Casual Games Scientifically Proven to Relieve Stress

DUBLIN, Ireland and GREENVILLE, North Carolina, April 28 /PRNewswire/ --

- University Study Confirms Positive Health Benefits Of Casual Gaming

East Carolina University reveals the results of a 6-month
randomized, controlled study that confirms positive health benefits of
so-called "casual" video games. The family-friendly puzzle / word games used
in the study - Bejeweled 2, Peggle and Bookworm Adventures - are made by
PopCap Games, whose customer surveys last year indicated similar casual
gaming benefits. Additional study data, including detailed charts, can be
found at http://www.ecu.edu/biofeedback.

ECU's study yielded significant findings and identified
potential therapeutic applications of casual games as a means of addressing
serious mental and physical disorders. The study will be published in a
peer-reviewed journal and full results will be presented at the Games For
Health Conference by Dr. Caremen Russoniello, associate professor and
director of the Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Center at ECU. He says:

"I've conducted many clinical studies in the area of recreational therapy
in the past, but this was the first one seeking to determine the potential
therapeutic value of video games. The results of this study are impressive
and intriguing, given the extent of the effects of the games on subjects'
stress levels and overall mood. When coupled with the very high degree of
confidence we have in those results based on the methodology and technologies
used, I believe there is a wide range of therapeutic applications of casual
games in mood-related disorders such as depression and in stress-related
disorders including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Granted, this study
was a first step and much more needs to be done before video games can be
prescribed to treat medical conditions. However, these exciting results
confirm anecdotal evidence that people are playing casual video games to
improve their mood and decrease their stress, and herald casual games'
potential in health promotion, disease prevention, and treatment of stress-
and mood-related disorders."

Bejeweled 2 was found to reduce stress activity by 54%
compared to the control group. Peggle and Bookworm Adventures did not reduce
subjects' physical stress levels significantly but did affect psychological
tension, depression and other aspects of mood, in some cases dramatically
(see below).

Mood was measured in six different categories (broken out
below). Cumulatively, these categories are called "total mood disturbance," -
a decrease in total mood disturbance being a positive change in mood. Peggle
had the greatest affect, improving mood by 573% across all study subjects -
with Bejeweled 2 at 435% and Bookworm Adventures at 303%.

1. Psychological Tension

Peggle had the greatest affect, with study subjects who played
that game averaging a 66% reduction in psychological tension.

2. Anger

Bejeweled 2 and Peggle were shown to reduce anger by 65% and
63% respectively. Among female subjects, Peggle produced the greatest anger
reduction (86%) while men experienced the greatest reduction of anger while
playing Bejeweled 2 (63%).

3. Depression

All three games had similar affects on depression, reducing
depressions levels by 45% (Peggle), 43% (Bookworm Adventures) and 37%
(Bejeweled 2). Dr. Russoniello says:

"If these games can reduce depression this significantly among
a population of people who are not diagnosed with depression, the potential
for positively affecting the mental state of someone who is in fact depressed
is very significant."

4. Vigor

Bejeweled increased Vigor by an average of 210% among subjects
who played that game.

5. Fatigue

Peggle reduced fatigue by an average of 61% among subjects who
played that game.

6. Confusion

Subjects playing Peggle saw confusion drop by an average of
486%, while those playing Bookworm Adventures (462%) and Bejeweled 2 (426%)
also experienced sizable reductions.

Study Methodology

The study was conducted between October 2007 and April 2008
and included a total of 134 subjects. For further information or a more
detailed press release, please contact Garth Chouteau at garth@popcap.com.

About PopCap

PopCap Games (http://www.popcap.com) is the leading multi-platform
provider of "casual games" - fun, easy-to-learn, captivating computer games
that appeal to everyone from age 6 to 106. Based in Seattle, Washington,
PopCap was founded in 2000 and has a worldwide staff of over 180 people in
Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Vancouver, B.C. and Dublin. Its games have
been downloaded more than 1 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its
flagship title, Bejeweled(R), has sold more than 10 million units across all
platforms. Constantly acclaimed by consumers and critics, PopCap's games are
played on the Web, desktop computers, myriad mobile devices (cell phones,
smartphones, PDAs, Pocket PCs, iPod and more), popular game consoles (such as
Xbox), and in-flight entertainment systems. PopCap is the only casual games
developer with leading market share across all major sales channels,
including Web portals, retail stores, mobile phones and MP3 players, and game
device manufacturers.

The PopCap logo and all other trademarks used herein that are
listed at http://www.popcap.com/trademarks are owned by PopCap Games, Inc. or its
licensors and may be registered in some countries. Other company and product
names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners and are used
for the benefit of those owners.