PopCap Games hits the jackpot after producing hit games like Bejeweled and Plants vs Zombies among many others.

Copied + Pasted from Techcrunch or you can check out the Press Release from EA:

EA has acquired PopCap Games. The acquisition price is $650 million plus $100 million stock and a multi-year earn-out. The total acquisition price is as much as $1.3 billion.

PopCap Games is the company behind such hits as Plants vs Zombies, Zuma and Bejeweled. PopCap games have been installed 150 million times worldwide. Last year, approximately 80% of PopCap’s revenue was on digital platforms.

EA CEO John Riccitiello said in a release: “PopCap’s great studio talent and powerful IP add to EA’s momentum and accelerate our drive towards a $1 billion digital business. EA’s global studio and publishing network will help PopCap rapidly expand their business to more digital devices, more countries, and more channels.”

In terms of the earnout structure, PopCap sellers are entitled to additional cash bonus upon the achievement of certain non-GAAP earnings before interest and tax through December 2013. If the two-year cumulative earnings are $91 million or less, PopCap sellers won’t receive anything. If the earnings are $110 million, sellers will receive a total of $100 million. With $200 million in earnings, sellers get $275 million. And if earnings come in at $343 million or more, sellers get a whopping $550 million in earnout, making the total acquisition price $1.3 billion. EA says that it will also provide up to $50 million in long-term equity retention awards to PopCap employees to be granted over the next four years.

A $1 billion plus acquisition price is huge for any company, let alone EA. But clearly EA wants PopCap badly. The acquisition will help the gaming giant break into mobile and social gaming — areas where the company hasn’t done nearly as well as it has in the console arena.

Electronic Arts has many successful franchises that cater to casual users (including The Sims), but many of its popular properties appeal to the hardcore crowd. PopCap could be a away to compete with social, casual gaming companies like Zynga, Rovio and others.

Press Release: EA to Acquire PopCap Games
Source: EA Buys PopCap Games For As Much As $1.3B

Bought Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds from GameScore at Funan. It was released in the US on the 15th February 2011 but the Japan/Asia version is out only today. Europe will be tomorrow, 18th February 2011. I got it for SGD$52.20 after member’s discount (Thanks Benjamin)!

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Press Release:

Singapore – December 3rd, 2010 – Hoist the sails and set your compasses for North: Uncharted Waters Online, the historical massively multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG), officially launched today.

Distributed by Netmarble, the game portal from CJ Internet, a global entertainment company dedicated to enriching people’s live through fun, social and massive online gaming, and developed by TECMO KOEI GAMES, Uncharted Waters Online has now debuted in Singapore, as well as North America and Europe, along with an exciting new gameplay trailer.

“Uncharted Waters Online celebrates the explorer in all of us,” said Takeda Tomokazu, producer, TECMO KOEI GAMES. “We invite players to set forth on the stormy sea and set sail for the pages of history. Whether battling pirates or becoming a master of trade, this online adventure will inspire players to chart their own course through the game and beyond.”

Set between the Fifteenth- and Seventeenth-centuries, Uncharted Waters Online players will have the chance to conquer hundreds of neutral cities to ensure that their nation becomes the world’s leading power. Sailors can choose to fly the flag of one of six nations: England, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal or Venice, buying or building ships to ready for battle, trade routes or exploration of new worlds. Featuring nearly endless lands to visit, thousands of artifacts to discover and more than 75 professions and 100 skills to master, Uncharted Waters Online offers ample game play for hardcore and casual players alike.

During a recent global in-game event stimulating the first voyage of Christopher Columbus, participating players entered into a lucky draw with a cruise ticket worth USD$4,000 to a destination of their choice as the Grand Prize. CJ Internet is very proud to announce that the winner of this Grand Prize is a Singaporean who will be presented with his Grand Prize during the official launch event of Uncharted Waters Online in Singapore!

To mark UWO’s launch in Singapore, a number of marketing initiatives will take place, including a street/viral campaign in December. Additionally, from now until the 31st of January 2011, every Singaporean player who registers for a new Uncharted Waters OnlineTM account will go into a lucky draw and stand a chance to win a Lenovo G460 notebook!

