10 years, 50 million units, and 7.5 billion logged hours later, PopCap Games today announced, as reported, the immediate release of Bejeweled 3. If you found the previous iterations of the game addictive, avoid the gaming aisle at your local Best Buy, because the latest version—the first sequel in more than six years—delivers high-res graphics, a new soundtrack, and twice the gaming modes. There goes my afternoon.
The worldwide leader in casual gaming revved the graphics of its flagship product to 1900 x 1200 in ultra mode and included a new soundtrack to the countless hours you'll spend rearranging gems. With twice the game modes of Bejeweled 2, there's a mode for every gamer. Fans of Classic gain a Star gem, whereas a new Lightning mode will electrify Bejeweled Blitzers. For more tranquil sprits, a limitless Zen mode aims to distract you from your Yoga class with options for meditation, stress relief, and breath modulation. Four new modes will take you from fluttering Butterflies to tunneling gems in Diamond Mine. There's even a Poker mode where you'll match poker hands and dodge "outlawed" hands.
Not unlike a certain coffee shop, the Seattle-based gaming company makes it easy for you to get your fix. Bejeweled 3 is available now at PopCap.com, MSN Games, Pogo.com, Steam, GameHouse and WildTangent. If you're looking for a stocking stuffer, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, GameStop, and Amazon.com have it for a suggested retail price of $19.95.