PopCap launches Bookworm Adventures 2 in downloadable bits

2:20 PM on 07.30.2009   |   Colette Bennett

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PopCap officially launches the next chapter in the Bookworm series Bookworm Adventures 2 today, and it follows most of the usual signature goodness we expect from PopCap: reasonable pricing ($19.95), clever humor, and possessing the capability to inspire a level of addiction that usually only alcohol can command. Interesting to note, however, if that the release of this game also marks a new way of buying the game in little chunks if you prefer to spend a bit less.

Starting August 19th, you can purchase the three individual chapters of Bookworm Adventures 2 as episodic content: "Fractured Fairytales", "The Monkey King" and "Astounding Planet". Pricing has not been announced yet, but for those of you that prefer a taste rather than the whole sandwich (or those of you trying to save a few dollars), this may offer a worthwhile alternative to buying the game straight out. Of course, you can always still play the free trial and spend nothing at all.

The game launches for the PC only today, but I heard a rumor that Bookworm Adventures titles may be coming to other platforms soon. Wonder if that's true?

PopCap Launches Bookworm™ Adventures Volume 2

Sequel to 2007 Hit Word Game Unearths All-New Books in the Continuing Adventures of Lex the Bookworm

SEATTLE, Washington – July 30, 2009 — PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual games, today announced the immediate availability of Bookworm™ Adventures Volume 2 (BWA 2) for the PC. The sequel to the 2007 original takes players into three new literary landscapes with a bevy of new features and lexical challenges. Initially available on PopCap.com, STEAM and iWin, BWA 2 will carry a list price of US$19.95 for the full, three-book deluxe edition. Beginning on August 19, individual books of the game will become available on PopCap.com. The three books, “Fractured Fairytales,” “The Monkey King” and “Astounding Planet,” each offer a complete story and 10-chapter adventure in which players once again take on the role of Lex the intrepid Bookworm to right wrongs and defeat evil-doers through superlative spelling and use of the game’s many new and existing role-playing game elements.

“Bookworm Adventures Volume 2 is the long-awaited sequel to one of the world’s most popular word games,” said Ben Rotholtz, VP of Marketing at PopCap, “and in this new collection we’re delivering dozens of hours of entertainment to delight even the most seasoned vocabulary aficionados.”

In the Bookworm Adventures series, players take on the role of Lex the Bookworm, leading him through a series of books involving fictional characters which Lex must overcome by forming words from an ever-changing set of letter tiles. Making longer and more complex words gives Lex greater fighting prowess, while special “gem” letter tiles offer a range of power-up effects of their own. Various potions and treasures give Lex added power, defense, health, and dozens of other persistent or one-time abilities. In the new sequel, wild card “rainbow” tiles, 20 new treasures and zany literary “companions” –  including Mother Goose, the Cheshire Cat and author H.G. Wells – all provide players with even more powers and abilities. Three new mini-games augment those from the original BWA, offering a total of six different “side quest” activities to earn additional potions and power-ups.

New Features in Bookworm Adventures Volume 2 include:

    * 3 all-new books of ten chapters each: “Fractured Fairytales,” “The Monkey King” and “Astounding Planet”!
    * All-new infinite Replay mode! Pick a book, fight foes and score big points!
    * 6 mini-games, including all-new “Mutant Words,” “Golden Coins” and “Word Up”! (Each book contains two mini-games)
    * Battle more than 130 ferocious new foes while wielding over 20 terrific new treasures! (Each book contains approximately 40-45 new enemies and seven treasures)
    * Companions! Literary figures join Lex and battle by his side! (two per book)
    * Rainbow Tiles! New potent wild card tiles allow you to build the gigantic words of your dreams!
    * Arena mode! Spell quickly to defeat your toughest enemies!
    * Achievements – earn trophies, points and badges!

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 220 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 25 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 (such as Xbox and 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 phones and MP3 players, and game device manufacturers.