Bejeweled | |
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Developer(s) | PopCap Games |
Publisher(s) |
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Designer(s) | Jason Kapalka |
Programmer(s) | Brian Fiete |
Series | Bejeweled |
Platform(s) | Browser, Windows, Palm OS, Mac OS X, Pocket PC, Java ME, BREW, Windows Mobile, Xbox, iOS, BlackBerry OS, Symbian |
Release | 2000 |
Genre(s) | Puzzle, match-three |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Bejeweled is a 2000 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, with chain reactions potentially following. The game was inspired by a similar browser game titled Colors Game discovered by the PopCap team in 2000, at the time consisting of John Vechey, Brian Fiete, and Jason Kapalka. Originally titled Diamond Mine and released in 2000 as a browser game on the team's official website, Bejeweled was later licensed to be hosted on MSN Gaming Zone under its current name. PopCap later released a retail version titled Bejeweled Deluxe. Bejeweled has since been ported to many platforms, particularly mobile platforms.
Bejeweled has been commercially successful, having sold over 10 million copies and downloaded more than 150 million times, and is credited with launching the casual games industry, which grew to be worth $3 billion within a decade. In particular, Bejeweled is credited for popularizing match-three video games, with such games often being considered Bejeweled clones. The game was followed by several sequels and spin-offs.