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Plants vs. Zombies 2 goes medieval on your grass
Plants vs. Zombies 2 is bringing the pain with the Dark Ages Part 1 expansion, available now. The update features a brand new, medieval world of zombie-infested levels, plus the Sun-shroom, Puff-shroom, Hypno-shroom and Sun Bean plants. The new undead offerings include a Knight Zombie and Jester Zombie. Plants vs. Zombies 2 has been downloaded more than 200 million times across Android and iOS – it's free-to-play, which makes having a green (rotting) thumb easier than ever. [Images: EA]
Piñatas, UI tweaks among changes in new Plants Vs Zombies 2 update
Devouring all those brains must have instilled some growing intelligence in PopCap's undead horde, as the free-to-play Plants Vs Zombies 2 has been updated with a number of clever fixes and additions. Most notable are the game's user interface changes. The PvZ2 map has been redesigned to make it easier for players to read, while in that same vein PopCap has introduced a number of smaller tweaks that should make it easier for players to "know how much you've done, where you're going, and what loot you'll get along the way." In the realm of the truly new, PopCap has introduced a fast-forward button that speeds both planting times and the advancing zombie hordes. Likewise, the studio has also introduced new "Piñata Party" stages which offer big prizes, though this positive is counterbalanced by an ominous warning that this update has somehow made it more likely for players to encounter the gigantic, ultra-tough Gargantuar zombies during normal gameplay. If you haven't already been introduced to the life-draining, productivity-smashing joys of Plants Vs Zombies, now is a great time to do so. You can find free-to-play iterations of Plants Vs Zombies 2 on both iTunes and Google Play, and while both are supported by microtransactions, it's entirely possible to play the game from start to finish without ever spending a dime.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 gets upgraded map, more 'cool' stuff
It's been a great couple of days for two classic iOS gaming franchises: Yesterday we announced the release of Angry Birds Go!, and today PopCap popped out an update to Plants vs. Zombies 2 that makes moving through levels faster and easier. Upgrades to the game map were responsible for the "faster and easier" gameplay, but there are other improvements as well: Big changes. We've upgraded the map to make game progression quicker and easier. It's simpler to know how much you've done, where you're going and what loot you'll get along the way. Play all-new Piñata Party levels to win cool prizes. You can invite your friends and send 'em gifts. Use the Turbo button to speed up your planting -- and speed up the zombies. Be warned: When we were upgrading the map, somebody let in the Gargantuars. We have our own Crazy Dave (Caolo) here at TUAW, so we live Plants vs. Zombies 2 every day. For the rest of you, download the freemium title from the App Store today and experience the insanity of version 1.7.261064!
Freshen up your Android with Plants vs. Zombies 2, out now
The war between the botanical and the reanimated corporeal spreads onto Android, where players can do their part by enlisting on Google Play. As our chums at Engadget note, the Android port is "virtually identical" to the iOS version released in August. EA-owned PopCap implemented a free-to-play model in Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time, and within weeks the game was approaching 25 million downloads on the App Store. The developer's keeping quiet about any remaining ports; it's worth remembering the original Plants. vs. Zombies was gobbled up by practically every platform, including Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and Nintendo DS.
Plants vs. Zombies 'conehead zombie and peashooter' figures are pricey collectibles
Online-based collectible retailer GamingHeads has unveiled a pair of snazzy exclusives, a 13-inch "Conehead Zombie" figure and a 9-inch "Peashooter" figure both inspired by PopCap's Plants vs. Zombies series. The "high quality poly-stone" figure is limited to 350 pieces worldwide and comes with a hefty $150 price tag, so it's advisable that you do not fire seeds in its direction in an attempt to halt its advancement. For $150, it's allowed to trample your azaleas. The exclusive Peashooter figure is priced at $80 and is also limited to 350 pieces. For $10 less you can nab the non-exclusive versions of each figure, which removes the orange cone and pea items from each figure. Both characters are available to play with for free in Plants vs. Zombies 2.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 approaching global launch on Android
Plants vs. Zombies 2 is set to reach Android "shortly," having made a "soft" (and squishy) launch in Australia and New Zealand. The Android version launched "successfully" in China last month, and this week's Australasian arrival lets PopCap further play-test the free-to-play follow-up. PvZ 2 was shambling towards the 25 million mark for downloads at end of August.
