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Peggle

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Peggle
Peggle Screenshot
Peggle
Developer(s)PopCap Games
Publisher(s)PopCap Games
Designer(s)Brian Rothstein, Eric Tams and Sukhbir Sidhu
EnginePopCap Games Framework
Platform(s)Windows, Mac OS X, iPod, Xbox 360 (XBLA),
ReleasePC: 1.0 (February 27, 2007) PC: 1.01 (February 19, 2008)
iPod: December 18, 2007
Xbox 360: Q3 2008[1]
Nintendo DS: Winter 2008[2]
Genre(s)Arcade
Mode(s)Single player / Multiplayer

Peggle is a Mac, Windows and iPod downloadable game from PopCap Games. Each level of Peggle features a colorful 2D background filled with different colored "pegs". The objective in each level is to clear all of the orange pegs by hitting them with a ball shot from the top of the screen.

On August 23, 2007, MSNBC named Peggle as one of the "Top 5 most addictive computer games of all time."[3] PC Gamer Magazine (UK) published its own list of their 100 favorite computer games of all time and listed Peggle at 40.[4]

On January 8, 2008, the ESRB revealed the game was heading to the Xbox 360, for Xbox Live Arcade.[5] The game was confirmed by Shacknews and due in the 3rd quarter of 2008.[1] On February 7, 2008 it was also claimed that the game would be making its way to the Nintendo DS[6] although PopCap issued a statement denying that a DS version was in the works.[7] It was later announced on July 24, 2008 that a Nintendo DS version was being developed by Q Entertainment for a Winter 2008 release.[2]

Peggle shares its name with a relatively rare 1991 arcade game; the object of that game is to rotate the entire playing field to keep a bouncing character in play, who bounces off and removes the pegs.[8]

Game modes

  • Adventure - The objective of the game is to complete 55 stages by removing all orange pegs on each stage.
  • Quick Play - Players can free select any of the 55 stages that they have completed in Adventure.
  • Duel - Players compete head to head against a computer or human opponent.
  • Challenge - There are 75 challenges with a variety of difficulty levels. These challenges range from very easy to very difficult.

In addition, there are three ranks to achieve, each accompanied by a trophy:

  • Peggle Master - After completing Adventure Mode the player is declared a Peggle Master.
  • Peggle Grandmaster - On completion of all 75 challenges the player receives the rank of Peggle Grandmaster.
  • Extreme Grandmaster - This rank is received when the player manages to clear all the pegs (not just the orange ones) in all of the levels which can be done through the Quick Play mode.

Game characters

Peggle offers 10 different playable characters each with their own special power-up that one can use by hitting green-colored pegs.

  • Bjorn - Powerup: Superguide - Creates a guide showing part of the shot's trajectory.
  • Jimmy Lightning - Powerup: Multiball - Spawns another ball when activated.
  • Kat Tut - Powerup: Pyramid - Widens the free ball bucket by attaching a primitive pyramid around it.
  • Splork - Powerup: Space Blast - Lights up all pegs in a certain radius.
  • Claude - Powerup: Flippers - Causes lobster claw shaped pinball flipper to appear on either side of the screen—the player can "click" to remit the ball away from the bottom of the screen.
  • Renfield - Powerup: Spooky Ball - When activated, the ball appears again at the top of the screen after falling through the bottom.
  • Tula - Powerup: Flower Power - Lights up 1/5 of the orange pegs remaining in the stage.
  • Warren - Powerup: Lucky Spin - Randomly activates either Triple Score, Magic Hat (attaches a hat to the top of the ball, which can also light up pegs), Extra Ball or a random powerup from the other characters.
  • Lord Cinderbottom - Powerup: Fireball - Replaces the ball with a fireball that can go through and eliminate all pegs in its path.
  • Master Hu - Powerup: Zen Ball - Tweaks one shot (up to 500%) to optimize scoring.

Gameplay

The game requires strategy to bounce the ball off pegs and other obstacles to clear as much of the orange pegs in the level as possible with the given number of balls. Scrolling across the bottom of the screen is the "free ball bucket" which awards the player an extra ball should the previous shot go in.

Besides the orange pegs, the game's levels have blue pegs (which have no effect other than increasing the score), purple pegs (which are worth 50 times the amount of the blue pegs), and green pegs (which activate a power-up based on the character the player has selected).

There is an option for those who are color blind which adds a triangle to the green pegs and a plus to the purple pegs to make them easier to distinguish.

