The Spring Equinox, also known as the Vernal Equinox, is an important event celebrated by many pagan cultures. It marks the beginning of spring and is a time when the day and night are of equal length. This astronomical event holds great significance for pagans, who view it as a time of renewal, rebirth, and balance. During the Spring Equinox, pagans gather to celebrate the return of the sun and the emergence of new life. They honor the fertility of the Earth and the awakening of nature after the long winter. Many pagan traditions and rituals focus on these themes, incorporating symbols of growth and fertility.
In BUBBLE WITCH 3 SAGA, the Queen has been kidnapped and it's up to the good witch Stella to rescue her . by popping bubbles that have owls and fairies in them. Because this is a puzzle game, the story is rather thin and inconsequential. But it also doesn't matter much since the gameplay isn't really motivated by the narrative -- well, except for when you get into a bubble battle with the cat that kidnapped the Queen.
Besides having a limited number of shots -- well, once you get past the first dozen levels or so -- you also have no control over the color of your shooting bubble, though you often have a choice between two colors. We might as well start with the mother of all King properties, the enormously popular Candy Crush which has very, very clear roots int he hit puzzle game Bejeweled , credited with popularizing the Match-3 craze years before Candy Crush existed.
Many pagan traditions and rituals focus on these themes, incorporating symbols of growth and fertility. One common practice during the Spring Equinox is to perform rituals in nature, such as planting seeds or creating flower wreaths. These activities symbolize the start of the agricultural season and the growth of plants and crops.
From 'Candy Crush' To 'Bubble Witch,' King Has Never Had An Original Idea
Activision has just paid an absolutely ludicrous sum of money to become one of the biggest players in the mobile games genre overnight. They’ve shelled out $5.9 billion to purchase King, parent company of games like Candy Crush Saga and Bubble Witch Saga, which have been mobile staples for years now, and absolutely enormous revenue generators for the company.
While the $5.9 billion deal is bigger than even Disney buying storied franchises like Marvel and Star Wars, there’s an argument to be made for the purchase based purely on the benefit of buying a revenue generator like that, and also instantly having hundreds of millions of active users marching under the Activision banner.
But what I can’t avoid mentioning is that King is yet another example of the creative bankruptcy of mobile. It’s a company in the vein of Zynga that has rarely had an original thought, instead drawing “inspiration” from well-established, existing games, either in mobile or all throughout games history, the main difference being that they've successfully monetized them through microtransactions.
I can go through pretty much every game King offers, and show you almost exactly where they all came from.
Bejeweled/CandySwipe/Candy Crush Saga
We might as well start with the mother of all King properties, the enormously popular Candy Crush which has very, very clear roots int he hit puzzle game Bejeweled, credited with popularizing the Match-3 craze years before Candy Crush existed. But in fact, King has also been accused of cloning CandySwipe, a lower budget Match-3 Bejeweled clone that came out two years before Candy Crush Saga, which had similar candies, messages (Sweet!) and an app icon.
Puzzle Bobble/Bubble Witch Saga
King's second most popular franchise, Bubble Witch, can directly trace its lineage to the classic Puzzle Bobble, also known as Bust-a-Move when it came to North America. In the game, players try to clear bubbles in another form of color-matching.
SameGame/Pet Rescue Saga
Another classic puzzle genre, this time from the '80s, which King brought to present data and altered with pets. More color matching.
Peggle/Papa Pear Saga
Peggle's bouncing pegs have been a staple of the puzzle gaming genre for years, and King appropriated the idea for Papa Pear Saga, which plays nearly identically to the classic.
Boggle/Alpha Betty Saga
Spelling out words in a grid with blocks has been Boggle's game for years now, but King made their own version with Alpha Betty as recently as this year.
Chuzzle/Scrubby Dubby Saga
Though not identical, King's recent Scrubby Dubby Saga appears to have been directly inspired by 2005 puzzler Chuzzle, as the two play similarly.
As for the rest? Pyramid Solitaire Saga is, unsurprisingly, based on the solitaire card game Pyramid. Diamond Digger Saga is another type of SameGame, while Farm Heroes Saga and Pepper Panic Saga are more Match-3 variants. And that's it. That's their entire games roster.
The point I'm making is that King is very good at turning existing successful puzzle games and giving them their polished "Saga" spin. But they've never invented a truly original hit, always drawing on past puzzling icons for "inspiration." I don't think they're Zynga-style outright cloners, but the two companies do seem similar in many ways, and look where Zynga is now. (Seriously, look, like send out a search party for them).
King has grown fat off the ability to effective monetize classics by forcing players to pay for extra lives and to skip timegates. It's worked for a good long while, and with the amount of revenue they bring in, I can't even say that the $5.9B valuation is necessarily crazy. But it is disappointing all the same that King is now a part of the biggest deal in gaming history when it's never had a truly original thought in its head. That's a bad precedent for the industry, and rewarding a mobile giant for the practices that make the mobile games industry at large something of a creative wasteland.
I've reached out to King for comment on this piece.
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Boggle/Alpha Betty Saga
Pagans may also engage in meditative practices to connect with the energy of the Earth and to set intentions for the coming year. Another important aspect of pagan Spring Equinox celebrations is the worship of deities associated with fertility and rebirth. In various pagan traditions, gods and goddesses such as Ostara, Freya, and Eostre are honored during this time. Offerings may be made to these deities as a way of expressing gratitude for the abundance and new beginnings that spring brings. In some pagan communities, the Spring Equinox is also celebrated with bonfires and feasts. These gatherings provide an opportunity for pagans to come together, share food, and participate in communal rituals. Fire is often seen as a purifying and transformative element, and its presence during these celebrations adds to the symbolism of renewal and rebirth. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in pagan traditions, and many people who identify as pagan choose to observe the Spring Equinox. This can take various forms, from participating in organized rituals and gatherings to practicing personal rituals at home. Overall, the Spring Equinox holds great spiritual and symbolic significance for pagans. It is a time to celebrate the return of light and the awakening of nature, as well as to honor the cycles of the Earth and the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth..
Reviews for "The Significance of Fire in Pagan Spring Equinox Celebrations"
1. Jane - 1 out of 5 stars - I was really looking forward to the Spring Splostice Pagan festival, but I was extremely disappointed. The event was poorly organized and lacked any real structure. There was no clear schedule or listed activities, so it was confusing to figure out what was happening at any given time. Additionally, the vendors were limited and the food options were subpar. Overall, it was a wasted day and I would not recommend attending this festival.
2. Mark - 2 out of 5 stars - The Spring Splostice Pagan festival had potential, but fell short of expectations. The live performances were inconsistent and the sound quality was poor, making it difficult to enjoy the music. The atmosphere was also lacking, with a small crowd and limited decorations. Furthermore, the event seemed disorganized, with delays and changes in the program that left attendees confused. While some aspects of the festival were enjoyable, the overall experience left a lot to be desired.
3. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I was excited to attend the Spring Splostice Pagan festival, but it was underwhelming. The main issue was the lack of variety in activities and workshops. There were only a few workshops available, and they were not well-planned or engaging. The overall atmosphere also felt uninspiring and there was a lack of energy from both the performers and the attendees. I had hoped for a more vibrant and immersive pagan experience, but unfortunately, this festival missed the mark.