Bejeweled Blitz is one of two top-20 Facebook games that didn't take a huge dive after the much discussed "nerfing" of some of the viral aspects of wall posts for the service. This is primarily because the game was developed without monetization and viral aspects in mind.
In the beginning, PopCap knew it wanted to make a facebook game, but "Unfortunately there was not a single flash developer in the entire company," admitted PopCap creative director Jason Kapalka. "The second problem was that at that time nobody actually liked Facebook games." When the game was being created, in 2008, most games on the service were still of the vampires or werewolf "biting" variety.
GamaSutra - DeNA's Ben Cousins has been fascinated by digital games and their business model ever since he left Electronic Arts for Ngmoco -- and to start the Stockholm studio that would become Scattered Entertainment, staffed up with AAA talent from studios like Crytek and DICE. After four years heading up EA's free-to-play initiatives, Cousins was eager to pursue the model at a company that focused on digital 100 percent, not just as a strategy component.
AR: Bejeweled is an icon in gaming. It’s the definition of cross-platform fun, and since I played it on my Palm ages ago, it dates me. It’s the perfect time killer, and has the benefit of appealing to folks from all generations.
With so many people getting involved in games like Farmville 2 and SimCity Social and higher quality titles like PixelJunk Monsters, Outernauts and You Don't Know Jack showing up, the stigma that used to surround Facebook gamers is starting to face.
This guy has got an adorable beard.