Shambling undead invade your gaming table in Risk: Plants vs Zombies
Fertilize your pea shooters and gather as much sun as possible: Plants Vs Zombies is making the jump to a strategy boardgame in Risk: Plants Vs Zombies. Those familiar with Risk should quickly feel at home in the Plants Vs Zombies iteration of the game. Instead of human armies capturing countries of various sizes, Risk: Plants Vs Zombies pits ravenous corpses against deadly anthropomorphic plants. "This completely customized take on two-player Risk offers a double-sided gameboard and three head-to-head ways to play: Tower Defense, Mission Objective, or Total Domination," states PopCap's official description. "With a detailed map of the original town of Brainsborough on one side and the familiar Plants vs. Zombies backyard from the video game on the other, players opt to be plants or zombies and then pick their battlefield. Fighting for their very survival, players engage in skirmishes, battle for three different victory conditions, and play the classic Risk game mode, vying to take over the whole board." Risk: Plants Vs Zombies has been approved for players age 10 and up. It features a $30 price tag, and is currently available on the Plants Vs Zombies online store.
MMObility: Perfect World's new mobile lineup
When I first heard that Perfect World was finally moving into the mobile space, I was excited and a bit worried. The gaming giant publishes a wide variety of games but tends to stick with classic, three-dimensional, client-based MMOs and has even rescued or bought out a few "Western" titles. If you want a publisher with a ton of different F2P games to play, Perfect World is a solid one. So how will it tackle the mobile world? Will it offer as much variety as it does with its other games? Will these mobile games be MMOs or pseudo-MMOs that are attached to social networks? I was able to snag some answers from Fabian Pierre Nicolas, General Manager of Mobile for Perfect World Entertainment.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 lines up nearly 25 million downloads
Over Nearly 25 million gardening enthusiasts have enlisted to fight the undead in Plants vs. Zombies 2 within two weeks of the game's availability, developer PopCap announced last week. The sequel has already surpassed lifetime sales of the original Plants vs. Zombies. PvZ2's free-to-play business model is the central difference between the two versions, allowing players to get hooked on the game before they spend a cent on it. Hooked is about the right way to put it, too, given that over 81 million hours have already been spent on the game's unique take on botanical warfare. PvZ2 is currently only available for iOS and will spread to other platforms "later this year and beyond." Update: The text of this article has been adjusted to more accurately reflect PopCap's announcement, which is that Plants vs. Zombies 2 has been downloaded "nearly" 25 million times, rather than exceeded that amount.
Daily Update for August 20, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Plants vs Zombies 2 opens with 16 million downloads, 'Far Future' update planned
EA's Gamescom press conference in Cologne, Germany yielded interesting stats about Plants vs Zombies 2's opening week, in which the game was downloaded over 16 million times. Chief Operating Officer Peter Moore revealed that 11.4 billion suns have been collected in the game, and over 2 billion zombie waves have been fought with over 4 billion rooted plants. In total, Plants vs Zombies 2 players have sunk 15,071,541,100 hours into the game. EA's Tony Leamer also took the stage to note that the first major content update for the free-to-play game is on the way, called Far Future. No other details on the update's launch was provided.
PopCap CEO talks free-to-play model for Plants vs. Zombies 2
PopCap CEO Dave Roberts discussed Plants vs. Zombies 2's free-to-play business model with GeekWire last week, mentioning both the game's swift adoption rate and the ire it has inspired from some fans. "I don't think anyone at EA has seen anything go up that fast to the top downloads," Roberts said. "My guess, by lunch [on launch day], we will have hit the same number of downloads that it took us five months to hit in the first version. It probably took us close to a year to hit that number on the PC." While noting that many view free-to-play as "evil," Robers pointed out that the majority of the top-grossing games in the App Store are free-to-play. "People have decided that free-to-play is a better way for them to monetize. And, some of the purists would argue that the industry has made them do that." Roberts suggested there are "ways to abuse any business model, and people sometimes say: 'Yeah, you can do horrible things with that.' Yeah, of course you can ... With PvZ we have a pretty important brand here and we are trying to protect it." PvZ2 is currently available for iOS devices and will cross-pollinate to other platforms "later this year and beyond."
