Bejeweled Breaks 25m Sold

The little game that could, aka Bejeweled, was/is a phenomenon that nearly single-handedly brought office workers, non-traditional gamers, my grandmother, and most people with an internet connection, into the gaming fold. Just how many people you ask?

PopCap, the publisher, just announced that sales of Bejeweled has just crossed the 25 million mark across all platforms (online, mobile, etc, etc) since it was released in the year 2000. Yeah, 25 million, that’s a lot….but guess how many hours have been spent playing it…6 billion. That, says their press release, is the equivalent of 60 people playing the game 24/7 since “the last Ice Age 11,400 years ago.” Not bad for what began as a little browser game to kill some time. It wasn’t always so rosy however; PopCap CCO Jason Kapalka remembers:

“Considering we tried to sell Bejeweled outright to more than one industry giant back in the early days of our company, and got no takers even after reducing our asking price to $60,000, this little game has done all right for itself. I vividly recall prospective buyers telling us ‘It’s not even a game,’ while showing us the door,”

I bet those prospective buyers are kicking themselves. The casual games market has exploded, with games like Bejeweled and Cooking Mama leading the field. Their quick play nature and uncomplicated interface make them ideal for busy lifestyles and novice players, but their popularity spans al levels of gaming experience.

Image courtesy of PopCap Games