PopCap Games wishes everyone a happy Thanksgiving with the card above. But I have to wonder…is that an Angry Bird they are eating?

We are always looking for ways to keep our minds sharp as we get older, and Bejeweled Blitz may have just joined the ranks of crossword puzzles and Sudoku as tools to help us do that. A recent survey study of more than 10,000 U.S. adults suggests that playing Bejeweled Blitz regularly could enhance mental sharpness and pattern recognition in adults over 50.

This survey, which is the first in a series that takes a rare look at the cognitive benefits of video game playing on adults over 50, focuses on Bejeweled Blitz and the tasks the game sets on the brain, including quick decision making, visual searching, and reaction time. Sharpness in performing other tasks was the benefit seen most often – 47.2% in people over 50. Pattern recognition was reported most in adults over 65, as well as the ability to perform timed tasks more quickly.

The results were presented by PopCap Games and University of Massachusetts Amherst psychology researcher Susan K. Whitbourne, Ph.D. at this year’s American Psychological Association convention in Washington, DC., and were well received by fellow researchers attending. Dr. Walter Boot, director of the Attention and Training Lab of the Department of Psychology at Florida State University, stated “I believe the work Dr. Whitbourne and her colleagues are doing, using Bejeweled Blitz, is both critical and exciting, and that more research like this needs to be done exploring not only the types of games that bring about cognitive benefits, but also the types of games older adults are willing to play and why. The best cognitive aging intervention in the world is useless if older adults aren’t willing and able to engage in it. By investigating attitudes and perceived benefits of video game interventions, this research has the potential to discover game interventions that are both effective and enjoyable.”

It will be interesting to see what comes from the remaining surveys in the series and whether or not any of them spark more research into this potential, such as including new hands on studies with people who haven’t ever played before. But maybe that’s the next step… actually evaluating Bejeweled Blitz’s effectiveness as a tool for cognitive improvement after investigating its potential. Of course, all I really have to say is that I hope Bejeweled Blitz is still around when I am 65 .

It appears that five versions will be available — one each for Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade. No, I have no idea how the last two versions will differ from their respective console’s version. Maybe the downloadable copy will be more bare-bones?

The games are scheduled to ship in Q4 2011.
Of course, we know what comes after this…mobile phone versions. Well, at least I hope so.

GSN.com recently announced it crossed a huge threshold in 2010 with some of its most popular PopCap games. Just last year alone, players were awarded $60 million playing their cash tournament adaptations of PopCap favorites like Bejeweled 2, Zuma and Chuzzle. PopCap fans (and any fans of great games) who want to get in on the fun can head to GSN.com to join in tournaments for real cash prizes.

“At GSN Digital, we strive to be the platform where users can play the titles they know and love,” states Peter Blacklow, EVP, GSN Digital. “Bejeweled 2, Zuma and Chuzzle are three great titles that are extremely popular among our players, and we’re thrilled to provide social competition where players can win real cash prizes.”

GSN Digital also offers cash prize competitions in these popular PopCap titles: Bejeweled Twist™, Bookworm™, Dynomite!™, Mystery P.I.™ and Plants vs. Zombies™.

I will say that GSN.com is where I first found some of my favorite games I still play today, including Dynomite and Zuma. It’s a great way to play against others, for those of us who have a competitive spirit, and a good alternative to other social gaming sites where you only play against people you know. You can play for cash or for fun! Head on over to GSN.com today.

BUY

One of PopCap’s most anticipated releases, and the second true reincarnation of their flagship genre pioneering favorite, Bejeweled 3 had some high expectations to live up to. Of course, I didn’t hop on the Bejeweled train until the Bejeweled Twist station, but it’s been a great ride so far. Bejeweled 3 is chock full of crazy match 3 fun for old Bejeweled pros and newbie Bejeweleders alike.

They went all out with this one in many ways. The background graphics in Bejeweled 3 are gorgeous and beautifully (optionally) animated. I must say that, during game play, I don’t usually pay that much attention to the background, but when I think to look, it is actually quite amazing. The colors and spectacle of each of the special gems also add to the updated feeling of the game. The newer secret games, are seamlessly woven into the bejeweled quilt, but with a flare that is all their own. I am not as fond of the transitions as I was of the transitions in Bejeweled Twist. I think that the thicker black borders around the jewels caught me off guard a little, and take away a little from the feel of the rest of the game.