Plants vs Zombies 2: First look
Right now, my iPad is my enemy. On it is Plants vs Zombies 2 (free, or more realistically, "free, but you are an IAP target waiting to be plucked repeatedly"), just released last night and since about 11PM yesterday, well, let's just say sleep and work went by the wayside. It's a funny kind of upgrade. There are bits about it I'm disappointed with, but overall, it has charmed me. You don't purchase PvZ 2. It's a free download. Instead, the emphasis has transferred to in-app purchases, with hardcore upsells throughout the app. If Candy Crush is the great Satan of IAP abuse, PvZ 2 is certainly an acolyte. I'd much rather pay US$10 or $20 for a full app than constantly be treated as a mark. But this is the way the App Store works these days. Visuals are the first big change you notice in PvZ 2. The artwork has lost the glossy beauty from the original PvZ. It feels more like an embedded web game (is "Facebooky" a word?) than the original. The designs are flatter, less three-dimensional, and while certainly playable, it looks more basic overall. The gameplay, however, remains delightful. I love the storytelling (yes, even Crazy Dave), the challenges, the new tools and the overall epic. In this version of PvZ, you work your way through a quest through time to bring Crazy Dave back to the present, so he can eat more spicy tacos. No one ever said PvZ was Shakespeare. The game starts off with a hint of dinosaur bones beneath the turf, a suggestion of the overall theme, then quickly throws you back to ancient Egypt where you battle historic-style Zombies. If you're familiar with the original PvZ, all your skills and strategies still apply, but there are plenty of engaging and fun new twists. I'm looking forward to other historic venues as the game continues. Features like plant food (that zap your lawn defenders into overdrive) and power-ups (pinching the heads off zombies -- more fun than it sounds, flicking and zapping your zombies) offer intriguing interaction updates. New plants, new obstacles and a bunch of new challenges (archaeologist zombies with torches, dustdevil storm zombies) provide plenty of play fun. In the end, PvZ 2 transcends "more of the same." It's a fun and noteworthy update, one that I'd have been happy to pay a premium for if PopCap weren't so insistent on keeping its hand outstretched for IAPs. It would be a far better game if they converted it to simple pay-then-play, but I suspect their bottom line has taught them how today's App Store market can optimize revenue. I really liked it as I played it, but I do hope I can do so without ever using any IAPs. Should PopCap reconsider and offer a single-payment option that reconsiders this approach, I'll be in line with my credit card.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 hits the App Store
PopCap has released Plants vs. Zombies 2 on the App Store this morning. The game is the follow-up to the wildly popular action-strategy adventure Plants vs. Zombies. This time around, players pit wild plants against the undead throughout different time periods. From PopCap's website describing the sequel: Join Crazy Dave on a crazy adventure where you'll meet, greet and defeat legions of zombies from the dawn of time to the end of days. Amass an army of powerful new plants, super charge them with Plant Food and power up your defenses with amazing new ways to protect your brain. In addition to new plants, Plants vs. Zombies 2 features new zombies (including zombie chickens), new endless levels like Pyramid of Doom and Pirate's Booty, and new power ups. Plants vs. Zombies 2 is a free download and offers in-app purchases.
Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time spr-out today on iOS [update]
Botanical tower defense sequel Plants vs. Zombies 2 is available now on the US App Store, and is expected to launch worldwide today after a tease on the official PvZ Facebook page. The free-to-play follow-up was due this time last month, but a delay allowed PopCap to soft-launch in Australia and New Zealand and test some of the newly implemented tech. Mike Schramm went hands-on with PvZ 2 at E3; check out his thoughts on what to expect from the game, including the switch to freemium. Update: In news that shouldn't shock, EA's official announcement on PvZ 2's launch notes the game will come to other platforms "later this year and beyond."
