PopCap killing off Baking Life, not offering refunds or exchanges for customers’ money
Are you one of the 100,000 daily users who enjoy creating recipes, baking goods, hiring your friends, and serving customers each day?
Probably not, but that’s not the point. PopCap are closing down Baking Life at the end of January, and any “Zip Cash” bought with real-life money will be erased from existence.
I’ve never baked a virtual cake via the Baking Life app, but that PopCap aren’t offering any exchange or refund option sets an ugly precedent for the value of microtransactions and gamer’s rights. As pointed out in the screenshot below, PopCap seem keen to redirect players to alternative Facebook titles, but don’t seem so keen on converting player’s funds.
PopCap release Plants vs. Zombies Christmas single called “Wabby Wabbo.” No, really
PopCap are going head to head with the X-Factor this Christmas. Crazy Dave aka. Cray-Z is the talent behind Wabby Wabbo. It’s available to buy through iTunes now. Purchases registered between December 18 and December 24 will count towards Wabby Wabbo’s Christmas chart rankings. PopCap mention that “approximately 55p of each 79p purchase” will go to the Concern Worldwide charity.
PopCap point out that Wabby Wabbo “is believed to be the first hip-hop single ever released to feature a yodelling solo by a Yeti zombie.” It may also be the first hip-hop single ever released to contain just five real words (“heeey, gonna eat your braains”), and is probably the first to be performed by an animated character wearing a saucepan on his head. The official music video is above, which means you’ve probably heard it by now. What do you think?
EA in charge of your PopCap info from January. Wall-nut and Warren seem happy
EA are going to be in charge of your PopCap -related info from January 2, 2012. The Peggle/Plants Vs Zombies/Bejewelled-creating developers were recently bought by EA for $750 million.
You’ll need to accept EA’s terms and conditions by that date or you’ll lose access to any PopCap currency you might have lingering in your account. That would be sad.
It’s not my choice of image up there – that’s how PopCap chose to illustrate the news. The entire PopCap family appear to be delighted with the changes. But they always look happy. Suspiciously happy.
Read on for the full terms and conditions.
Dev Man Talking: PopCap’s Jeff Green on the little things in game development
Each Month, Dev Man Talking invites a prominent developer to share their thoughts on a particular aspect of the games industry they’re passionate about. This month Jeff Green, PopCap’s Director of Editorial and Social Media, explains how tiny mistakes can massively change the course of game development and how great developers know what their game is and isn’t. Want more Green? He can be found ranting on Twitter as @Greenspeak.
Smart Casual – How PopCap conquered casual gaming
Following the news that PopCap has been purchased by EA. We’ve decided to bring you a feature on the mammoth casual games developer that originally ran in PC Gamer UK issue 220.
Sitting on the floor of Benaroya Hall in Seattle, I’m depressed as hell. I’ve come to the Casual Connect Conference 2010 to hear the makers of casual and social games share their ideas, but in three days of lectures I haven’t heard a single idea about games.
Instead they’re talking about how designers don’t matter. They’re talking about how psychological tricks can turn their audience into zombies. They’re talking about how to use metrics to better monetise your mum. This isn’t just the industry’s business men and women talking, either; these are the people who actually make the games. At a point in history when a new and huge mainstream audience is trying computer games for the first time, our ambassadors aren’t interested in talking about how to make something fun.
PopCap bought by EA for $750 million. Zombies “happy to serve”
The rumour pipes have been full of talk of a $1 billion deal between EA and PopCap for a few weeks. Now The Guardian report that EA are indeed buying PopCap, for a mere $750 million.
PopCap CEO David Roberts told the Guardian that a change in EA’s culture was one of the reasons they decided to sell to the publisher. “We picked EA because they have recast their culture around making great digital games,” he said. “By working with EA, we’ll scale our games and services to deliver more social, mobile, casual fun to an even bigger, global audience.”
PopCap for sale? EA rumoured to be making a $1 billion offer
There are strong rumours flying around suggesting that EA are in the late stages of negotiating a deal to buy up PopCap for a massive ONE BILLION dollars. Edge picked up a report from TechCrunch, who have been approached by two unnamed sources who say that Electronic Arts are about to spend 13% of its stock market value to buy up the casual games developer.
PopCap launch new indie label for “edgier” games
PopCap have announced the launch of 4th & Battery, a new experimental indie label for “smaller, simpler and sometimes edgier games.” The label will be dedicated to releasing experimental PC, Facebook and iPhone games that are free of the long development times of PopCap’s highly polished major titles like Plants vs. Zombies. The new label will also feature games for more mature audiences. The co-founder and CCO of PopCap, Jason Kapalka tells us to “expect weirdness.”
Popcap’s “PlayWave” will let you “Play while you eat”
Popcap Games have developed a microwave that includes a touchscreen and Wi-fi connection. The device will enable gamers to play some of Popcap’s classic games while they cook.
Read on for the details.
Bejeweled 3 demo released
A couple of days ago Bejeweled 3 launched, at a quiet tea party in a London living room. Now there’s a 60 minute trial available, so you can check out the glitzy match 3 puzzler without having to throw any money at it. The hour long trial is about 59 minutes more than is needed to get completely hooked on the game. It’s available now on the PopCap site. The game’s available to buy now from PopCap, Direct2Drive and Steam for $20 / £15.
Confessions of a Zuma Blitz obsessive
Right now, I should be writing about my terrible addiction to Zuma Blitz. Realistically, an article like this should take me no time at all. But it’s taken me four long hours to confess to you the depth of my obsession. Why? Because every time I write a sentence, I’m drawn back to my web browser and before I know it, I’ve clicked ‘Play Again’. ‘Research’, I mumble, over the sweet sound of plinking. Research into a basic colour-matching game that I’ve already sunk 30 hours into.
Bejeweled 3 is out, PopCap throw living room launch party
World of Warcraft players will be celebrating the release of Cataclysm tonight with an international series of glamorous midnight launch parties. PopCap have taken a cosier approach, hosting the Bejeweled 3 launch party in somebody’s front room, with a fine selection of tea and biscuits.
Massive PopCap sale, all games half price
PopCap are holding a Thanksgiving winter sale, with all of their games selling for half price. That means a chance to scoop Plants vs Zombies, Peggle and Bejeweled 2 for almost $10 each.
The sale is set to run until November 29th over on the PopCap site. For an insight into inception and development of these games check out our interviews with George Fan on the making of Plants vs. Zombies, and Jason Kapalka on the inception on development of PopCap’s most addictive opus, Peggle.
Yeah, we did just call Peggle an opus. Eat it, unicorn haters.
Video: our readers’ best Peggle shots
Last weekend we ran a competition to send in a replay of your best shot in a Peggle game, with a large bounty of Peggle swag for our favourite. We’ve watched all the shots, recorded our favourites and made them into a quick highlights video. Overall winner after the clip.
The best gardens from our Plants vs Zombies swag giveaway
Over the weekend we ran a competition to take a screenshot of the coolest Plants vs Zombies garden you’d made, Zen or otherwise, with a massive haul of PvZ swag for the winner. Here are the best gardens we got, starting with the overall winner.
