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PSA: Plants vs. Zombies free on Android today
Time is already passing, and you're not downloading Plants vs. Zombies on your Android device -- for zero dollars! Frankly, that seems really silly to us. Sure, Popcap already released the game on just about every other piece of electronics you own, but that doesn't make it any less wonderful and addicting. Did we mention it's free? Maybe we should point that out again, 'cause it's totally free.
PopCap signs Amazon Android Appstore deal; Chuzzle, PvZ available this month
PopCaps's Chuzzle and Plants vs. Zombies will launch for Android devices exclusively through Amazon's Appstore for Android. Amazon will have a two-week exclusive on both titles for the "U.S. market." Chuzzle will be available tomorrow, May 17, through May 30 and Plants vs. Zombies will shamble in "during a second exclusive offer later this month." Both games will be free on the first day of availability and $2.99 after. PopCap's announcement is missing a lot of details about the timetable for the exclusives. We're currently following up and asking if a similar approach is planned for the company's future Android titles.
Apple App Store, iPhone 4 awarded Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records has awarded Apple several world records today for the App Store and the iPhone 4. Additionally, several iOS developers were also awarded world records. Here's the breakdown from the Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer's Edition: Fastest-Selling Portable Gaming System -- iPhone 4: Guinness states that the iPhone 4's first-day sales estimates of 1.5 million make it the fastest selling game system in history. By comparison the PSP only sold 200,000 units its first day and the Nintendo DS sold 600,000 units in its first week. Most Popular Application Marketplace; Largest Downloadable Video Game Store; and Largest Launch Line-up of Any Gaming System -- Apple App Store: As of the time Guinness made its records decision, the App Store had over 6.5 billion downloads and 259,470 apps for purchase or free download making it the most popular downloadable app store in the world. Of those apps, 37,362 were games, making the App Store the largest video game download store in the world. Finally, when the App Store launched on July 10, 2008, the App Store featured over 500 apps, including 145 games, making it the "Largest Launch Line-up of Any Gaming System." Apple wasn't the only one to receive app accolades, however. iOS developers were also awarded titles by Guinness: Angry Birds got Top Paid-For App Store Game in Most Countries with more than 6.5 million downloads; Plants vs. Zombies was awarded Fastest-Selling iPhone/iPod Strategy Game with 300,000 paid downloads in its first nine days on sale; and Tap Tap Revenge was awarded the Most Popular iPhone Game Series with a combined 15 million downloads for all the Tap Tap games. Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer's Edition is available on Amazon. [via LA Times]
Plants vs Zombies down to $3.40 on Steam until Thursday afternoon
Though they may not know it yet, folks who've yet to get down with PopCap's horticultural undead defense sim are having a great day. It's never been cheaper to pick up Plants vs. Zombies -- until Thursday at 1PM ET, the game's marked down to $3.40 on Steam.
XBL Deal of the Week is having a Spring Fling
The Xbox Live Deal of the Week is going for a spring theme this week, offering discounts on several vernal games and items. Of particular note are Peggle and Ilomilo, both of which can be had for just 400 points each ($5), and you can throw in Peggle Nights for another 200 ($2.50). You'll also find it cheaper to deal with the zombies on your lawn, as Plants vs. Zombies has been knocked down to 800 points ($10). If none of that is appealing, you could always snag an Avatar monkey prop for 120 points ($1.50), because nothing says "spring" like monkeys.
