PopCap Shoots Down Oldest Multiplayer Games

August 8, 2006 By Geoff Duncan

PopCap is taking down its longest-running multiplayer games Lucky Penny, Psychobabble, and Atomic Poker, claiming they just don't earn their keep.

Gamemaker PopCap has made a decision to alienate some 15,000 of its most loyal gamers by shutting down its long-running online multiplayer games Lucky Penny, Psychobabble, and Atomic Poker next week. The reason? The games don’t bring in enough revenue, and since the multiplayer games involve chat-board communities, they’re difficult to moderate for foul or obscene language.

Psychobabble is a word-scramble game, while Atomic Poker and Lucky Penny (called “Piggy Poker” by fans) are variations on card games, although they aren’t played for real money. And fans are upset: many have been playing these games for years, struck up strong friendships with fellow players, and represent some of PopCap’s longest-standing customers—and the nature of the games means they tend to skew towards older, more-reliable types, making one wonder why PopCap didn’t consider converting the games to a fee-based membership, much as it does with its online games Bejeweled and Chuzzle.

PopCap’s concerns are partly financial, and the company didn’t see a profitable way to convert the games to a new platform or offload them to another company without draining revenue further. The company may also be concerned about legal liability from minors participating in the unmoderated forums.

Fans have launched an online petition to save the games, but you know how those things usually turn out. Maybe PopCap had better hope none of these alienated players convert over to first-person shooters and decide to express their frustration using new-found gaming skills.

Showing 36 comments

Big Dave at 12:55pm 17th April 2010 Roxie,
this is Big Dave
I lost your e-mail
and i had to change me email to
daskez@gmail.com
please respond
Cathycalled and said you were concerned but she didn't leave your email or a tel #
demijo at 12:49am 9th October 2008 Hi, I too was a devoted member of Lucky Penny (piggy ) & sent several e.mails to Popcap about the closure of Piggy.Now , even after all this time I STILL miss the little blighter.I live in England & made numerous friends through Piggy.I exchanged postcards with over 80 piggy pals from all over the U.S.Now all these friends have been lost in cyber space having gone to other sites somewhere. I have searched & searched but have been unable to find another poker game as good as Piggy. Why oh why couldn't popcap just sell the game on to someone else who took the feelings of their devoted & dedicated players into consideration.(Unlike Popcap) who just threw us by the wayside. Friends from Piggy ......if you find this , know I often think of you & the fun & laughter we had in TOPICA. I miss you all so much.Think of DEM & you will know who I am....
Tommy90 [ Atomic Poker ] at 11:17am 13th August 2008 Ap has been one of my bested game ever, even though there were jerks on the server, there were some pretty cool people, and Fred Fianlly apologies after the ap shutted down so I do give thanks to that, but it would be cool if we recieved an email saying they got new multiplater, I've check time to time but it more like buying etc and hard to tell what multiplayer they have now, I doubt they still run a multiplater game anymore sense they got a new system.

it would be cool if they would put something up, so tell me where are you all at? bigfish.com? or slingo? :D
Dreamer at 7:29pm 14th October 2007 Im so sad too that atomic poker disapeared without any other explanation.
They didnt even give teh code so others could use it to bring it up back.

Really bad decision popcap, you had a responsability towards all the players.

Dreamer
Weiryhead at 12:25pm 4th February 2007 Norway calling !

Why couldn't they just make some sort of report-system by letting the players "click" the name of those that didn't behave. If a player got more than a certain amounts of "click", they could be banned from PopCap, or something like that.
I MISS "LUCKY PENNY" & "PSYCHOBABBLE" SOOOOOOO MUCH !!!!
Bart (netherlands) at 8:47am 21st January 2007 hey people!! where is atomic poker?
where are all the people >>????

Netherlands
Bart (netherlands) at 8:47am 21st January 2007 yo people... where is atomic poker????
where are all the people???

