PopCap, perhaps the best known of the casual gaming companies, has sponsored research into the benefits of the daily e-break. According to a recent study conducted by Dr Chamorro-Premuzic of Goldsmiths University, British firms may lose as much as four billion pounds a year as a result of banning employees from the internet and from casual gaming. To combat this problem, PopCap has created a website which allows employees to anonymously petition their bosses for a scheduled e-break at www.popcapbreak.com.

Skeptics point out that PopCap has a vested interest in promoting e-breaks since they produce the kinds of games employees might play.

Whatever side you take in this debate, you’ve got to admit that PopCap’s popular Chuzzle game is a great way to spend ten minutes. (Actually, in my experience, Chuzzle falls into the category of games called hey-where-did-the-last-hour-go?)

Chuzzle is a puzzle game played on a six-by-six grid occupied by lovable fuzzballs called “chuzzles”. Players can drag either a row or column in an attempt to align three or more chuzzles in a straight-line or an L-formation. When they’re lined up, the chuzzles pop like little furry soap bubbles. The more you pop, the more points you score. Dragging a row (or column) causes it to “wrap” around the screen as if the chuzzles are on a conveyor belt. This means you can quickly move a chuzzle from the bottom of the screen to the top. However, this kind of movement can result in unexpected consequences and every move must be carefully planned.

The bursting chuzzles fill a flask and when the flask is completely full, you are rewarded with a bonus and move to the next level.

To keep things interesting, the game will periodically lock one of the chuzzles, effectively keeping that row/column from moving. You can clear the lock by moving other chuzzles to burst their locked kinsman.

Another unusual occurrence is the “fat” chuzzle which fills the space normally occupied by four chuzzles. These hefty critters clear out plenty of space on the board when they pop, but they can’t be dragged off the screen. Like their locked brethren, the fat chuzzles can be a challenge.

Super chuzzles (which have pulsating halos) appear when you clear five or more chuzzles at once. Take out a super chuzzle and it will take out the eight chuzzles which surround it.

In the “classic” game, you can keep racking up the points so long as there are moves to be made. If you get stuck, there’s a hint button. Every hint you request reduces the level in the flask and puts the rewards that much farther out of reach. Observant players may note that the chuzzles themselves give “free” hints by way of their eye movements.

For players who want a more reflective experience, there is the “zen” mode. There are no locks or levels. You can relax and enjoy the experience.

“Speed” chuzzle hits you with locks more frequently and can be a real test of your nerves.

The final mode, “Mind Bender” challenges you to recreate patterns of chuzzles which are displayed in the control panel on the left side of the screen.

Particularly good combinations (or unusually high scores) are rewarded with trophies which are stored in the trophy room for later review. This provides players with an ever-changing set of goals to attain.

One of the nicest features of Chuzzle is that the game offers a “color blind” mode in which chuzzles are marked with different symbols.

Chuzzle is completely inoffensive and it’s one of those games where you find yourself saying, “Just one more round.”

When you finally have had enough, and tell the game you want to quit, you’ll be presented with a dewey-eyed chuzzle that can’t quite believe you want to leave. If your experience is anything like mine, you’ll find yourself wondering why you want to quit this oddly addicting puzzle game, too.