"Unpleasant Horse" shows Apple isn't afraid to reject big developers
Apple has taken a lot of flak about the seemingly arbitrary rejection of apps in the App Store. Often small developers who have had their apps rejected cry foul, stating that Apple would never reject apps from bigger publishers. Earlier this week, however, Apple showed that even big publishers aren't immune to Apple's ban hammer. PopCap, publisher of megahits like Plants vs. Zombies, submitted an app called Unpleasant Horse. The game's objective is to jump a Pegasus-like horse from cloud to cloud. If you miss a cloud, the horse falls to the earth and is chewed up in a meat grinder. The app was promptly rejected by Apple. In response to the rejection, PopCap tweeted "WTF? Apple rejected Unpleasant Horse cuz of 'mature content?' We thought horses dying in meat grinders was wholesome family entertainment!" But as the New York Times points out, the tweet was later removed and PopCap has stated that it will appeal the ruling and submit the app again with a higher age rating. It's unknown what rating the game was originally submitted with, but the rejection of Unpleasant Horse goes to show you that Apple's acceptance or rejection of an app, while sometimes seeming arbitrary, at least affects large and small developers alike.
Hear the remastered Bejeweled soundtracks for the first time
You know, we didn't even realize Bejeweled games had music. Every time we play one of those joints it's when we're supposed to be doing something else -- so it's always muted, if not half-tucked under our desk on an iPhone, all cocked sideways. Listening to the remastered Bejeweled 2 and 3 soundtracks, now available to stream (or purchase) from the composers' page on online music store Bandcamp, it's clear that we've been missing out. These lively electronic ditties have a lot of spirit -- so why waste them on gem-matching? This could be the mix that finally transforms your mundane ride to work into a "journey," or your half-assed workout into a "quest." Bonus: The Plants vs. Zombies soundtrack is also available on Bandcamp.
PopCap discounts iOS games this weekend, proceeds go to Japan relief
PopCap will discount all of its iPhone and iPad games this weekend, beginning at 12:01AM PT tonight, donating all revenues from the 48-hour sale to the Red Cross in support of earthquake relief efforts in Japan. The company's iPhone games will be reduced to $1 each, while its two iPad apps, notably Plants vs. Zombies HD, will be offered for $2 apiece. "We recently opened an office in Tokyo, and while our Japan-based employees are safe and uninjured, we understand countless others in Japan need food, shelter, and medical attention," said PopCap's Ellen Marett in an announcement for the donation drive. "Given that Plants vs. Zombies reached #1 on the iPhone and iPad sales charts in Japan, it seemed like the most appropriate game to feature in this fundraising campaign." A complete listing of PopCap's iOS titles can be accessed via this App Store link. Update [3/22/11]: PopCap reports that the fundraiser sale raised more than $200,000, "which is being passed along to the International Red Cross for use in their ongoing efforts to provide food, shelter, medicine and other essentials to those suffering from the devastation in Japan."
NintendoWare Weekly: Plants vs. Zombies, Liight
We'll issue the standard "PopCap Warning" here: One of the developer's severely addictive casual games is spreading to a new platform today, raising the threat level to your productivity to red. If you have your DSi nearby and have a bunch to do, be warned that Plants vs. Zombies is now available on DSiWare. On WiiWare today, Studio Walljump releases Liight, the puzzler it first announced in 2008. In Liight, you position colored lights and manipulate shadows to ensure that the correct color of light is shining on multiple targets. Find the rest of this week's downloadable Nintendo releases after the break.%Gallery-119025%
Angry Birds continues PSN domination in February
The PlayStation Store had some noteworthy releases in February: Explodemon, Stacking, Bionic Commando Rearmed 2. But none of these new releases managed to chart in PSN's monthly sales numbers. Instead, you'll see some familiar names on the top 5 list, including Angry Birds, which continues its second month of bestselling sales. Angry Birds Plants vs. Zombies Tetris Pac-Man Championship Edition DX Mortal Kombat II In addition to Angry Birds, the appearance of a PopCap game, a Tetris game, and a Pac-Man game tell us that casual games are key to making your way to the top of the PlayStation Network.
