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Plants vs. Zombies taking root on DS January 2011
This January, you'll be able to play Plants vs. Zombies on two screens without running two simultaneous games on your iPhone and computer. PopCap Games revealed plans today to publish the tower yard defense game on DS in January of next year, at a suggested $19.95 price point. The DS version will have all the content of the original release, "as well as new and exclusive game content." The DS port of Peggle added entirely new, entirely weird levels under the existing levels, but there's no telling how extensive or insane the additions to Plants vs. Zombies will be.
Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition available on Steam for Mac and PC
Steam is growing regular ol' Plants vs. Zombies into the "Game of the Year edition." The free update is available for existing PC copies of PvZ. In addition, PvZ is now available in its GOTY incarnation on Mac for $10. Remember, with Steam, if you own the game for Windows and are a closet Mac user (or vice versa), you also own it for the other system. The update adds 20 Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud support and the "Zombatar" -- a custom zombie creator. You can also try out the Zombatar on PopCap's site and use the image for any of your social networking sites. In only a few minutes we made what we imagine to be a rabid transvestite b-boy.
Plant yourself in front of this XBLA Plants vs. Zombies trailer
It might look like the same game on the surface, but the first trailer for the Xbox Live Arcade version Plants vs. Zombies reveals a few of the new features in the upcoming port. We already knew about co-op and versus multiplayer, but did you know you can also deck out your house and visit your neighbors? Considering how many zombies are on the lawn, running to the neighbor is bound to come in handy. Check out new screens below and find the trailer after the break.%Gallery-98993%
Plants vs. Zombies shambles onto Xbox Live Arcade September 8
The Xbox Live Arcade port of Plants vs. Zombies has been given a (re-)birthday: Wednesday, September 8. In just five weeks, Xbox gamers who haven't already picked up PopCap's polished tower defense game on PC, Mac or iPhone/iPad can do so on XBLA for $15 (or 1200 Xbox bucks). This latest version doesn't only bring an HD, controller-optimized experience to the console space, it also adds two new multiplayer modes: Co-op and Versus. In IGN's brief writeup of the game, the site says one co-op strategy is to have one player use defensive plants while the other uses offensive plants, as they try to hold back the oncoming undead. In Versus mode, the zombie player has to eat his or her way into the plant player's home, while the plant player has to shoot down three zombie targets. If the multiplayer enhancements in PopCap's XBLA port of Peggle are any indication, you should expect more than just bullet-point upgrades.
Dear Aunt TUAW: Where's my Michael Jackson Zombie?
Dear Aunt TUAW, PopCap Games recently released an update to Plants vs. Zombies boasting "multiple performance enhances and bug fixes" (sure, but I never had an issue on my 3GS). Now, the King of Pop Zombie is nowhere to be found! He's replaced with a zombie with an orange Afro, white 70s leisure suit and orange shoes. Why? Why remove the King of Pop? Was there a threatening lawsuit? Can you all find out for us and get the scoop? I won't be updating anytime soon now. Thank you from your loving nephew, Alejandro
PopCap removes Michael Jackson lookalike from Plants vs. Zombies
A recent update for the iPhone version of PopCap's floral tower-defense title, Plants vs. Zombies, makes a significant change to a prominent member of the game's undead roster: Dancing Zombie. The red leather jumpsuit-clad ghoul formerly resembled Michael Jackson in his seminal, super-lengthy 1983 music video "Thriller." After the update, the shambling fiend now has much more generic disco attire. PopCap explained the reason for the update to MTV Multiplayer, stating, "The Estate of Michael Jackson objected to our use of the 'dancing zombie' in Plants vs. Zombies based on its view that the zombie too closely resembled Michael Jackson." Rather than risk a legal kerfluffle, PopCap has decided to "replace it with a different 'dancing zombie' character for future builds" of the title. Unfortunately, the update seems to be causing the game to crash on iPhone 4. Keep an eye peeled for an update update, which will still leave the title King of Pop-less, yet delightfully functional.
