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Although rumors to the effect were floating about for a while, and subsequently quashed by the company, Popcap has officially announced a DS version of Peggle, their well-received casual title that's a sales hit and a critical darling.
The new portable version is being developed in conjunction with Q Entertainment, the makers of Rez and Lumines, and is due out this Winter. Priced at $29.95, the touch-enhanced version will include new levels and features that aren't available in the existing Mac, PC, and iPod versions of the game.
The full press release is after the jump.
PopCap’s Mega-Hit Peggle™ Coming to Nintendo DS® This Winter
Q Entertainment Tapped to Adapt Top Casual Game of 2007for Nintendo’s Market-Leading Handheld
SEATTLE, Washington – July 25, 2008 — PopCap Games Inc., the leading
developer and publisher of casual video games, today announced that
later this year the company’s mega-hit game Peggle™ will be available
for Nintendo DS®. During his keynote presentation at CGA Seattle
yesterday, PopCap CEO David Roberts provided an early glimpse of the DS
version of Peggle, which is expected to hit North American retail
shelves in Winter 2008 and carry an MSRP of US$29.95. In bringing
Peggle to the world’s most popular handheld gaming device, PopCap has
partnered with Q Entertainment, the acclaimed Japanese development
studio. Q Entertainment is already underway with the adaptation of
Peggle, and will be adding features unique to the DS version that are
not available in the existing PC, Mac or iPod versions of the game.
“I have a great deal of respect for Q Entertainment as one of the
industry’s preeminent game developers, with a proven reputation for
creativity and innovation,” stated Greg Canessa, PopCap’s vice
president of video game platforms. “Q is a great choice to partner with
us – they share many of PopCap’s design and creative philosophies and
are equally big believers in quality and attention to detail. These
factors, combined with Q’s impressive track record of success on DS and
PSP, make this a natural fit. I’m confident that Q will create an
experience with Peggle for DS that will both satisfy existing fans of
the game and attract a new audience of on-the-go gamers who appreciate
the DS for its one-of-a-kind display format and other unique
capabilities.”
Q Entertainment’s best-selling franchises include Lumines (for PSP,
PS2, XBLA, PC, mobile), Meteos (Nintendo DS), and Rez HD (XBLA). “We at
Q Entertainment are honored to be working with PopCap and view this as
a fun, exciting challenge – taking a very popular casual game and
bringing it to a more hardcore audience on the DS,” stated Shuji
Utsumi, Q’s co-founder and chief executive officer. “PopCap’s games are
simple but addictive, and Peggle demonstrates that even a simple game
can be extremely deep. We’ve always incorporated casual game elements
into our console and handheld games, and now we have an opportunity to
bring our gaming sensibilities and expertise to the DS version of
Peggle, and make a very novel ‘cross-over’ game for all ages.”
Precise details of the forthcoming DS version of Peggle are not yet
available, but the game is expected to feature more levels than any
existing version of the game – including DS-exclusive levels – and will
also offer re-mastered input controls and a wealth of surprise
additions sure to please die-hard fans and novice players alike.
About Q Entertainment, Inc.
Formed in 2003, Tokyo-based Q Entertainment, Inc. creates, produces, and consults in
digital entertainment content across multiple game consoles, PC
broadband and mobile units. The company is best known for its
critically acclaimed music and luminary action puzzle game series
Lumines, which was released worldwide for PSP in 2004/2005 and has
since become a hit on mobile, Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation 2. Q
Entertainment’s impressive line-up also includes the action puzzle
title Meteos and the fantasy action title Ninety-Nine Nights. Founded
by principal game creator and Chief Creative Officer Tetsuya Mizuguchi
and industry veteran and Chief Executive Officer Shuji Utsumi (Sony
Computer Entertainment America, Sega, Disney), Q Entertainment is
composed of experienced designers, programmers, and producers. Q
Entertainment collaborates with other creators, artists and development
studios in Japan and overseas. More information can be found on the
Internet at www.qentertainment.com.
About PopCap
PopCap Games (www.popcap.com) is the leading multi-platform provider
of “casual games” — fun, easy-to-learn, captivating computer games that
appeal to everyone from age 6 to 106. Based in Seattle, Washington,
PopCap was founded in 2000 and has a worldwide staff of over 200 people
in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin and
Shanghai. Its games have been downloaded more than 1 billion times by
consumers worldwide, and its flagship title, Bejeweled®, has sold more
than 10 million units across all platforms. Constantly acclaimed by
consumers and critics, PopCap’s games are played on the Web, desktop
computers, myriad mobile devices (cell phones, smartphones, PDAs,
Pocket PCs, iPod and more), popular game consoles (including Xbox 360,
PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS), and in-flight entertainment systems.
PopCap is the only casual games developer with leading market share
across all major sales channels, including Web portals, retail stores,
mobile operators and developers, and game device manufacturers.
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