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Official Site: Uncharted Waters Online
Companies: Tecmo Koei | Netmarble | CJ Internet

Ordered my Starcraft 2 – Wings Of Liberty – Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com on the 17th July 2010 and it arrived at my door step on 29th July 2010, only 1 day after the official launch.

When I first heard that Starcraft 2 is going to retail for SGD$109 and from IAH Games, I immediately cancel my pre-order from The Software Boutique because paying SGD$109 for a normal edition is not really worth it. So I went to check Amazon for the Collector’s Edition, but unfortunately it was sold out. I placed the item on my Amazon alert list so that once the item is available again, Amazon will email me. I received that email on the 17th July 2010 and immediately ordered it alongside with a few of Li Xiang’s book on my wish list.

I ordered:

• Sagmeister: Made You Look Book – USD$26.40
• Absolute Appeal : Direct Mail Design – USD$50.62
• Norpro Egg Rite Egg Timer – USD$4.99
• Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty Collector’s Edition – USD$99.99
• Shipping & Handling – USD$53.95
• Total: USD$235.90 (SGD$320.78)

I am not very sure how much does the shipping of Starcraft 2 cost. If the game is USD$99.99 means it is only SGD$135.96 excluding shipping. I think it is more worth it to get the collector’s edition than the normal edition. The only downside is that you cannot play on South East Asia (SEA) servers, you can only play on US servers. But I am fine with it as I don’t foresee myself playing much online. Most likely is just the campaign and skirmish.

Here is what the collector’s edition come with (copy + pasted from Amazon)

• Game Disc
• The Art of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, a 176-page book featuring artwork from the game
• An exclusive 2GB USB flash drive replica of Jim Raynor’s dog tag, which comes preloaded with the original StarCraft and the StarCraft: Brood War expansion set
• A behind-the-scenes DVD containing over an hour of developer interviews, cinematics with director’s commentary, and more
• The official StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty soundtrack CD, containing 14 epic tracks from the game along with exclusive bonus tracks
• StarCraft comic book issue #0, a prequel to the comic series
• A World of Warcraft mini Thor in-game pet that can be applied to all World of Warcraft characters on a single Battle.net account
• Exclusive Battle.net downloadable content, including special portraits for your Battle.net profile, decals to customize your units in-game, and a visually unique version of the terran Thor unit
• 2x Starcraft 2 Guest Pass & 2x World of Worldcraft Guest Pass

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• Kinect and “Kinect Adventures” game: SGD$229
• New Xbox 360 (4GB) with Kinect and “Kinect Adventures” game: SGD$469
• New Xbox 360 (4GB): SGD$339
• Each Kinect games: SGD$59.90
• Available Date: End of August 2010

Press Release
SINGAPORE, July 20, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. today announced an all-in-one opportunity to jump into the controller-free fun of Kinect this holiday: the all-new Xbox 360 4GB console, the revolutionary Kinect sensor and “Kinect Adventures” packaged together for a suggested retail price of S$469.

With “Kinect Adventures,” players will make their way through 20 adventures, navigating roaring rapids and ducking and dodging through mountaintop obstacle courses and other exotic locations — no controller, wand or balance board required.

In addition, existing Xbox 360 console owners can purchase the Kinect sensor with “Kinect Adventures” for a suggested retail price of S$229.

The sensor, which will work with each of the 40 million Xbox 360 consoles currently in households worldwide, is uniquely able to track your full body movements, to deliver a multiplayer experience right out of the box.

In addition, the new Xbox 360 4GB console, which will be available by the end of August in Singapore, will be available for a suggested retail price of S$339. With a sleek new design, the Xbox 360 4GB console looks great and includes built-in Wi-Fi N, 4GB of internal flash memory, touch-sensitive buttons and a black matte finish.*

“Kinect for Xbox 360 offers tremendous entertainment value for the whole family,” said Erik Ford, Senior Regional Marketing Manager, SEA Xbox 360. “With full body and multiplayer play right out of the box, Kinect is the most unique, complete and affordable way for everyone to enjoy controller-free fun and entertainment.”

In addition, Kinect games, including “Kinectimals,” “Kinect Sports,” “Kinect Joy Ride” and MTV Games’ and Harmonix’s “Dance Central”, will retail for a suggested retail price of S$59.90.

Website: Xbox Singapore