Newsbriefs: Relentless Expands, Bejeweled Mothers, WoW Visa

Author: by Staff

[UPDATED: 1:45pm PST] Today's regularly updated newsbriefs include news of an expansion for Buzz! creators Relentless, PopCap Games offering Bejeweled Deluxe for free to help celebrate Mother's Day, and a new World of Warcraft branded Visa credit card. - Developers Relentless Software (Buzz!) have announced a move into new Brighton-based offices as the studio expands to work on yet unannounced PlayStation 3 titles in addition to its current lineup of PlayStation 2 games, including its forthcoming franchise sequel Buzz!: The Mega Quiz. The studio has also said that work continues on its previously announced Buzz!: The Schools Quiz educational title based on Key Stage 2 curriculum, designed for use both in and out of the classroom as a learning tool for 6-11 year olds. Said creative director David Amor, “We intend to be in the new offices for some time to come – we’re looking to expand gradually and build on the reputation we’ve gained for producing innovative and social games.” - With Mother's Day fast approaching, casual game publisher and developer PopCap Games (Bookworm, Zuma) has announced that will give away free copies of its popular casual game Bejeweled Deluxe to all subscribers to The Fizz, PopCap's monthly digital newsletter. Beginning tomorrow and continuing through May 23, 2007, existing and new subscribers to The Fizz will receive an email with a special link and unique registration code for a free copy of the full retail version of Bejeweled Deluxe, which must be redeemed by May 30, 2007. "Moms, grandmothers, and women in general have supported PopCap in many significant ways since we founded the company in 2000," noted Jason Kapalka, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at PopCap. "We wanted to repay that generosity in some fashion, and giving away free copies of the game that launched our success seemed like a fun way to do that." - Independent U.S. publisher Got Game Entertainment has announced that Penumbra: Overture, a first person horror-adventure game developed by Frictional Games, has shipped to retail in North America. The game was previously published in the UK by Lexicon Entertainment, and currently carries an average score of 73% on review aggregate website GameRankings. "As the first game to successfully combine the FPS and adventure genres, Penumbra: Overture blends the best of both worlds" said Got Game president Howard Horowitz. "With action thrills and story chills, this game defines the word 'adventure'." - Officials from Blizzard Entertainment have announced that the company has partnered with First National Bank of Omaha to offer a Visa Rewards credit card based on Blizzard’s phenomenally successful MMORPG World of Warcraft. The card is available in thirteen different designs, including variations representing all ten playable character races, as well as for the Horde and Alliance factions and the World of Warcraft logo. The card also offers users a number of special benefits, including a reward program that allows cardholders to earn World of Warcraft game time. Players earn a reward point for every dollar charged on the card, and they can redeem 1500 points at the World of Warcraft community site for a month of play. Finally, Blizzard and First National Bank are currently offering a promotional free month of World of Warcraft time to cardholders upon their first use of the card. To apply, players can visit the card's official website.