Netherlands
Stephanie at 7:21pm 2nd January 2007 I was hoping to reconnect with some very special people who helped me through breast cancer a couple of years ago. Much to my dismay, I could no longer find Piggy Poker! But I found this site and then was really disappointed when I realized that piggy poker was no longer in existence. I'll agree with the comments above in regards to finding solace, laughter, friendship and fantastic support in the chat room. It really was a lifesaver for me when I needed it most. Met some great people, shared our stories and had lots of friends rooting for me as I went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. I'll check out the ionthunder site and hope to find some of those wonderful people. You have done a great diservice to customers Popcap....
J at 10:59am 20th October 2006 Shocking, Just Shocking, Get Psychobabble back online, Popcap what are u all about doing this to people? As others have stated it was the best game ever for lifting our spirits when things in life got bad..Pleeeeeaze,, get a life, give us back the fun of Psychobabble
Timothy1960 at 2:21pm 11th September 2006 Hey folk's this is my other user that I had for a long time so many of u dont know my name is Tommy not Timothy, well there a site that called www.arcadebliss.com and it a game where u can chat to people who u want to chat too and u can create your own room but it only for 30 min before they take it off then you have to create your own room, im still trying to get the slingo games to work on my pc but still having problem, so hopefully I can try to figure out what the problem, or hopefully I will get to hear one of you all that use to play atomic poker and lucky penny, so if popcap decide to have there multiplayer game set back up and other thing like that I hope I get an email or hopefully Popcap will mention it.. well have a great and wonderful year and Happy Late GrandParent Day September 10th 2006 - through the years.
Timothy1960 at 6:05pm 5th September 2006 Hi, My name is Tommy, and I was wanting to tell the Popcap Member hi, that I miss talking to them and hopefully, Popcap or slingo will allow Atomic Poker back or least a Game I can play so I can talk to you all folk's well have a wonderful day, and don't let anyone get in your way
valkrie500 at 11:29pm 20th August 2006 I love Atomic Poker and Lucky Penny and am therefore emailing Popcap DAILY requesting these games be put back, as they do NOT need upgrading, being perfect already. I asked POPCAP to serve a higher principle, rather than money and I have also signed the online petition and volunteered to be a mod. I hope that they will have the courage and good sense to change their heart and realize that those games have been their flagships of excellence and need to be put back. I have played Atomic Poker for over 5 years and was in the top 100. Thank you for your article. It is another sad commentary of how those in power make inconsiderate and heartless decisions, ignoring and discounting longtime faithful people...just because they can...
Ben aka circlefx at 5:21pm 20th August 2006 It is quite a blow to see something of real value to people just disappear with so little fanfare or reason. I wish popcap would reconsider. I will miss the PEOPLE who play psychobabble and I hope I meet up with them somewhere. I am sad about this.
Paul aka IamWeeToddEd at 1:40am 13th August 2006 Well, as many of you may or may not know, I've been playing both Psycho Babble and Atomic Poker off and on for the last four or so years. I'm appalled at the lack of interest in so many people's opinions by PopCap.

It's not so much that it surprises me, by no means. But like so many others' comments that I have read here, I've made lifelong friendships here. Thankfully, those friendships will continue, and unfortunately for PopCap, they will continue elsewhere.

This decision came as a surprise to all of us, no doubt. I know that myself, in addition to many others, will NEVER again grant PopCap our business.

I came to PsychoBabble about four years ago, at the invitation of a friend. That friendship blossomed into a relationship of almost four years and even though it didn't move into the next step of relationships, I made a friend that I know will always stand by me. And she's not the only one, by any stretch of the imagination.

Good luck, PopCap. I hope you realize just how much you've screwed yourself by your decision and HOLLLOW apologies, in addition to your LAME excuses for cancelling the games.