PopCap considering IPO, not likely revealing any new IP in 2011
We're just gonna level with you, folks -- we're scared. Frankly, reading this weekend's CNBC report that Plants vs. Zombies developer PopCap Games is considering an IPO worries us greatly. In so many words, it means that the quirky indie studio could go from private to public, meaning that the company could go from being beholden to itself to being beholden to investors. It also means that PopCap could expand far more rapidly -- and that you could own a piece of the action. As it stands, the studio pulled in over $100 million last year in revenues and, according to CNBC, is the third largest Facebook developer -- handily besting Disney's user numbers with just two games of its own (versus Disney's 37!). PopCap doesn't deny the possibility of the IPO -- it evenregistered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission -- with company prez David Roberts saying, "I do think we'll be ready internally. Whether the market is ready remains to be seen. It has got to be right for us." Amazingly, CNBC also asked Roberts if he would comment on the long ago trademarked "Yetitrain" name. He didn't. That name, however, is still amazing. Unfortunately, we may not be hearing anything about it anytime soon. Roberts stated, "Don't hold your breath" when asked about the possibilty of a new franchise being announced this year.
What's in a Name: PopCap Games
During another long night of shakes and sweats, suffering from what was surely some PopCap Games withdrawal, we pondered the origin story of the electronic pharmaceutical giant's name. We spoke with PopCap Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Jason Kapalka for the answer: "First thing is that [PopCap Games] wasn't our name originally. The original name was 'Sexy Action Cool,'" Kapalka told us. "Back at university in Edmonton, there was an inside joke because some people had a basement suite with this big movie poster of Antonio Banderas in Desperado. It had this movie quote at the top that said: Sexy. Action. Cool." "It became an inside joke on how nobody could imagine using Sexy Action Cool in a real sentence. We'd walk around saying, 'You see that movie?' 'Yeah, it was sexy, action, cool.' Or 'That couch? That couch is really sexy, action, cool.'" The company founders snagged the related URL (which now directs to PopCap proper) and continued to not think much of the name, at first. As the site grew, however, it became clear that "Sexy Action Cool" was an awkward destination for mass-market family games.
Plants vs. Zombots: a LittleBigPlanet 2 re-creation
Plants vs. Zombots might be the most faithful recreation of a game we've see in LittleBigPlanet 2 so far. The level, created by Foggles, replicates all the sunshine grabbing, sunflower planting and zombie shooting you'd expect from Plants vs. Zombies.
Windows Phone 7 getting six weeks of 'Must Have Games' this Spring, Fable Coin Golf in March
Microsoft is treating its phone platform like a console, planning a release "event" for its Xbox Live games on Windows Phone 7. This spring, Microsoft's mobile platform will get six weeks of "Must Have Games," including Plants vs. Zombies, Hydro Thunder, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, Doodle Jump and more. The press release reiterates that the games, like all Xbox Live games on the platform, include Achievements and leaderboards. The platform will also be the exclusive home to Fable Coin Golf. Available in March, Coin Golf will let you transfer gold earned in the game to either the PC or console versions of Fable 3. Connecting the console and mobile game will also unlock "three exclusive weapons that can be used in the Traitor's Keep game add-on." The announcement coincides with the expansion of the Windows Phone platform to another carrier in the US. Sprint's HTC Arrive is the first WP7 device for the carrier, and will be available in March. Update: WinRumors indicates that Angry Birds will be among the WP7 releases during the "Must Have Games" promotion.
Infinity Blade, Plants vs. Zombies among International Mobile Gaming Awards winners
The seventh annual International Mobile Gaming Awards ceremony has concluded at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, and two US-developed titles came away with special honors. Infinity Blade from Epic Games garnered an award for Excellence in Design (we'd have also given it Supreme Overall Awesomeness) while PopCap's Plants vs. Zombies was picked as Best Casual Game. European winners included Perfect Cell by France's Mobigame (People's Choice Award); FDG's Beyond Ynth (Excellence in Gameplay, Grand Prix Award) and Snowboard Hero by Fishlabs (Excellence in Gameplay, Operators' Choice) from Germany; the UK-made Papa Sangre by Somethin' Else (Most innovative Game); and AR invaders by Israel-based dev Soulbit (Best Real World Game). Mobile games will get their next chance to shine at GDC 2011, during both the IGF Awards and Game Developers Choice Awards on March 2.
