PopCap
A casual game studio known for Bejeweled, Bookworm and Peggle.
Where PopCap comes up1 episode or test
PopCap revived the shareware model for casual puzzle games like Bejeweled, Bookworm and Peggle, helping the genre return after zero entries in 2002. Free first slice, paid rest, let small teams skip publishers and retail shelves. Lesson: watch for new distribution channels that can revive a dead category, and let players try before they pay.
- 1Give first levels freeSame move id Software made with Wolfenstein 3D
- 2Players try itNo publisher or retail shelf needed
- 3Fans who like it payPlayers who liked it sent money
- 4They get the restRest of the game sold to them
From PopCap page: shareware model from id Software
What was said about PopCap
PopCap revived the shareware model of a free first slice for casual puzzle games. PopCap gave casual puzzle games like Bejeweled, Bookworm and Peggle the same treatment id Software gave Wolfenstein 3D: free first levels, with the rest sold to players who liked it.
id Software hosted the first few levels of Wolfenstein 3D free on its FTP server, and players who liked it sent money and got the rest by post. This route let small teams start without publishers or retail shelf space.
New cheap distribution channels helped puzzle games return after zero entries in 2002. The puzzle genre had no games in the top 200 list for 2002. PopCap's shareware approach, then Xbox Live Arcade, the App Store, Google Play and Steam, let small teams sell cheap games directly.
Puzzle went from zero games in 2002 to Bejeweled, Angry Birds, Candy Crush Saga and indie hits, and is now trending upwards. The lesson for builders is to watch for new distribution channels that can revive a seemingly dead category.
The History of Every Video Game Genre
PopCap revived the shareware model for casual puzzle games like Bejeweled, Bookworm and Peggle. That helped puzzle games come back after zero entries in 2002.
PopCap revived the shareware model of a free first slice for casual puzzle games. PopCap gave casual puzzle games like Bejeweled, Bookworm and Peggle the same treatment id Software gave Wolfenstein 3D: free first levels, with the rest sold to players who liked it.
id Software hosted the first few levels of Wolfenstein 3D free on its FTP server, and players who liked it sent money and got the rest by post. This route let small teams start without publishers or retail shelf space.
New cheap distribution channels helped puzzle games return after zero entries in 2002. The puzzle genre had no games in the top 200 list for 2002. PopCap's shareware approach, then Xbox Live Arcade, the App Store, Google Play and Steam, let small teams sell cheap games directly.
Puzzle went from zero games in 2002 to Bejeweled, Angry Birds, Candy Crush Saga and indie hits, and is now trending upwards. The lesson for builders is to watch for new distribution channels that can revive a seemingly dead category.
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