Plants vs. Zombies 2 makes soft landing in Australia, New Zealand today
The recently delayed Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time will soft-launch in Australia and New Zealand shortly, giving it some time for testing. PvZ 2 Senior Producer Allen Murray told Polygon, "With Plants vs. Zombies 2 we're taking advantage of a lot of newer technologies ...if you're connected to the internet, you can save your progress and share accounts across multiple devices - and we need to make sure those systems, along with our ability to stream that content to players works." The game was delayed globally in June to "later in the summer," presumably to make room for this window of testing.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 gets delayed, now coming later this summer
I got to see Plants vs. Zombies 2 running at E3, and the game looked essentially done. That's why this news is so surprising. PopCap has tweeted that the title has been delayed from its July 18 launch to "sometime later on this summer." Note that it will still premiere on iOS. There could be several reasons for this. PopCap is part of EA, so perhaps the title must go through extra quality reviews, or maybe July 18 conflicts with something else in EA's lineup. It's also possible that PopCap wants to leverage other additions to the Plants vs. Zombies empire (the company is working on a cheeky third-person shooter based on the popular franchise). There are also some concerns from E3 about the game's freemium elements. Unlike the original game, Plants vs. Zombies 2 is free to play, but dependent on in-app purchases for revenue. So it's possible that PopCap is reconsidering, or at least tweaking, those elements. We won't know for sure until we see the game again, which will hopefully be soon. Plants vs. Zombies 2 (which is somewhat ironically titled "It's About Time") is now set to arrive later this summer.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 delayed until 'later in the summer'
Plants vs. Zombies 2 has hit a wall-nut and won't launch on July 18 as intended. According to game's official Twitter account, the continuing battle between flora and undead won't continue until "later in the summer." In follow-up tweets, PopCap notes the game will still launch on "Apple products first," as it was originally announced and scheduled for iOS. After that, more braaaaains will be found on other platforms. It is the PopCap (and EA) way.
Plants vs. Zombies 2: it's about time we talked freemium vs. premium
PopCap Games is known for making games that appeal to a mass audience, and perhaps none are more so than Plants vs. Zombies. The cute 'n clever tower defense game has connected with players of all ages and origins. A sequel, then, was inevitable, and after an announcement last year we finally got to see the game in action at E3 last week. It's unfortunate, however, that much of the discussion around Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time, at least during the game's iOS launch, probably won't be around any of the great new content. There are new zombie enemies, new plants, three new worlds set in different time periods, touchscreen-centric powerups that allow you to throw zombies around or pinch them apart, and even a new "plant food" buff that gives each plant an extra burst of ability when used. At launch, they'll probably all get lost in the mix, because there's one other big difference between the first Plants vs. Zombies and its sequel: PvZ 2 is a freemium game.
EA/Chillingo's E3 2013 offerings: Plants vs Zombies 2, Fightback and more
Chillingo, unfortunately, wasn't mentioned at all during EA's press conference last week. I thought the big publisher would at least give a little nod to its extremely successful mobile publishing arm, but no such luck. I did, however, go and see the team gathered in their annual suite near the LA Convention Center, and got a nice look at their upcoming slate for the next few months. Here's a quick title-by-title rundown of what Chillingo and parent company EA were showing off. Plants vs. Zombies 2 This is technically not a Chillingo title, as it's being developed by Popcap and published by EA. But it was probably what will turn out to be the biggest title in the suite for sure. Plants vs. Zombies was a huge hit on mobile, and so Popcap is bringing it first to iOS later on this month. In addition to new plant types and lots of new stages, the title has a time traveling theme. Crazy Dave will take you and your plants back through time to fight zombies in Ancient Egypt, the Wild West, and the pirate-infested seas, with one more (probably a future) level coming soon after launch. This time around, the game is based on that series of worlds, so each world will have its own core levels, challenge levels, and then endless levels to play through. Levels are unlocked as you open them up with keys that you collect, and you'll need to earn a certain number of stars to open up "star gates" and move to the next world. Gameplay is as colorful and fun as ever in the very popular Plants vs. Zombies series, though there are a few new elements, like the ability to drag across the screen and pick up sunlight, rather than having to tap on each sun separately. There are also new touchscreen-based powerups to play with, and this is where the game's biggest issue comes in: It's a freemium title. The original Plants vs. Zombies was very much a premium game, in that you paid once and played forever. But Popcap has elected to go freemium with PvZ2, so it'll be free to download, and then various currencies and items will be available via in-app purchase. Popcap's reps were very clear to say that players would be able to see the whole game for free, and that's true, but even in my short playthrough, I saw no end of reminders that I could spend real money on in-game items. Powerups cost currency to use, which you can earn in-game, or you can spend real money on them if needed. And a special item called plant food provides your