked gems, as the fruits lacked visual diversity and the shapes lacked visual appeal. The game, originally titled Diamond Mine after a song by the Canadian country rock band Blue Rodeo, had a cave mining theme before it was renamed to Bejeweled.[8] It was initially time-based by default at the suggestion of other game developers such as Pogo.com, with the goal being to maximize one's score before the timer ran out.[11][12] Though an untimed mode was only included as an afterthought to serve as a tutorial, it would become the main mode associated with Bejeweled upon positive feedback from players.[1][8]

Release

Diamond Mine was released for browsers in 2000, first appearing on Sexy Action Cool's website.[9] The team offered Diamond Mine to Microsoft for $50,000 but were rejected; Microsoft instead offered to lease the game for $1,500 per month for their online gaming portal MSN Games.[8][13] Microsoft requested that they rename the game to Bejeweled, due to Diamond Mine sounding similar to another game titled Diamond Mines. Kapalka conceded to the naming despite disliking its similarity to the 2000 film Bedazzled. As part of their deal, the team maintained ownership of Bejeweled and hosted it on their site, while Microsoft hosted the game on MSN Games and created versions sponsored by other companies such as Tyson Foods and the National Pork Board.[8][14] After the deal, Sexy Action Cool was renamed to PopCap Games to make the brand more reflective of their new family-oriented target audience.[1][13][15]

Though Bejeweled was successful on MSN Games, PopCap did not experience significant monetary revenue. To remedy this, PopCap considered selling a cheap retail version of Bejeweled. Astraware executive Howard Tomlinson suggested selling the game as shareware for $20, with the rationale that, for consumers, a cheap price would imply an inferior product.[16][17] Around this time, Astraware ported Bejeweled to Palm personal digital assistants (Palm PDAs) on March 1, 2001.[18][17] A retail version with graphical enhancements, titled Bejeweled Deluxe, was released for Microsoft Windows on May 30, 2001.[16][5] The business model surrounding Bejeweled Deluxe and subsequent PopCap games was to provide both a free version to play online and a downloadable retail version with the option of a limited trial run before requiring payment to continue.[1]

As PopCap became more successful, they planned to release their games to as many platforms as possible,[16] including newly developing platforms such as mobile phones.[19] Astraware ported Bejeweled to the Pocket PC on August 26, 2001,[20][a] and Windows Mobile on May 3, 2004.[21] Bejeweled was packaged with another PopCap game, Alchemy, by MacPlay for the Mac OS X on June 28, 2002.[22] JAMDAT Mobile released a multiplayer version of Bejeweled, titled Bejeweled Multiplayer, for Java ME and BREW on May 13, 2003.[23][24] Bejeweled was released as a launch title for Xbox Live Arcade on the original Xbox on November 6, 2004,[25] and for the iTunes store on the fifth generation iPod on September 12, 2006.[26] In the lead-up to the release of the Apple App Store, PopCap created a version of Bejeweled compatible with iPhones to be played through the Safari browser on July 30, 2007.[27]

In February 2006, Electronic Arts (EA) acquired JAMDAT, granting EA's subsidiary EA Mobile the rights to Bejeweled on mobile platforms,[28] a license that would be extended through 2010,[29] before EA acquired PopCap in July 2011.[30][31] EA Mobile updated JAMDAT's version of Bejeweled with graphical enhancements, releasing it on May 18, 2007, in North America.[32][33] On August 12, 2008, EA Mobile announced a deal with Handango to distribute ports of EA Mobile's games, including Bejeweled, on Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, and Symbian phones.[34] EA Mobile added Bejeweled to BlackBerry App World on August 21, 2009.[35]

Reception

Bejeweled achieved success on MSN Games, becoming the number one game by traffic on the site within a month and maintaining that position until July 2002.[16][36] Vechey estimated that Bejeweled peaked at 50,000 to 60,000 users on MSN Games.[15] Bejeweled Deluxe was commercially successful, netting PopCap $30,000 to $40,000 per month after its release.[15] By 2008, Bejeweled had been downloaded 150 million times, with Bejeweled Deluxe selling 10 million copies.[37]

