In news that warms the heart, Popcap, the developers of casual titles such as Bejeweled, Zuma and Peggle, are to donate copies of their latest game, Bejeweled Twist, to Games for Soldiers, a non-profit organisation that distributes games to US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Games for Soldiers was founded by a Specialist with the 1-158 Infantry Battalion, Jesse Williams, who created the organisation after returning from a one year stint in Afghanistan. Williams said:

“We really appreciate Popcap’s generous contribution - one of several the company has made to our organization - and are ramping up to distribute copies of Bejeweled Twist to soldiers in the field by mid-December, just in time for the holidays.”

“So-called ‘casual’ games like Bejeweled, Peggle and Zuma are hugely popular with military personnel of all ages, ranks and backgrounds. These games lend themselves to the occasional and haphazard ‘down time’ common to military life in combat areas, and provide some distraction and even stress relief in what are often high-adrenaline and/or high-anxiety environments.”

Great stuff!