The sounds of Bejeweled 3 are familiar in more ways than one. During the match 3 gameplay, the sounds of matches and creating and detonating of special gems match that of the latest versions of the game. The secret games have their distinct sounds to things specific to each one, which are appropriate and alert to things like the appearance and release of butterflies, destruction of ice columns, breaking of rocks, collecting gold and treasure, and the presence of skulls. There are also familiar sounds from other games in some of the puzzles which was amusing. And although I love the kudos given by the familiar voice, I have mixed feelings about the background music in general. I can’t really place my finger on it, but it was another of those small things that left a tiny sliver of disappointment.

The actual play of the game is fantastic. Players start out with four basic modes – Classic, Zen, Lightning, and Quest. After playing each of these to start with (classic is a fantastic place to start for those new to Bejeweled), one of four “secret” games will be unlocked. The secret games represent the match 3 plus that warranted a new and revamped Bejeweled, proving that Bejeweled 3 truly has something for every type of gamer.

Playing through 5 levels of Classic mode unlocks Poker. What a brilliant idea. In this secret game, the objective is to make the best poker hand possible with each 5 matches, earning points to keep the skulls at bay, because when a hand is made where a skull lies, a flip of the coin decides if the game continues or not.

Lightning mode, which is a fast paced timed Bejeweled frenzy, unlocks Ice Storm. Ice storm is not a race against the clock like Lightning, but a race against rising columns of ice, which in some ways is more exciting. Making Marches through the columns knocks them down a little, but making vertical matches within a column destroys the column completely (for a short time). Leveling up multipliers has the added benefit of creating a tropical breeze that lowers every existing ice column. The goal is to prevent the ice from reaching the top and completely freezing over. This one is a great cool rush.

Zen mode in Bejeweled 3 has seriously evolved into a truly individualized relaxing/motivational experience. From optional soothing sounds of nature, to positive mantras, to steady breathing (my personal favorite and possibly the most beneficial) to brain training tones, take any or take all, and drive life’s stresses into the ground with no pressure of time or fear of running out of moves. And once the 5th level of nirvana is reached in zen mode, it’s time to release the Butterflies secret game. Each match makes the butterflies climb higher and higher toward the waiting spider’s grasp. To keep this one going, players must release the butterflies before they reach the spider. Matching them sets them free, but it gets tricky because it changes the available matches each time they move.

Quest mode offers a journey of increasingly difficult challenges that provide a nice variety of strategies to uncover hidden treasures. Playing the secret games first will make the challenges in Quest mode easier because a lot of the quests are based on the secret games. And once the quest is complete, it’s time to start busting some rocks in the diamond mine. Diamond Mine offers a surprisingly exhilarating expedition to collect as much cash and treasures by matching to break out the ground. The ground must be completely below a marked level to level up and add some time to the clock, but clearing all the way to the bottom adds even more! For me, I think the continuous explosive sounds and competitive feel of this secret game make it the most addictive.

With something for anyone in any mood, Bejeweled 3 is just bursting at the seams with brilliant continuous entertainment to lose yourself in for a weekend every day. Replayability is extremely high on this one. With social gaming making its stamp on the casual games space, the pressure is on for developers to create something with enough novelty, accessibility, and versatility to pull us away from Facebook. Mission accomplished. This is a must have for anyone who appreciates a solid good sparkly time.

Review copy of Bejeweled 3 provided by PopCap Games and did not affect the outcome of this review.

Bejeweled 3 adds twice as many game modes to the simple match-3 gameplay, as well as updated sound and graphics (in high definition, of course – what other way is there to go?). The game also boasts 65 achievements (which don’t appear to be connected to your Steam account, if that’s how you’re choosing to go about buying the game) and high score lists. The game itself also has a few twists from the first two titles, including a “Quest” mode, where you seek out five lost relics by playing with multiple gameplay variants.

The four new game modes featured in Bejeweled 3 are:

- Butterflies: Match the butterfly gems to free them before they ascend the board. If they flutter all the way to the top, the spider wins!
- Poker: Make matches to create poker hands, with better hands scoring more points. Avoid “outlawed” hands as the game progresses, or only a lucky flip of the coin can save you.
- Diamond Mine: Delve deep beneath the earth by exploding gems to tunnel downward. Unearth gold, artifacts and Hypercubes to score big!
- Ice Storm: Hold back the rising ice floe in this chilling, speed-based variation. Match gems quickly to keep columns of frost at bay.

Bejeweled 3 is available at multiple retail outlets as well as online at MSN Games, Pogo.com, Steam, GameHouse and WildTangent.