Paul, AKA IamWeeToddEd
Pup981 at 5:06am 12th August 2006 A long time Psycho Babbler from the NC17 side. We are not just "regular" players we are a family. Yes, on our side there was a lot of adult content but most over there were parents and policed ourselves. We looked out for children in there and did what we could to moderate it. I have been apart of that family for going on 5 years. The people there have shared my smiles, tears and much more. I have seen deaths, marriages, friendships bloom, children born, growing up and more through this game. I don't think the makers of these games quite understand the effect of these games and the people that frequent them had on the communities that were apart of them. The games offered a unique platform that created such unique communities with in them. All these people brought other people to popcap and in turn most bought at least one to two games from the site. By shutting them down they have lost a constant revolving traffic. As well as showing their disloyalty to the people who regularly frequent them. How can anyone trust such a company again? Where so many loyal players who where willing do to so much to retain their sites by offering free services, hosting sites, paying, ect. Just disregard them so willy nilly. Its a crying shame when such undying customers where just thrown into a trash heap so easily all for the sake of some pitiful excuses.
sandy (aka frknfrutcake) at 2:58am 11th August 2006 Hasn't popcap ever heard of a chat filter?
sharknuts75 at 12:04am 11th August 2006 A lot of us have gone to www.ionthunder.com as we recieved a very nice greeting and there will be a room called stardusters for those interested, under deuces wild. I want to thank Ion for their aggreance to create a new room for those who lost such a special place
SSBK at 8:40pm 10th August 2006 first there was BEJEWELED.
followed by BESPELLED. (aka Book Worm)
then came BEJEWELED 2.

now for PopCap's latest (and most memorable)

BETRAYED.
shelley at 2:27pm 10th August 2006 I've been reading the other messages and am now brought to tears. I've played psycho babble everyday for a year, and it's helped me get through some rough nights. I've met some wonderful people in there that were so open, and so willing to talk. I met one of my best friends in babble. Not to mention the game itself being one of the most mind stimulating and fun games I've ever played. I hope someone will create a new one like it... I, like many, will be going through withdrawl. I feel betrayed by popcap honestly. Not even a response. Nothing. We're hurting here. ItsDaisy
Angela at 9:12pm 9th August 2006 I don't visit Pyschobabble as often as I used to, but it always has a place in my heart, I met the love of my life there (long distance Australia to USA and still going stong after 2.5 years), I have also made wonderful friends and I am extremely disappointed in PopCap for ignoring this many people. I won't be playing at PopCap anymore. Frankly, if they decline into nothingness I won't shed a tear. I will always remember babble though... the number of times I was rolling on the floor crying with laughter......!

angeskye.
Safari Girl at 4:03pm 9th August 2006 I'm sad to see my favorite game being taken down. It got me through 11 surgeries over a period of three years when I couldn't do much else but take it easy and deal with the pain or the pain pills. At Psycho Babble, I found mental stimulation, LAUGHTER and a group of people who were so funny, witty and sharp thinking that after I got well, I kept going back to participate with the group as much as enjoy the game. I didn't meet my best friend in the world or my future mate like some did there, but I did find emotional, mental, psychological and yes even spiritual stimulation. Some people watch TV or read to wind down at the end of their day but as often as possible, I made a point to log on and join in for a game or two. On those nights I went to bed with a smile on my face and a mind cleared of the days clutter forced out by the need for quick thinking, being witty and the laughs that enevitably came with every round of play. I will miss it more than might seem to make sense but it is an old friend and a good one that is passing on. It was truly a unique experience in my life that I am glad to have had.

I for one don't understand turning away 15,000 customers but business is business. I guess they had a good financial reason. So many of us have offered to pay for the game though so it must be more than that. The adult type of chat and references in the game must have had something to do with it but paying to play would have solved the minor issue. However this is America and afterall we are not allowed to talk or type about GOD or SEX publicly anymore!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
sharknuts75 at 3:07pm 9th August 2006 Thank you so much for giving a great view on everything Geoff, you have heart. I started the petition as a way of proving how many support the online commmunity at popcap. It grows in numbers daily as it has reached over 1000. I feel a large blow to the myself because as many other devoted players say, where would popcap be if it was not for its customers. We pay internet costs, some pay for extra msn so they can post more, some pay for other sites they run to keep all the players in touch. Its not a low class, low standarized chat site to which many I have checked out and to not compare to this. I believe that what goes around comes around, its simple really, no multi player games right now, no ching ching, no money to fill those allready full pockets. Think of the other sites that are going to have us visiting :OD Well I got a offer from slingo which I kindly passed along to my dedicated online community and I love how that is worded What a kind way to invite others to join and what a kinds way to help themselves increase sales :OD Well since popcap refuses to listen, is letting people cry, is letting others scramble to get addresses in less than a week, I spit on the ground popcap walks on. I know petitions do not work, but the proof in numbers is interesting to see. Money does not make the world go around, its friendships and people that do. Money is a secondary greedy natured word that does not represent a company. People willing to dig into their pockets, and still no budging, well I wish other companies well because we will be visiting and playing and of course chatting :O)