Scoring

Scoring points in Peggle is done in three ways: firstly by simply hitting the pegs, secondly through bonuses referred to as "Style Points" which are awarded in addition to the points accumulated for hitting pegs, and thirdly in the form of completion bonuses once a level or challenge is completed.

Peg Scoring

Points are awarded for each peg that is hit during a single ball shot, starting at 10pts for a blue peg and 100pts for an orange peg. The point total awarded for each ball is calculated by multiplying the quantity of pegs hit by the tally of points for each peg hit. Cumulative progress during a single shot is indicated using the "Ball-o-meter" on the left hand side of the screen which lights up in blue/green, purple and yellow as the points total rises beyond 25,000, 75,000 and 125,000 points respectively. A free ball is awarded as each milestone is passed. As the level progresses, the "fever-meter" on the right hand side of the screen gradually fills up and this increases the points value of each peg by a factor of 2, 3, 5 or 10. The purple peg usually provides a point bonus equivalent to 5 times the value of an orange peg, although this can increase in some circumstances.

Green pegs can affect the peg scoring process when the character-based power-up results in the ability to hit additional pegs, such as "Renfield" when the cumulative total remains as the ball drops down the screen for the second (or possibly third) time.

Style points are earned for specific acts during a ball shot and these are added to the peg score after each ball shot is completed. There are many different style points opportunities, some common to all characters and some character specific.

Completion Bonus

When the player completes a level, the ball falls into one of five bonus slots at the bottom of the screen. These slots normally offer 10,000, 50,000 and 100,000 points. Clearing all of the pegs in a level causes all of the slots to offer 100,000 points. Additional bonuses are tallied as well, such as the "Cool Clear" bonus and 10,000 points for each unused ball. These bonuses are summed together in a "Fever Bonus", which is then added to the player's total score for the level.

Saving a green peg for the last shot that clears the board significantly increases the player's Fever Bonus.

Easter Egg

There is an "easter egg" that can be revealed by playing Ode to Joy by mousing over the buttons on the main menu in the correct order.

Peggle Extreme

As part of the Windows version of The Orange Box, PopCap Games has released a The Orange Box-themed shortened version of Peggle named Peggle Extreme. The game contains 10 levels that are not contained within the Peggle full version, and that only allow access to the Bjorn unicorn character and his special power. All levels feature Valve games in some way, combining game character voices and some special features with initial peg layouts that reflect a background image that is related to the featured game. There are three Half-Life 2-themed levels, three Team Fortress 2-themed levels, one Counter-Strike-themed level and three Portal-themed levels. Peggle Extreme also includes five master challenges.[9] Peggle Extreme was also included as a part of the Portal: First Slice offer.

Peggle Nights

On September 16, 2008, PopCap released a sequel called Peggle Nights.[1]

Awards

  • Top 100 Video Games of All Time (#40)
  • PC Gamer Magazine (UK)(2007) 5 Most Addictive Video Games of All Time
  • MSNBC.com (2007) Casual Game of The Year
  • Salt Lake Tribune (2007) Top Ten Video Games of 2007 (#8)
  • Joystiq.com - Top Ten Video Games of 2007
  • Games For Windows Magazine (3/08) Downloadable Game of the Year Finalist
  • Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences - Overall Game of the Year
  • Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (2007) Best Downloadable Game of 2007
  • JayisGames.com - Finalist, Most Innovative Game of the Year
  • GDC Awards (2007) Finalist, Best Downloadable Game of the Year
  • GDC Awards (2007) Finalist, Best Handheld Game of the Year
  • GDC Awards (2007) Runner-up, Puzzle Game of the Year
  • PC Gamer Magazine (2007) Alternate Award
  • British Gaming Blog (2008)

References

  1. ^ a b Peggle XBLA Confirmed, ESRB Rates Other Unannounced Games (Updated)
  2. ^ a b Peggle: Rez, Lumines Dev Bringing Peggle To DS
  3. ^ "Top 5 most addictive games". MSNBC. 2007-08-23. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
  4. ^ PC Feature: PC Gamer's Top 100: 50-01 - PC Gamer Magazine
  5. ^ Rumor: Peggle, Bliss Island and UBAM to XBLA
  6. ^ Peggle On The Way To DS
  7. ^ IGN: PopCap Denies Peggle DS
  8. ^ "Screenshots of 1991 Peggle arcade game". system16.com. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
  9. ^ "Peggle Extreme in Steam". Steampowered.com. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
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