This has been an interesting year for Casual Games. Here is a selection of gifts for the casual gamer on your list.

Facebook Credits – There has been a shift in Casual Gaming toward social gaming and just about every company has a representation of a game on Facebook. Most of these games are playable for free, but can be greatly enhanced with paid goods or services. Facebook credits are available in a variety of denominations from $10 to $50 and can be purchased at participating Target, WalMart, Gamestop, and Best Buy stores, and are available online through Target or WalMart. You can also use the store locator on Facebook.com to find the closest retailer near you and help spruce up your friend’s farm in Farmville, add some extra sparkle to your Mom’s Bejeweled Blitz, or add some blood to your boyfriend’s Vampire Wars bank account.

Bejeweled 3 - PopCap is releasing the newest incarnation of its flagship superstar on December 7th online and in retail stores for a suggested retail price of $19.95. With this latest version of quite possibly the world’s most popular match 3, it seems as though they have taken a bit of the best from every manifestation of Bejeweled, combining the smoothed out multi move classic game-play with gorgeous HD graphics, scenic backgrounds, an elaborate soundtrack, and added some new and powerful gems, secret games, mini games, and achievements. So far, there aren’t preorder options, but sign up at PopCap.com to get a reminder when the game, good for gamers of all ages, is finally available!

Nancy Drew Collectors Edition Fan Favorites - Her interactive has just released a brand new collection of their most popular Nancy Drew games as voted on by fans of the series: Treasure in a Royal Tower, The Secret of Shadow Ranch, and Curse of Blackmoor Manor. The keepsake tin features cover artwork from all three games and also includes a specially designed journal complete with original, never-before-seen game concept sketches and pages for keeping track of clues. This collection is a must have for every Nancy Drew fan on your list. This collection is available exclusively from HerInteractive.com for $49.99 and is a good choice for young adult and adult Nancy fans.

Plants vs Zombies Game of the Year Edition - I recommended this game last year, but with the new Limited Edition it’s bigger and better than before. In case this one somehow has still slipped through the cracks for your favorite gamer, it should be tops on the list! Still one of my favorites and a game that I can’t stop playing, PopCap‘s Plants vs. Zombies Game of the Year Edition offers more than just a chance for gamers of nearly all ages, to defend their brains against the onslaught of hungry zombies by harvesting the power of the sun and propagating the perfect plant platoon in the day or night, on the front lawn, the pool in the back, on the roof, and in the fog. This newly expanded version comes complete with the interactive Zombatar, in which players can make their own zombies and watch them come to life on the lawn. This game is now even more crazy hilarious fun no one should have to go without – especially during the holidays! Available online from Amazon.com.

Club Pogo Membership - For the non-Facebook online gamers on your list, you might consider gifting a membership to Pogo.com’s premium service: Club Pogo. I also recommended this idea last year and STILL believe it’s a great gift for both social and online gamers on your list – even for the most casual of casual gamers. If the badge collection, double jackpots, and virtual pet aren’t enough, access to a multitude additional games and the absence of ads and intermissions is definitely worth the $5.99 a month. Club Pogo is a great way to give gamers opportunity to find some new favorites as well as play some of the best Pogo originals and downloadables from other top companies.  This would be appropriate for older teens and adults due to the possibility of uncensored chat in some game rooms.   Available from Pogo.com.
Twisted Lands: Shadow Town - This hidden object puzzle adventure from Alawar Games takes players through a dark and creepy adventure to help a man find his missing wife after they crashed on a mysterious deserted island. Twisted Lands: Shadow Town, the first game in a new saga that will explore the emotion of fear. It’s not scary but it has a very sort of psychological horror very similar to old Lovecraft novels where something is off but you can’t put your finger on what.  Read Cherith’s review of Twisted Lands: Shadow Town on GamingAngels.  This is intended to be creepy and would only be appropriate for older teens and adults.  Available online from Alawar Games for just $6.99.

Okay so that’s a letter and a number, but it’s true. It’s coming. Bejeweled 3 will be the first real sequel to PopCap’s Flagship genre-pioneering superstar Bejeweled in over 6 years. Not that there hasn’t been anything newly Bejeweled since then with Bejeweled Twist and the many incarnations of Bejeweled Blitz still holding a place on many a Bejeweleder’s monitor screen. I would imagine there to be a lot of pressure to reach farther should PopCap put forth a new installment of the original.