User Name for popcap was sharknuts75 cause I love sharks. (V^^^^V) and I bite!

Muah!
Heleena at 2:34pm 9th August 2006 I have been a popcap customer/player for 6 years. It's become my ritual most every morning. The money I have spent with popcap, in purchasing their CD combos I know feel was a total waste. I have been completely loyal and dedicated to Popcap, and their dedication to me in return? 0... Mind over matter, they don't mind because we the "paying" customers, just don't matter. I will never visit the popcap site again, nor will I send them any money for game cds. There have to be more respectful companies out there that will actually appreciate my business.

Move over Slingo.... Incoming!
Carol at 2:05pm 9th August 2006 Thankyou Mr. Duncan for the great article!
I also "WAS" a popcap "piggy poker & Atomic Poker" player,for better than 5 1/2 years! I have met the most remarkable people, that never would have happened had it not been for the chat room there...It has truly broken my heart...it might sound crazy to some, that myself & thousands of others all feel the same way.. we consider us a world wide family...we have laughed together, cried sad tears together when someone we came to love passes, we have cried happy tears, when one of us has a baby or Grandchild & have watched them grow (yes we share pic's of them )...we have an annual Halloween Party, where we come in w/another name related to us in some way, & we try to guess who each other is...the laughs we had!
We also have a Christmas Secret Santa, where we exchanged gifts w/people from all over the world, when a members niece was in Iraq we all got together & sent her & her platoon tons of stuff... and so much more...
This is what popcap "HAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US"! all because of the almighty dollar, not one personal note from them, not one nothing from those heartless, gutless people...it's all about MONEY MONEY MONEY, not PEOPLE PEOPLE PEOPLE!!!
Well ya know what popcap,it has only made us stronger...we will once again be there when someone needs us, we will be there when the next baby or Grandchild is born you have made us stronger than ever !!! We have a network going, and exchanging where we will play next, and we are all boycotting your site completely!!! I wish you nothing but complete failure for your total arrogance, & not thinking of a way to save the chat rooms...God knows you where given many suggestions, of which most would have cost you "NOTHING" / "NADA",/ ZILCH,/!! Now look what it will cost ya!
So TO ALL MY STARDUST PIGGY POKER FAMILY, c/ya soon, either in Ionthunder, Pogo, Slingo (thanks for the offer),Tothegames...till we meet again....

LOVE YA ALL!
Mother3 (Carol)
Carol at 2:05pm 9th August 2006 Thankyou Mr. Duncan for the great article!
I also "WAS" a popcap "piggy poker & Atomic Poker" player,for better than 5 1/2 years! I have met the most remarkable people, that never would have happened had it not been for the chat room there...It has truly broken my heart...it might sound crazy to some, that myself & thousands of others all feel the same way.. we consider us a world wide family...we have laughed together, cried sad tears together when someone we came to love passes, we have cried happy tears, when one of us has a baby or Grandchild & have watched them grow (yes we share pic's of them )...we have an annual Halloween Party, where we come in w/another name related to us in some way, & we try to guess who each other is...the laughs we had!
We also have a Christmas Secret Santa, where we exchanged gifts w/people from all over the world, and so much more...
This is what popcap "HAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US"! all because of the almighty dollar, not one personal note from them, not one nothing from those heartless, gutless people...it's all about MONEY MONEY MONEY, not PEOPLE PEOPLE PEOPLE!!!
Well ya know what "poopcap", it has only made us stronger...we have a network going, and exchanging where we will play next, and we are all boycotting your site completely!!! I wish you nothing but complete failure for your total arrogance, & not thinking of a way to save the chat rooms...God knows you where given many suggestions, of which most would have cost you "NOTHING" / "NADA",/ ZILCH,/!! Now look what it will cost ya!
So TO ALL MY STARDUST PIGGY POKER FAMILY, c/ya soon, either in Ionthunder, Pogo, Slingo (thanks for the offer),Tothegames...till we meet again....Love ya All!