The lack of skill required to play Bejeweled led to it being ignored by reviewers. However, according to gaming journalist Harold Goldberg, the reviewers who appreciated Bejeweled "could feel a Zen peacefulness when playing", an experience comparable to Tetris.[17] David Manning of Computer Gaming World wrote of the staff becoming transfixed with Bejeweled Deluxe, threatening the magazine's production.[38] The addictiveness of Astraware's PDA versions were positively received by Maximum PC and Hyper.[39][40] Bejeweled Multiplayer was praised by both IGN and GameSpot for its additions to the original Bejeweled, which they felt contributed to its entertainment value.[4][7] IGN considered the Xbox Live port of Bejeweled fun but criticized its lack of multiplayer function.[3] The iPod port of Bejeweled was criticized by IGN and Pocket Gamer for its controls, as the usage of the iPod's click wheel was seen as unintuitive for an otherwise fun game.[6][41]

Computer Gaming World selected Bejeweled as the best puzzle game of 2001[42] and included the game in their Hall of Fame in 2005,[43] becoming the only puzzle game alongside Tetris to be inducted.[44] At the 2004 G-Phoria, hosted by G4techTV, Bejeweled Multiplayer won "Best Mobile Phone Game" among 500,000 online votes.[45] In 2007, GamesRadar+ listed Bejeweled as a PC game that "shaped a generation", saying, "But not since Tetris has such a simple mechanic gripped so many for so long."[46] Gameswelt (2012), Polygon (2017), and Game Informer (2018) have ranked Bejeweled as among the best video games of all time in their respective lists.[47][48][49] In 2020, The Strong National Museum of Play inducted Bejeweled into the World Video Game Hall of Fame.[50][51]

Legacy

The popularity of Bejeweled is credited with the rise of the casual games industry in the 21st century.[52][11][53] Kapalka attributes the rise to the exclusion of a default timer in Bejeweled, allowing for gaming that did not require skill. The commercial success of Bejeweled allowed PopCap to develop small casual games with high-production values to be ported on a wide range of platforms, as games such as Bookworm, Peggle, and entries of the Bejeweled series were developed for multiple years.[1][11] The success and simplicity of Bejeweled and other games developed by PopCap influenced independent video game studios to invest in developing low-cost video games for high profits. As a result, within a decade, the casual games industry grew to be worth $3 billion.[54] Bejeweled's influence led to it becoming the first mobile game inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame.[50][51]

Bejeweled popularized the match-three genre of puzzle games;[55] many such games have been accused of being Bejeweled clones and lacking innovation.[56] Thousands of match-three video games have been released in the wake of Bejeweled,[57] including over 2,200 match-three games on the Apple App Store as of February 2014.[56] Some of these games, such as Candy Crush Saga (2012), have exceeded the popularity of Bejeweled.[53] Developers such as King, Playrix, and Demiurge have created popular mobile games that tweak Bejeweled's match-three formula.[2] For example, Demiurge's Puzzle Quest (2007) fuses match-three gameplay with role-playing game conventions,[58] King's Candy Crush Saga (2012) includes power-ups and stylized levels,[56][59] and Playrix's Gardenscapes (2016) involves renovating a garden through successful match-three rounds.[2]

The Bejeweled series consists of two direct sequels and several spin-offs. Development of these entries, according to Kapalka, took years and were focused on improving upon the original formula.[8] Of the direct sequels, Bejeweled 2 released in 2004 to mixed reviews,[60][61] while Bejeweled 3 released in 2010 to positive reviews.[62][63] Of the spin-offs, Bejeweled Twist released in 2008 and Bejeweled Blitz released in 2009 to positive reviews,[64][65][66][67] while Bejeweled Stars released in 2016 to mixed reviews.[68][69] The game series overall has been commercially successful; by 2010, Bejeweled, Bejeweled Twist, and Bejeweled Blitz collectively reached 50 million sales.[70][71] Outside of the franchise, PopCap licensed a version of Bejeweled that can be played in World of Warcraft starting on September 25, 2008,[72] and PopCap's Plants vs. Zombies (2009) contains a mini-game based on Bejeweled, titled "Beghouled".[73]