“The challenge in creating a new version of Bejeweled is to innovate and keep it fresh and exciting without losing touch with the game-play that millions of people love. So we’re very careful when we make changes to the core game, which is why it can take so long!” said Jason Kapalka, co-founder and chief creative officer at PopCap and co-creator of Bejeweled. “We’ve worked hard to make sure Bejeweled 3 retains the classic appeal of the earlier games while bringing a host of exciting new features to the table.”

So what are these exciting new features, exactly?

Well, it seems as though they have taken a bit of the best from every manifestation of Bejeweled, combining the smoothed out multi move classic game-play with gorgeous HD graphics, scenic backgrounds, an elaborate soundtrack, and added some new and powerful gems, secret games, mini games, and achievements to track your personal Bejeweled quest.

“Casual video games have been popular going back to the 1980s, but the introduction of Bejeweled 10 years ago launched an entire industry,” explained David Cole, founder and president of DFC Intelligence, the oldest research firm focused entirely on the video game market. “No other casual game comes close to the success of Bejeweled in terms of popularity and influence. PopCap has been able to keep the franchise strong for 10 years because they have focused on quality and innovation and have not flooded the market with dozens of sequels. I fully expect Bejeweled 3 to not only be a big success in its own right, but also ensure the Bejeweled brand continues to grow in popularity over its next decade on the market.”

Here’s a sneak peek! Enjoy!

Bejeweled 3 is set to launch December 7th on PopCap.com and other international game portals, as well as at North American retail stores for a suggested retail price of $19.95.

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Microsoft has Launched a whole new side of Bing dedicated to entertainment. Part of the new Bing Entertainment experience is the easiest way to play our favorite games, play them online, play them for free, and enjoy the social aspect of challenging our friends on Facebook with one click! This comes in the form of the Play Now option when simply searching for favorite games on Bing (or, of course looking through the catalog under the games tab in the Bing Entertainment section).

Games on Bing offers nearly 100 of the most beloved word, puzzle, action, casino, match 3, time management, and arcade style games for online play. Online playing offers a host of benefits, including quick and easy access, saving space and loading time on your computer, cost effectiveness, and the ability to challenge friends through Facebook.

I was introduced to Games on Bing at Casual Connect. I must say it’s a smart move by Microsoft to encourage gamers to use Bing as their main search engine. But, I love the fact that (as soon as more people catch wind of this and start playing this way) we can turn many games we already play into social games to bring in the competitive aspect that seems to be taking over the industry.

Bing Entertainment also includes everything music, movies, TV, and other video games. Check it out. And let me know if your favorite game is now on Bing!

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An ongoing study out of East Carolina University’s psychophysiology lab has released information regarding the relationship between playing casual games, such as PopCap’s Bejeweled and Peggle, and improvement in both cognitive response time and executive cognitive function (doing things faster and getting them right).

The study group consists of adults over the age of 50 and focuses on the short term cognitive abilities measured by both electroencephalography (EEG) and parts A and B of the standardized Trail Making Test™, a timed neurological test that incorporates numbers and/or letters in a ‘connect the dots’ format.

Compared to the control group, those who played 30 minute sessions of either Bejeweled or Peggle showed significant improvements in both areas (87% in cognitive response time and 215% in executive function).

“The initial results of the study are very intriguing, in that they suggest that the ‘active participation’ required while playing a casual video game like Bejeweled provides an opportunity for mental exercise that more passive activities, like watching television, do not,” said Russoniello. “Future applications could include prescriptive applications using casual video games to potentially stave off Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-type disorders.”

What’s interesting to me is that, according to the University, these results are similar to those associated with other types of cognitive interventions such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and cognitive remediation therapy. Now I don’t know about you, but a round of Peggle sounds much more intriguing to me than cognitive remediation therapy, but perhaps a combination of therapy and games could have a more synergistic effect.

“Video games with more complex rules and controls, and more sophisticated or detailed imagery — so-called ‘hardcore’ video games — might provide similar cognitive benefits for many people,” said Russoniello. “But those games take significantly longer to learn to play and appeal to a considerably narrower subset of the overall population, especially older consumers. In our experience, ‘casual’ video games are ideal both in terms of their accessibility and ease of understanding and because they appeal to nearly everyone.”

The study is still underway and should finish sometime later this year. More than 40 participants have been included thus far, with dozens more to be tested before the study is done. So far the results are positive. So I say – keep gaming, people, but stay balanced and mindful – that seems to be the key idea to take away here.