Welcome to a new feature on the BlogRide wherein I have the pleasure of sharing some of my favorite questions we’ve received over the years here at PopCap. As you can probably guess, in recent years, they’ve been as zombie-filled as an episode of Walking Dead, but I’d like to take us back a ways, to a time when I was asked to help a little girl get back to her once-favorite game that had suddenly become traumatic to her… a game called Chuzzle.

Her mother explained that the girl had been happily playing Chuzzle for quite some time, but then she started looking more objectively at the cute, fuzzy creatures on the screen and what seemed to be happening to them when she made matches. The girl realized that she appeared to be killing cute fuzzy creatures and collecting their eyeballs in a jar. She was, understandably, horrified.

I was impressed, as I hadn’t given it that much thought myself… it’s a game, and I’m a grown-up, and they’re Chuzzles, not kittens. But it’s one of those things that once it’s pointed out, it’s kind of in your head. So I put some thought into it as I played the game again, this time with an eye toward explaining the events of the game in a way that might help a child sleep at night. And here’s what I came up with:

Yes, I really didn't think about the eyeballs until this was pointed out to me. Man, adults are jaded, simple-minded creatures at times.

The grid on which you find the Chuzzles is a prison. These cute, fuzzy creatures are being imprisoned by an evil overlord who hates all things adorable (like Gargamel or Sauron).  When you match Chuzzles, you are reuniting them with their comrades and giving them the strength to escape, because these are magical creatures, but they’re so small that they can only muster the energy for teleportation (that’s what makes the “popping” sound!) when they are in a group of three or more.

And the eyeballs? Those aren’t their eyeballs at all! Those are contact lenses they need to protect their eyes, because the atmosphere is highly toxic in the alternate dimension where the prison is located. Once they return to their home dimension, they won’t need protective lenses anymore. What you’re collecting in the jar are mementos of your good deeds, when you freed a bunch of helpless little Chuzzles from their captor and sent them home to their families.

I hope this story helps anyone out there who ever worried about the fate of Chuzzles.

And if you have one of your own to share, add them in the comments section. Because, at least for today, we love haiku!

Jeff

Blue chuzzles in flight
I just popped you and you’re gone
Are you home, or dead?

Julie

Stressful solitaire
The countdown is bugging me
Cannot think clearly

A.J.

Chuzzle, chuzzle, chuz
zle, chuzzle, chuzzle, chuzzle,
chuzzle, chuzzle, chuz

Curtis

My dearest Bonnie:
Your heart, an open bookstore;
Mine, an e-reader.

Dana

Prehistoric eggs
Looming, steadily encroach.
Quick! Whirley’s coming!

Philip

What are you doing
With all the c-clamps I find
Hidden Object game?

Don’t know any Zen Gardeners? Maybe it’s time you met one. There’s a Zen Gardener hidden inside all of us. Don’t believe me? Well, just play one of these games and you’ll radiate calm!

Bejeweled 3 for PC and Mac

Let your inner wisdom be your guide while you match sparkling gems in Zen mode. There’s no pressure or time limit here. You can create your own relaxing retreat with awesome audio-visual effects to help modulate your breathing and rejuvenate your spirit. You can even choose ambient sounds, positive affirmations, and binaural beats to accompany you on your journey.

Will you walk with me, Grasshopper?

Mahjong Escape: Ancient China for PC

Unlock ancient Chinese wisdom as you match gold tiles in Classic Mahjong solitaire. This is truly a Zen paradise. Soothe your senses with relaxing music, beautiful scenery and hand-painted backgrounds as you travel through time. This is a perfect game for parents and grandparents.

Chuzzle for PC and Mac

Even Zen Gardeners need to release their inner silly. There’s just no better way to soothe frayed nerves and restore balance than playing with these cute, googly-eyed furballs. In Zen mode, you won’t find any puzzle locks or timers to stress out about. You’ll soon float away in Chuzzle bliss as you walk the path to Chuzzlightenment.

Ommmm….

Just remember: With the holidays fast-approaching, we all need to cultivate a little inner peace! So have fun and come back next week for more Gift Guides.

Well if 12 years of parochial school taught me anything it’s, “Do what you’re told!” So in the spirit of randomness (and to honor the legacy of Sister Catherine Sullivan) I decided to wander the halls of PopCap Games and try to pay attention to the many random things that I pass every day and take for granted.

Hiya, boys!

None of these people is celebrating a birthday today. I guess if they keep these up long enough, they will be correct again.

Where chuzzles come from. Or, to keep my copy editor happy, from where chuzzles come.

Not sure what that thing on the right is, but I’m pretty sure it could win a prize in any steampunk costume contest.

Somewhere, Gene Krupa* weeps.

*According to Wikipedia, Gene Krupa was an influential jazz drummer who was born on Neptune and lived to be 137 years old. Note: some of that may not be true.

Oh, for a disc-drive large enough…

GAH! What the-?

“They also serve who only stand and wait.”