Plants vs. Zombies takes root on XBLA in 'early September'
Finally, a chance to link the Plants vs. Zombies theme song again! Oh, and we've got some news too, but first -- let's just load up the theme song again real quick. Okay! Now that we've got that pumping in the next tab, we can get down to the news: PopCap is bringing its tower defense game, Plants vs. Zombies, to Xbox Live Arcade in "early September" for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). (The earliest it could launch in September would be Wednesday, September 1.) Aside from improved graphics (full 1080p!), the Xbox 360 port will also boast 21 different minigames, two new modes (Co-op and Vs.) and a "house" feature where players can create a custom space that tracks progress and has leaderboards for sizing up which of your friends has the greenest thumb of all. If you like your games planted on disc, PopCap also plans to launch Plants vs. Zombies, along with Zuma and Peggle (both already featured in PopCap disc compilations), as an Xbox 360 retail compilation, and the company will re-release Plants vs Zombies for PC and Mac in a "Game of the Year" package, with a limited number shipping with a zombie figurine. Both disc-based releases are expected to shamble to retail shelves "this fall" for $20.
Plants vs. Zombies XBLA getting co-op, versus mode [update]
According to a recently revealed list of XBLA Achievements found over at Xbox360Achievements, it seems that the upcoming XBLA iteration of PopCap's zombie gardening game Plants vs. Zombies will be getting a new versus mode, as well as the inclusion (in some form) of co-op play. Two separate Cheevos indicate as much -- the first named "Versus vs. Versus" (fittingly enough) and the second named "ZFF's 4 Evr" (earned by bowling "a winner with a friend in Co-Op Wall-Nut Bowling"). The real question is, of course, whether or not everyone's favorite crazy gardener be a playable character -- we can only dream, folks. Update: A recent press release from PopCap confirms it: Plants vs. Zombies will have a Co-op mode, as well as a Vs. mode. Ed Allard, PopCap's head of worldwide studios, says, "The two new multiplayer modes allow gamers to work cooperatively to defeat hordes of invading zombies, or go head-to-head in a true 'plants vs. zombies' challenge." For more on the Xbox 360 version, check out our announcement post here.
EEDAR/SMU study: review scores affect perceived quality, purchase intent
A study conducted by EEDAR and SMU's Guildhall found trusted media outlets do affect consumers' perception of video games and their willingness to purchase. Joystiq received an advanced copy of the study (releasing publicly next week), that involved 165 qualified participants split into three groups, who were then exposed to high, low and no review scores for Plants vs. Zombies before playing the game. After the 20-minute session, the subjects were offered either a copy of the game or $10. A result of the study was that participants exposed to higher review scores were 100 percent more likely than those exposed to low scores to take a copy of Plants vs. Zombies over the $10 and "85 percent more likely to take the game than the control group." The study concludes that "because nearly twice as many participants in the high review group took the copy ... that the relationship between video game sales and professional review scores are not correlative but causal." Plants vs. Zombies was chosen because it's "regarded by the gaming community and by critics as a high quality title of broad appeal." The mock reviews used in the study were from five well-known media outlets and participants were told that the aggregate review score they were given was "comprised of 51 professional" outlets. All participants "played the same game, on the same type of computer, in the same environment, for the same amount of time."
Google to digitally distribute games through web-based app store
[Engadget] Former Joystiqer Ross Miller is currently on the ground for Engadget at Google's annual dev conference "I/O" in San Francisco, where the company just revealed its web-based app store for Chrome and Chrome OS. Aside from a handful of regular ol' apps and an interactive version of Sports Illustrated (paper? what's that?), Google debuted games for purchase, playable in-browser. Plants vs. Zombies and Lego Star Wars are explicitly mentioned in the piece, but we can also spot Bejeweled 2 (also by PopCap), as well as Poker Rivals, Scrabble, FIFA World Cup 2010, and Who Has the Biggest Brain? (all by EA) -- a LucasArts rep clarified for us that the version of Lego Star Wars seen is actually this already available online game. We're not sure how much the games will be going for or even exactly how it'll work just yet, but we'll let you know just as soon as we do (there's a bit more info on the FAQ page). The web store is set to go live for developers "soon," but hasn't been dated for the general public just yet.