Mother3 (Carol)
Roxie at 2:03pm 9th August 2006 Thanks so much Geoff..I too am sadden by the closing of Atomic Poker at Popcap,have been a member since it started and have many friends there also.I even started a picture site so everyone can see who they are playing with.
It has caused a lot of people a great hardship
because many are shut in's and will miss chatting with friends they made there.Won't you please reconsider closing.
Roxie at 2:03pm 9th August 2006 Hi,just e-mailing to let you know how sad AP players are because of the closing on Aug. 10.
There are many loyal members who have enjoyed playing since the game started and would be lost without it.Many have made close friends there and many are shut in's who look forward to talking to friends while playing your great game of Atomic Poker.
I myself have played there since it opened and have many friends who play.

We're all hoping that you will reconsider
closing AP.
Roxie at 2:03pm 9th August 2006 This is the e-mail I sent to popcap:
Hi,just e-mailing to let you know how sad AP players are because of the closing on Aug. 10.
There are many loyal members who have enjoyed playing since the game started and would be lost without it.Many have made close friends there and many are shut in's who look forward to talking to friends while playing your great game of Atomic Poker.
I myself have played there since it opened and have many friends who play.
For the last 4 years I have been running a picture site for Atomic Poker....please visit and you will see all the wonderful people who play there....picturetrail.com/roxier22..
Thank you for reading this e-mail and we're all hoping that you will reconsider
closing AP..........Roxie22
Tina Martini at 11:43am 9th August 2006 Thanks so much Geoff.. I have been trying to find a way to bring media attention to this issue. Along with all the other comments already posted, I too am saddened by PopCap's cavalier "screw them" attitude toward their loyal players. I have been playing Psychobabble since early 2001 and I like to think I was a loyal player. So loyal in fact, I married a fellow player I met in the game. Chris and I have been together for 2 1/2 years now and neither of us have ever been happier. And we have Pop Cap to thank for that. I would be willing to shout it from the roof tops if it would give them free publicity and they would leave the games alone.
I have met some great friends in the games as well, including my best friend Carly. We are a family not just a bunch of online whack jobs with no life away from our computers. We share sorrow, joy , pain etc. We have even suffered togther when we have lost a couple of our members. We are more of a family than the ones a lot of people are born with.
Pop Cap, I believe has shot itself in the foot with this move and they are going to lose far more than they stood to gain.

Karma is something else and I hope Pop Cap remembers..."What goes around, comes around".

~GE_Martini
Marikki (Atomic Poker/AP player) at 11:35am 9th August 2006 It really is a shame PopCap is shutting down the multiplayer games. I am a regular at AP and I have enjoyed every minute I have played there. The room I played in had the occasional potty mouths come in but mostly it was good, clean fun. I will never play at Popcap again and I know many people who have also decided not to. I know for a fact that PopCap has now lost numerous players to sites such as Slingo and Pogo. So, big thanks to PopCap!
Chum at 6:40am 9th August 2006 I am just one of the many devastated players from 'piggy poker' who has logged on every day for a year and enjoyed playing this game with some very good friends. I did originally understand as to why Popcap had made their decision but WILL NOT accept it as players are offering solutions and are prepared to give money as well. What has Popcap said to this? That there are plenty of other games available. POINT IS, we want 'piggy poker' to stay!!! We have just one day left and I for one cannot imagine what my day will be like without having the support, laughs and tears with a simple click of a card. I will never visit Popcap again and I know that I am not alone in this thinking. These games create communities... Its wrong that they can create this wonderful world and then end it without any cares for the people and families that share it. Popcap deserve no loyalty for this - SHAME ON YOU POPCAP !!!
Ancient at 5:57am 9th August 2006 Thanks, Geoff, for a providing a place to have our say. I discovered Lucky Penny Poker in October of 2001. It has been a home away from the grind - ever since.