Mac App Store bargains: Plants vs. Zombies and more
The Mac App Store has been a great place to find bargains, and today brings another one that I'm pretty excited about: Plants vs. Zombies is available for US$10, instead of the $20 that PopCap has charged on its website. I've seen several apps that have offered significant discounts in the Mac App Store, such as Little Snapper, Pixelmator, Aperture (which sells for $80 despite the fact that Apple still offers to preinstall it on Macs for $200!) and more. Have you found any great discounts in the Mac App Store versus previous prices? If so, let us know in the comments.
Mastertronic bringing PopCap games to UK retail on DS, PC and 360
Our friends overseas -- who live in the United States of Kingdoms, which we're fairly certain is what the UK is short for -- are about to have their free time sucked into oblivion. Publisher Mastertronic has announced plans to bring PopCap's most devilishly addictive titles to UK retailers on various platforms, starting with the February 18 release of PopCap Hits for Xbox 360; a tidy bundle which includes Bejeweled 2, Peggle, Feeding Frenzy and AstroPop. Shortly thereafter, the publisher will port Plants vs. Zombies to the DS, and will release a second collection of PopCap Hits for 360, including Plants vs. Zombies, Zuma, Feeding Frenzy 2 and Heavy Weapon. Mediatronic also plans on releasing retail versions of a few of the casual developer's titles on PC later this year. Basically, we hope that the UK doesn't have any big projects coming up that will require its citizens to be as productive as humanly possible, because, hoo boy, that's a whole lot of PopCap.
Plants vs. Zombies vs. PS3 this Feb., SOE announces upcoming PSN library
Like the sunrise, the expansion of a PopCap game to another platform is inevitable. Plants vs. Zombies will be available on the PlayStation Network in February thanks to the company's continuing collaboration with Sony Online Entertainment. Like SOE's previous efforts, this appears to be a direct port of the original game. If you're looking for something more "exclusive," SOE has announced an extensive suite of original PSN games as well: Acceleration of Suguri X Edition from Rockin' Android is an anime robot beat 'em up. Slam Bolt Scrappers from Fire Hose Games has you constructing buildings, and brawling bosses to protect them. Akimi Village from NinjaBee has you gathering resources to construct a village. Sideway from Playbrains and Fuel Industries is an adventure set in the "gritty art culture" of NYC. Rochard from Recoil Games is a side-scrolling puzzler set in space. Slam Bolt Scrappers is arriving this March, while Sideway is cleared with a vague "Spring" release window. Unfortunately, not much else has been released about the other titles, but expect more in the future.
Plants vs. Zombies, Peggle coming to Android [update: Q2 release planned]
Things are looking up for game-loving Android owners. First, we unveiled the Android version of the Joystiq app and now, much less interestingly, PopCap reveals that both Peggle and Plants vs. Zombies are headed to Android as well. Posting on Twitter, PopCap's Jeff Green uploaded images of both games running on an Android device. In response to another Tweet, Green also stated that the games won't be supported by ads, but will "probably" be sold via "the various marketplaces." We've contacted PopCap to see if we can dig up any more information. We'll plant an update right here if we hear anything. Update: PopCap isn't sharing details on its upcoming Android titles, saying only that they are "coming along" and that the first titles -- not necessarily Plants vs. Zombies or Peggle -- should launch in Q2 2011.
Reminder: XBLA Plants vs. Zombies on sale this week
A quick note for all the undead-hating green thumbs out there: The Xbox Live Arcade version of Plantz vs. Zombies is on sale this week. Normally 1200 MS Points, the defensive gardening sim is now available to Xbox Live Gold members for 800 MSP ($10). That $5 saving could buy a lot of mulch.
