On the surface, Fortix 2 seems all too simple. You draw lines to box in areas of the playing field, much like the arcade classic Qix. With a simple concept, it’s all about the execution. With Fortix 2, Nemesys Games executed their simple line drawing concept in such a way that had me totally addicted.

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East Carolina University’s Psychophysiology Lab and Biofeedback Clinic revealed the results of their year long study into the effects of playing casual games. Researchers found that playing games like Bejeweled can actually decrease levels of depression by 57%, as well as improvements in all aspects of mood.

Dr. Carmen Russoniello, Director of the Psychophysiology Lab and Biofeedback Clinic at ECU and the professor who oversaw the study says, “In my opinion the findings support the possibility of using prescribed casual video games for treating depression and anxiety as an adjunct to, or perhaps even a replacement for, standard therapies including medication.”
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I’m not going to lie. Most of the time I spend playing games on my iPod Touch is when I’m either bored waiting in a line somewhere or on the can. This doesn’t so much reflect poorly on the quality of games on the platform as it does on me as a consumer.

On rare occasion, a game for my beloved music/audiobook/podcast machine will come out that is so addictive I actually choose to play it on my couch under “normal” gaming conditions.

Game Dev Story is such a game.

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They say the first step towards recovery is admitting you have a problem. Well I am an addict. I am addicted to the Facebook game Word Challenge. Even as I write these words I am rearranging the letters in my head as fast as possible to form other words.

Word Challenge is as simple as can be. There are literally dozens of games that you can find all over the internet or your fancy pants phone that are variations on the same anagram theme.

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When I was perusing the intertron tubes I came across a mention of a game that revolved around unlocking achievements. I clicked on the link so fast my quad core processor groaned in protest.

For those of you that don’t know me, I have been in treatment for months now for my Xbox Live achievement addiction. Everyday is a struggle but the key is taking it one day at a time. But when a game comes out that is based entirely around unlocking achievements, it is virtually impossible for me to resist.

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The big budget triple A games can be fantastic. They have huge teams backing them, allowing for the use of the latest and greatest tech. Graphics are slick and always pushing to look better than everyone else. Plus, you know everybody who’s anybody is going to be talking about them in your circle of gaming friends/podcasts/blogs/forums.

Often when I sit down to play one, I will end up spending several hours in front of my TV or computer working my way through it. Sometimes, this can lead to a strange mental block right before I get started. Since I know I will inevitably spend a lot of time playing one of these games once I start, it can be a little intimidating.

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After surviving the giant traffic jam that is Seattle, I arrive at the Triple Door, ready to get my Bejeweled on. I’ve been practicing at home and I can almost get to about half of my wife’s high score, so confidence is high as I wait for the tourney to start.

I stretch out and do mental wind sprints to prepare my mind and my brain for some jewel matching frenzy.

I am wearing a suit in order to intimidate my opponents. They pretend not to notice or care, but I can tell that they are secretly terrified.

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I’m sure you’ve already heard the Puzzle Quest games described as “Bejewelled with hit points”. It is a pretty base statement, but not entirely untrue. Puzzle Quest 2 continues the tradition of adding role playing elements to a match-3 puzzle game, but this newest version does a few things that make it more enjoyable than its predecessors.

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Mention Plants vs. Zombies to someone who hasn’t played it and they’ll look at you like you’re a little crazy. Like maybe you need to up your Lithium dosage a couple milligrams.

Mention Plants vs. Zombies to someone that has played it and they’ll look up at you with a big smile. They’ll then spend the next five minutes gushing about the game and how much they enjoyed it.

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At this point, Bejeweled has managed to seep itself into the collective gaming subconsciousness. Everyone and their mother has played some form of Bejeweled. The simple match 3 formula  is unbelievably addictive. The game has been downloaded some 150 million times.

For those of you that look to Bejeweled to mellow out after a long day, Bejeweled Blitz is not for you. This is a frantic race for a high score.

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