PopCap, Square Enix team up for puzzling RPG: Gyromancer

Square Enix announced Gyromancer for Xbox LIVE Arcade and Steam today. Gyromancer is a new puzzle-RPG developed in collaboration between Square Enix and PopCap. The game promises a blend of puzzle elements from the PopCap Games puzzle hit Bejeweled Twist and the RPG acumen of Square Enix, Gyromancer is an all-new experience that hopes to redefine the puzzle-RPG genre. Of course Puzzle Quest currently holds that distinction.

In the game players assume the role of a summoner named Rivel, ventures through the enchanted Aldemona Wood. Each stage contains its own set of objectives, from defeating beasts that block the player’s way, to solving puzzles before time runs out. Rivel can learn to summon dozens of the creatures he encounters, and commanding them in battle. Hidden within each stage are a number of rewards earned for completing certain tasks, though finding them all won’t be easy.

The game’s battle system is based on the popular puzzle game Bejeweled Twist and offers 50 monsters to summon, hidden objects to be found, and an online ranking system.

A release date is to be determined.

Plants vs. Zombies heading to other platforms

PopCap Games’ Garth Chouteau recently told Kombo.com in an interview that bringing its ultra popular Plants vs. Zombies games to other platforms is basically a no-brainer. Currently the game is available for Windows and Mac, but if PopCap has its way it will bring the game to other platforms. By other platforms we assume that he means consoles like the PS3 and Xbox 360 via various digital distribution methods. The game would even be a good fit on the Wii.

One thing that Chouteau did say is that he doesn’t see the game making it to mobile platforms. That’s a shame because a mobile version of the game in the current market would be like sugar coating heroin with opium. Of course, most people would simply play the iPhone version, which is a given. You can read the rest of that interview here.

EA, Activision Dominate Jan. PC Charts

NPD Group retail numbers are in for January 2008, and while we don’t have a head count for the number of units sold, it appears that Activision and Electronic Arts continue to dominate the top twenty in North America. Activision had 9 of the top twenty games in January with various The Sims 2 and Spore products, Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 - and Left 4 Dead which it distributes for Valve Software.

Activision had six titles on January’s charts including a number of World of Warcraft products, Call Of Duty: World At War and the StarCraft Battle Chest.

Bethesda’s Fallout 3 managed to break in to the top ten, and Take-Two’s Civilization IV landed at number twelve. the rest of the top twenty was comprised of budget titles like PopCap’s Bejeweled Twist, Masque Publishing’s IGT Slots: Little Green Men, and Phantom EFX’s Reel Deal Slots BlackBeard’s Revenge. Full list after the jump

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