Through the years I have attempted to contact Popcap for various reasons - and not once, in all that time, did I ever get a response. Not once. I actually believed, for almost three years, that the people who ran Popcap were from Denmark and therefore didn't speak English.

Silly me - turns out they are just an arrogant lot, with as much business sense as a flat tyre.

I'm another who was willing to pay a membership fee to keep the old rooms open. I also know a bit about creating and maintaining databases, so don't let them try to tell you what a drain our little rooms are on their financial well-being. One flashing banner ad above the Lucky Penny Logo on the playing board would more than cover the cost of a database requiring one ten-minute purge per year - making our membership fees pure gravy.

I used to purchase Popcap games for my grandkids. It was my way of thanking Popcap for the free go in Lucky Penny. You can bet that's not going to happen now :)
Kisput/Sue at 5:54am 9th August 2006 Thank you for this article and basically everything that everyone is saying I agree with.

I have been playing for a year, every day and have met and made friends with people from around the world.

This has made me heartbroken as with all the problems I have had in my personal life, this game has been a lifesaver when I have been at my lowest sometimes, coming in with tears and ending up laughing till my sides ached for days.

I will not reiterate what has been said by others, but am in total agreement that Popcap have let us down. Terribly!!!!!!!!

I would like to say how disappointed I am by their lack of response, even if only on their main or sign-in page. Total lack of business acumen. Prooves that only money counts, not the actual customers

And thank you Slingo for your kind invite, I think am with you, if not will remedy it immediately.
Trish M at 5:13am 9th August 2006 As a longtime player (almost 5 years) and room moderator in the family rooms for these games, I fail to understand why Popcap would choose to ignore the many, many letters and emails that 99% of their customers from these games have sent them. These are more than 'games' to the regular players, many of whom have developed very real friendships over their years of visiting the site. Many have offered to pay an annual or monthly subscription in order to keep these games running. Most if not all of these players have also purchased the games available on Popcap's site DIRECTLY as a result of visiting the site to play these games.

Popcap must be doing incredibly well if they can afford to ignore 15000 devoted customers just offering to throw money at them in order to keep the games and online communities that are an integral part of their daily lives.

I wrote a letter to Popcap making some suggestions regarding how they could keep the rooms 'family friendly'. None of these suggestions would have cost them a single dime. I also let them know that their loyal players are MORE than happy to pay to keep these games online. And their response?... Absolutely nothing, not even an acknowledgement that they had received it.

Wake up and smell the roses Popcap! That's 15000 customers who will no longer be visiting your website, and no longer purchasing your games. 15000 customers who will take their business elsewhere and 15000 customers who will never, ever forget the way they were ignored by Popcap.

Trish
The Slingo Team at 5:04am 9th August 2006 Good Morning Geoff,

I wanted to take this opportunity to let your readers know that there is an active online community for those people who were displaced at www.slingo.com. You may not know much about Slingo.com, but we have been doing online games for the past 10 years and plan on continuing in the online game world for many years to come.

Our site has the complete community experience. We have an active growing social network and have over 30 online games people can play complete with chat, high scores, etc. Slingo.com also has tournaments and a series of prizes our players can win. It is players like your readers that make our site so special and we want to make sure that those people are accommodated. In fact, our community thrives because of our dedicated users.

I invite you all to come take a look at www.slingo.com where your community of friends is always welcome.

Warm Regards,

The Slingo Team
mommidiva at 4:45am 9th August 2006 I think it is a shame that popcap is not considering the players feelings and just shutting down the games without offering us any alternatives to keep playing the games. We (the long time players) have offered to moderate the games at no cost to them as well as offered to pay to play. I think they should re-think their plan, as they will lose many long time players jepordizing the company to have to shut down completely. I personally will never refer anyone to play any popcap games or visit the site in the future. I dont know what they are thinking by making a move like this, and i am not alone. Better think again popcap.