PopCap Games has announced that Bookworm is now available for the Nintendo DS at retail outlets for $19.95.

“Bookworm has set the gold standard in word games, boasting over 100 million downloads to date across a variety of platforms,” said Ed Allard, vice president of strategic development at PopCap. “With the Nintendo DS version, we’ve pulled out all the stops to give players even more deep content and specialized features than ever before. These include a Multiplayer mode for the first time ever in the popular Bookworm series that allows users to go head-to-head using one or two cartridges, as well as a library building system that provides exciting new game action for both old and new Bookworm players.”

In Bookworm, players link letter tiles to build words. In the DS version there are three different game modes and an additional multiplayer mode.

PopCap Games announced today the availability of Bookworm from DSiWare – Downloadable content for the Nintendo DSi. This version of bookworm takes advantage of the unique capabilities and the dual screen action of the DSi, allowing for a vertical escapade through Classic Mode. So, for those of us who have been saving up DSi points for something substantial and cool, here it is, along with a hint of more PopCap titles to come…

“We’re leading our foray into the DSiWare market with Bookworm – a game loaded with deep, classic gameplay action that we believe raises the bar for what should be offered in Nintendo’s online store,” said Ed Allard, vice president of strategic development at PopCap. “We’re bringing quality, value and tremendous fun in this downloadable adaptation of Bookworm that’s sure to provide many hours of enjoyment and challenge to DS players everywhere.”

Bookworm is available for download now at the DSi Shop for 500 DSi Points (about $5 US).

“We’re bringing serious innovation to Bookworm and Bejeweled Twist – two of our most important game franchises – to deliver unique features and cool new multiplayer capabilities that have been specifically designed for the Nintendo systems,” said Ed Allard, vice president of strategic development at PopCap. “This Fall, Nintendo DSi Shop will give consumers an immediate jolt of high quality fun and value with titles that feature more great gameplay content than any other downloadable titles available on this platform. We’re following them up with enhanced and expanded, must-have retail versions for the DS that are the most full-featured installments of Bookworm and Bejeweled Twist we’ve ever created.”

PopCap Games treads into the DSiWare market with to of their most popular titles starting later this month. Bookworm will make its debut in the DSi shop by month’s end, followed by Bejeweled Twist in mid October. This is the first time that Bejeweled Twist will appear on any video game console – just a year after it’s launch. The DSiWare versions of these games, which will take advantage of some of the DSi unique capabilities, will be followed this winter by the DS cartridge versions (Bookworm will be available in December and Bejeweled Twist early next year).

According to the press release,
The DSiWare version of Bookworm includes the complete Classic mode and has been specifically tuned for dual-screen, vertical use. The DS version offers all of the content that has made Bookworm so popular as well as entirely new gameplay not available anywhere else, including the multiplayer Bookworm Battle mode, 20 all-new Collectible Books, the ability to construct a library based on your game progress, and the all-new “Lex-Ray” – a fun new way for the game’s hero, “Lex,” to measure and track your growing spelling and vocabulary prowess.

Bejeweled Twist now features the ability to challenge and play other gamers over an ad-hoc wireless connection. Playing on either the DS, or on the Nintendo DSi system, this is the first game to allow for interoperable multiplayer gaming between these two platforms.

Bejeweled Twist for DSiWare features the addicting gameplay of Classic and Multiplayer modes, offering infinite replayability. Bejeweled Twist DS is a full-featured version containing even more gameplay action, including three additional game modes: Zen (for a quick stress-busting experience), Blitz (for past-paced action to challenge even the most hardcore players) and Challenge (featuring infinite action and multiple levels of difficulty).