plants with a big boost, and can be collected from certain zombies or purchased directly. The jury's out on this one for now -- we'll have to wait and see if the changes bother Popcap's audience at all. Popcap believes there's more money to be made with a freemium scheme, and that's almost certainly true. But the freemium elements may turn off a sizable part of the audience that doesn't want to be continuously bothered for cash, and could taint the series' otherwise sterling reputation for quality. Plants vs. Zombies 2 is due out very soon. Fightback Fightback is a Chillingo-published title being developed by Ninja Theory, the talented folks behind the great Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and the recent DmC: Devil May Cry, both for traditional consoles. Fightback is a much simpler action game with an '80s feel, as you play a muscle-headed thug fighting through floor after floor of various towers, trying to save his oft-kidnapped sister. The game features a simple control scheme (tap to punch, swipe to kick or duck), and challenges the player to keep an attack combo going and defeat all of the baddies within a certain time limit. Fightback seems simple but fun -- one level takes place in an arcade, and the neon signage and fictional arcade cabinets add a nice bit of fun to the fisticuffs happening in the foreground. It too is a freemium title, and in addition to upgrading weapons and equipment, the hero can also get tattoos, which provide special buffs and abilities. Fightback should be an excellent but simple action title, and a nice entry into iOS for the veterans at Ninja Theory. It's set to arrive sometime this summer. Zya Zya is the product of a company called Music Mastermind, and it has already picked up 300,000 users courtesy of a PC-based beta last year. It's a music creation app, though while most music creation tools are buried under complicated UIs and science, Zya instead goes with cute characters and flashy graphics, and turns the process of creating and mixing a song into a game, of sorts. You start by choosing a series of music tracks (including a bass line and a rhythm section), either picking from the original pieces provided, or using licensed music from artists like Kelly Clarkson or Madonna. You can then add a melody, again from a licensed piece, or simply by singing your own into the iPad or iPhone's microphone. The game will then mix all of your tracks together (courtesy of a cute cartoony dog hitting a big green "Mix" button), and then reward you various points and achievements based on the mix you chose. You can then share that mix via YouTube or other social networks, with friends or online with the public. Zya seems like a great idea -- it combines some really impressive music creation and mixdown tools with cute characters and a very clear interface. There are only 20 licensed songs to start, but of course the company is ready to add more, if the app sees the popularity it needs. Zya will be out later this year, on iOS first, with an Android version to follow. Icycle Icycle was my favorite game at GDC this year, and we chatted with creator Reece Millidge just a while ago. The good news about Icycle is that it's just as beautiful, charming, and well-made as it was at GDC, and it's even closer to release (though obviously Chillingo is putting the time in to get it right). The bad news, however, is that some freemium elements are creeping into the gorgeous gameplay. Now, when your character dies, you're presented with a button to retry right from where you started, with a small cost of currency to pay (undoubtedly available via in-app purchase). There are also various boosts and other items buy, and unfortunately the menus for those items just appear garish and commercial when overlaid on the spectacular game itself. Icycle has to make money, of course, but it's a little depressing to see commerce invade what should really be held up as pure art. We'll have to see how that balance plays out -- it would be a shame for Chillingo to ruin such an excellent experience with a few overly crass sales pitches. Icycle is almost done, I'm told, and we should see it on the App Store soon. Ultima Forever Finally, Ultima Forever was on display yet again. I saw this in action at GDC for the first time, and it was and impressive retake on the old Ultima RPGs, made directly for iPhone. Unfortunately, it too suffers a little bit from the freemium focus that Chillingo has had lately, using a relatively annoying scheme of requiring keys of various qualities to do RPG-standard things like open chests and repair damaged equipment. Fortunately, senior producer Carrie Gouskos seems particularly sensitive to the freemium concerns, especially after what sounds like a very enlightening Canadian beta. She told me that she's very dedicated to not only making sure there's a free-to-play path through the game that's fun and rewarding, but has also been lowering prices lately, trying to get the in-app purchases to a place where they're both profitable (for Chillingo's sake), and tolerable (for the audience's). We'll be able to see the game soon -- it's set for a worldwide release sometime in July. Chillingo is one of my favorite publishers on the App Store -- the staff over there has made some terrific decisions in partnering up with quality developers, and all of these titles seem like great, well-polished experiences. Freemium is turning into a bad word with these titles, however, even when it doesn't have to be. We've seen in the past that audiences on iOS are more than willing to pay for high-quality experiences, and while the constant ask may make Chillingo more money in the end, it could sully the company's reputation, especially as there are more and more great experiences on the App Store that don't constantly pester for cash. Hopefully this company can find a good balance between profitable and fun, and keep publishing these great titles without having to cram them full of controversial freemium pitches.