Notes

  1. ^ The Pocket PC port of Bejeweled was known as Diamond Mine until August 8, 2003.[74]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Walker, John (July 10, 2020). "From Bejeweled To Plants Vs Zombies: How PopCap Got Just About Everyone To Play Their Games". Kotaku. Archived July 11, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Lipscombe, Daniel (August 30, 2019). "The Legacy of Match-Three games – From Bejeweled to Candy Crush". GamesRadar+. Archived September 1, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  3. ^ Goldstein, Hilary (November 1, 2004). "Bejeweled (Xbox Live Arcade)". IGN. Archived December 15, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  4. ^ Bolton, Chris (May 24, 2007). "Bejeweled Review". IGN. Archived December 3, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  5. ^ "Bejeweled® Deluxe Readme". PopCap Games. June 12, 2010. Archived June 12, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  6. ^ Dredge, Stuart (September 28, 2006). "Bejeweled (iPod)". Pocket Gamer. Archived December 8, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  7. ^ "Bejeweled Multiplayer Review". GameSpot. June 17, 2004. Archived March 26, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  8. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (March 3, 2011). "Polishing Bejeweled". GameSpot. Archived October 5, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  9. ^ Vechey, John (November 1, 2010). "Interview: John Vechey on Founding PopCap, Making Bejeweled". PC Gamer. Archived September 18, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  10. ^ Goldberg 2011, pp. 250–251.
  11. ^ Jensen, K. Thor (May 30, 2021). "20 Years Ago, Bejeweled Kicked Off the Age of Casual Gaming". PCMag. Archived August 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  12. ^ Goldberg 2011, p. 251.
  13. ^ Goldberg 2011, p. 252.
  14. ^ Edward, Jim (September 11, 2013). "Bejeweled: The Definitive, Illustrated History Of The Most Underrated Game Ever". Business Insider. Archived April 29, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  15. ^ Smith, Graham (July 16, 2011). "Smart Casual - How PopCap Conquered Casual Gaming". PC Gamer. Archived September 26, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  16. ^ Fiete, Brian & Kapalka, Jason (May 27, 2010). "Ten Years Of PopCap: The Interview". Game Developer. Archived September 21, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  17. ^ Goldberg 2011, p. 254.
  18. ^ "Palm OS Featured Games: Bejeweled Revision History". Astraware. July 30, 2008. Archived May 24, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  19. ^ Goldberg 2011, p. 255.
  20. ^ "Diamond Mine (aka Bejeweled) for Pocket PC is Here!". Astraware. August 26, 2001. Archived February 1, 2002 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  21. ^ "Windows Mobile Featured Games: Bejeweled Revision History". Astraware. July 30, 2008. Archived January 6, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  22. ^ "Bejeweled and Alchemy are Shipping". MacPlay. June 28, 2002. Archived from the original on April 2, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  23. ^ "Sprint PCS announces the launch of Multiplayer Bejeweled on Sprint Vision". DemiVision. May 13, 2003. Archived July 31, 2003 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  24. ^ Bellows, Matthew (June 25, 2003). "Bejeweled Multiplayer". Wireless Gaming Review. Archived from the original on August 16, 2003. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  25. ^ Surette, Tim (November 6, 2004). "Xbox Live Arcade Available Now". GameSpot. Archived June 4, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  26. ^ Buchanan, Levi (September 15, 2006). "iPod Game Review Central". IGN. Archived September 23, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  27. ^ "PopCap Intros Free Bejeweled® Game for iPhone". PopCap Games. July 30, 2007. Archived October 3, 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  28. ^ Carless, Simon (February 14, 2006). "EA Officially Completes Jamdat Acquisition". Game Developer. Archived September 26, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  29. ^ Dredge, Stuart (September 4, 2008). "EA Extends Bejeweled Deal for Mobile". PocketGamer.biz. Archived September 25, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  30. ^ "EA buys PopCap for $750 Million+". GameSpot. July 12, 2011. Archived January 26, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  31. ^ Day, Matt (May 10, 2016). "PopCap Maintains its Bejeweled Vibe under Electronic Arts". Seattle Times. Archived March 21, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  32. ^ Dredge, Stuart (August 10, 2007). "EA Mobile Revamps Bejeweled with Multiplayer Features". Pocket Gamer. Archived June 10, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  33. ^ Buchanan, Levi (June 1, 2007). "Mobile Game of the Month: May 2007". IGN. Archived September 26, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  34. ^ "Handango Announces Global Distribution Deal with Electronic Arts Inc. for Top Game Titles on Smartphones". Handango. August 12, 2008. Archived September 12, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  35. ^ "EA Mobile Launches Major Franchises on BlackBerry App World". Electronic Arts. August 21, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  36. ^ "Bejeweled Deluxe Success Triggers Zone.com Expansion". Microsoft News. July 29, 2002. Archived September 30, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  37. ^ Ward, Mark (March 18, 2008). "Casual Games Make a Serious Impact". BBC News. Archived March 21, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
