Peggle is a series of casual puzzle video games created by PopCap Games. The series currently consists for four main titles and two (official but non-canon) spin-offs.
Premise
The player is a newly enrolled student in the Peggle Institute, where they will learn the art of Peggling and put their skills to test through stunning levels and breathtaking challenges. But they're not alone in the adventure — headmaster Bjorn and other whimsical teachers — will assist the player with their magical powers!
Gameplay
Each Peggle level features an arrangement of approximately one hundred “pegs”, positioned to correspond with the level's background picture, inside of three walls on the top and sides (leaving the bottom opened), along with other fixed and moving features.
The goal of each level is to clear the board of the twenty-five random pegs that are turned orange at the start of the level, by using a ball launcher located at the top center of the screen to strike one or more of the pegs. Pegs light up when hit, and once the ball either falls through the bottom of the screen or is caught by the ball catcher (bucket) that moves back and forth along the bottom in a fixed manner, the pegs will be removed. Struck pegs are also removed if the ball is stuck on them.
Peggle Masters — characters with unique special abilities — assist the player through the game. Their “magic power” is activated when the player strikes one of the two randomly selected green pegs on the board.
Normally, the player begins each level with ten balls, but may earn more by either landing the ball in the bucket, or by earning high scores on single shots. In Peggle Blast, though, the number of balls depends on the level.
Click here to see a detailed list of game mechanics.
Development
Click here to read PopCap's article about how Peggle was conceived.
Games
Peggle Deluxe
Peggle Deluxe is the first installment of the Peggle franchise. It was released worldwide February 27, 2007, for PC, and was later ported to Mac, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and other platforms. According to PopCap, it has been downloaded more than 50 million times.
With the aid of 10 Peggle Masters, players face 55 levels on themed stages that fit each Master's background and personality, plus 75 fun challenges that might push the player's skills to their limits.
Peggle Nights is the second installment of the Peggle franchise. It was released worldwide September 16, 2008, for PC, and was later ported to Mac, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
This time, all the Peggle Masters from the previous game return to assist the players on an oneiric trip in 60 brand new levels on themed stages that fit each Master's dream, and 60 new daring challenges. A new master appears as well, engaged on a personal journey to make her dreams come true!
Peggle 2 is the third installment of the Peggle franchise despite its name. In production since 2012, Peggle 2 was announced during the E3 2013 press conference and also as a timed exclusive for the Xbox One.
The player now goes on a new adventure, facing 60 new levels and 60 new trials. They meet several new masters with breathtaking powers and fun costumes who will assist them in the journey! Additionally, masters Jimmy and Windy can be acquired as DLC, bringing 20 more levels and 20 more trials.
Peggle Blast is currently the latest installment in the Peggle franchise. It was developed by PopCap Games and published by Electronic Arts, and released worldwide December 2, 2014, for iOS and Android.
Several new masters are introduced, such as Batrina, Roxy and Kablooey, and only four masters from previous games — Bjorn, Jimmy, Warren and Tula — return. So far, there are 208 levels.
The game's core mechanics were designed to make it work as a freemium mobile game, with paid power-ups, a life system and considerably harder levels.
The monthly American magazine Wired awarded Peggle Nights as the #4 PC Game of 2008.[1] Peggle was nominated for the 2007 Game Developers Choice Awards for “Best Downloadable Game”, “Best Handheld Game” (for the iPod port), and “Innovation” awards.[2] The game was also nominated as the “Best Downloadable Game” for the 2007 Interactive Achievement Awards by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.[3] The Peggle franchise has won awards for its rich orchestral music and dynamic composition.[4]
Peggle appeared as #40 on the 2007 PC Gamer Magazine (UK) list of their 100 favorite computer games of all time;[5] and is considered by some critics to be an addictive game, with Forbes noting that it entices the user to play “just a few more minutes”.[6][7]
PopCap funded a study at East Carolina University which found that Peggle players experienced a “45% decrease in depression” in individuals under the age of 25.[8] Rock Paper Shotgun interpreted the same study more imaginatively, reporting: “Peggle was clear champ, improving the total ‘mood’ by 573% across all study subjects”.[9] Peggle, along with other PopCap games, were also found to help children with ADHD improve their attention span and memory recall, in a survey done by Information Solutions Group on behalf of PopCap.[10]