  38. ^ Manning, David (June 2001). "Addiction du Jour: Bedeviled by Bejeweled". Computer Gaming World. No. 206. p. 30. Retrieved October 30, 2024. – via Internet Archive
  39. ^ "Flipping Out Over Handheld Games: Diamond Mine". Maximum PC. April 2003. p. 51.
  40. ^ "Pocket PC and Palm Games: Bejeweled (Palm OS—But Also Available as Diamond Mine on Pocket PC". Hyper. No. 115. May 2003. p. 30. – via Internet Archive
  41. ^ Buchanan, Levi (September 18, 2006). "Bejeweled for iPod Review". IGN. Archived December 15, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  42. ^ "Game of the Year: Bejeweled". Computer Gaming World. No. 213. April 2002. p. 83. Retrieved October 30, 2024. – via Internet Archive
  43. ^ "Hall of Fame: Bejeweled". Computer Gaming World. No. 251. May 2005. p. 82. Retrieved October 30, 2024. – via Internet Archive
  44. ^ Kyllo, Blaine (December 6, 2010). "A Rare Gem". CBC News. Archived December 15, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  45. ^ "JAMDAT's G-Phoria Win". IGN. August 4, 2004. Archived December 3, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  46. ^ "Games [That] Shaped a Generation: PC - 15. Bejeweled". GamesRadar+. March 30, 2007. Archived November 4, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  47. ^ "Gameswelt Top 100". Gameswelt. July 26, 2012. Archived May 12, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  48. ^ "The 500 Best Games of All Time: 500-401". Polygon. November 27, 2017. Archived November 27, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  49. ^ "The Top 300 Games of All Time". Game Informer. No. 300. April 2018. p. 62.
  50. ^ "The World Video Game Hall of Fame Welcomes 2020 Class". Museum of Play. June 18, 2020. Archived August 3, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  51. ^ "Bejeweled, Minecraft Among Games Inducted into Hall of Fame". Associated Press. June 18, 2020. Archived September 26, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  52. ^ Juuls 2010, p. 27.
  53. ^ Chess 2022, p. 35.
  54. ^ Goldberg 2011, pp. 255–256.
  55. ^ Juuls 2010, p. 100.
  56. ^ Lien, Tracy (February 26, 2014). "From Bejeweled to Candy Crush: Finding the Key to Match-3". Polygon. Archived September 1, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  57. ^ Chess 2022, pp. 34–35.
  58. ^ Moss, Richard (November 6, 2013). "From Warlords to Puzzle Quest: The Journey of a Video Game Pioneer". Polygon. Archived November 7, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  59. ^ Morris, Iwan (July 20, 2023). "Mobile Masterworks: Candy Crush". PocketGamer.biz. Archived July 14, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  60. ^ "PopCap Games Releases Bejeweled 2 Deluxe". PopCap Games. November 15, 2004. Archived November 17, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  61. ^ "Bejeweled 2" (game). bejeweled-2. Archived December 16, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  62. ^ Smith, Quintin (December 8, 2010). "Get Stoned: Bejeweled 3 Released, Demo". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived September 15, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  63. ^ "Bejeweled 3" (game). bejeweled-3. Archived September 28, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  64. ^ Benedetti, Winda (November 7, 2008). "Bejeweled has a Brand-New Twist". NBC News. Archived January 31, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  65. ^ Cavalli, Earnest (January 7, 2009). "PopCap Brings Competitive Bejeweled to Facebook". Wired. Archived September 15, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  66. ^ "Bejeweled Twist" (game). bejeweled-twist. Archived October 29, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  67. ^ "Bejeweled Blitz" (game). bejeweled-blitz. Archived December 7, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  68. ^ Perez, Daniel (May 10, 2016). "Bejeweled Stars Now Available on iOS, Android". Shacknews. Archived September 15, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  69. ^ "Bejeweled Stars" (game). bejeweled-stars. Archived April 10, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  70. ^ Alexander, Leigh (February 9, 2010). "Bejeweled Sales Hit 50 Million". Game Developer. Archived September 26, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  71. ^ Schreier, Jason (July 12, 2011). "EA Snags Bejeweled Creator PopCap in $750M Deal". Wired. Archived September 15, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  72. ^ Cavalli, Ernest (September 19, 2008). "Bejeweled, Warcraft Combine to Form World's Most Addictive Game". Wired. Archived June 16, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  73. ^ Francis, Tom (May 13, 2009). "Plants vs Zombies Review". GamesRadar+. Archived May 28, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  74. ^ "Pocket PC Featured Games: Bejeweled Revision History". Astraware. March 10, 2010. Archived May 10, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 26, 2024.

Sources