PopCap looses 13-game Mac pack for $50, free time mysteriously disappears
In a thinly veiled attempt at free time domination the world over (at least with regards to Mac users), PopCap is currently offering its "Complete Pack" for the significantly lowered price of $50. All of our favorite time-thieving addictions are present -- from Plants vs. Zombies to Bookworm to Bejeweled 2 -- as well as a handful of other games totaling 13 in all. There's no cutoff date given for the bundle's sale, but we'd suggest snapping it up sooner than later. That is, if you're looking to say goodbye to everything for a little while.
Apple updates iPad guided tour videos
Apple's guided tour videos explain a device's marquee features. Apple released a set for the iPad last month, and this week it's added two more: Maps and the App Store. In the Maps clip, a user is in the now familiar "lap up" pose as she uses Maps to explore Paris. I must admit that the Google maps app looks fantastic on the iPad, though I doubt I'd walk around with it out as I've done with my iPhone. The App Store video starts with users playing Plants Vs. Zombies (get your feet off that table!) and a few others before demonstrating to how to find, download and use the app of your choice, as well as store features like categories, features, etc. The info in these clips won't enlighten most of us, but do send them to the novice Apple customers among your family and friends if they still need a little convincing on an iPad purchase. [Via MacNN]
App Store leak hints at iPad versions of Plants vs. Zombies, Worms
Looks like you early iPad adopters will have something good to play -- PadGadget noticed yesterday that Apple's App Store listings accidentally included a few unannounced iPad launch games in their store listings, even though the games aren't available for download yet. A few games, like Flight Control HD and Labyrinth 2 HD – both high definition iPad versions of their iPhone counterparts – had already been announced by their respective developers but there were at least two big titles on the list that gamers might appreciate: Plants vs. Zombies HD and Worms HD. Yup, looks like both PopCap's popular topiary tower defense game and the old fightin' invertebrates are coming to the iPad on day one. Of course, this could just be a slip-up on Apple's end -- these could be placeholder names, or they could just be testing the app store for iPad titles. But considering the popularity of PopCap's titles on the portable platforms, odds are very good that as soon as you get home from the Apple Store on iPad on April 3rd, iPad day, Tall Nut and all of his other buds will be ready to play. [Via Touch Arcade]
iPad games leak out, include Plants vs. Zombies HD and Worms HD
Whoops -- somebody at Apple accidentally jumped the gun on sending a few iPad titles to the App Store. A few HD titles have snuck into iTunes' web interface a little early, and while we already knew that some of them were on the way to the iPad (Flight Control HD has already been announced, and NBA Hotshot HD was rumored), there are a few interesting new names in this list: Ammoin HD Azkend HD Flight Control HD Grind HD Labyrinth 2 HD NBA Hotshot HD Numba HD Plants vs. Zombies HD Sparkle HD Worms HD Plants vs. Zombies HD? Worms HD? Yes please. Looks like Apple is already working their way through the iPad application process, and a few apps are already approved and ready for launch on April 3rd. If this list is any indication, there will be no shortage of games to play on your new iPad. Update: 148Apps has a few more of the leaked listings. [via TA]
Plants vs. Zombies started as Insaniquarium sequel, PopCap is human
If you, like us, were laboring under the impression that the entity known as "PopCap Games" was some sort of supernatural anti-free time daemon that simply willed release after release of perfectly polished and addictive gameplay into an increasingly submissive world, then you'll probably find this little writeup over at Ars Technica intriguing. Apparently PopCap is just a video game developer, made up of real people who draw ideas out on notepads and tweak them as they see fit. Who knew? For example, its latest runaway hit, Plants vs. Zombies, started out as a sequel to Insaniquarium, but as the gameplay was tuned more towards a tower defense-like setup and the idea arose of regenerating sunlight as a resource for the fight against the undead, the title morphed into the time-killer we know it as today. Of course, there's no doubt that a game that featured locust aliens and "jolly-moustache-potato-men" would have been just as fun, but it's good to know that the minds behind PopCap are, in fact, human. We'd like to use that knowledge to find a weakness and attempt to reclaim our long-missing boredom, but we're too busy playing its games.
Plants vs. Zombies breaks records on the iPhone
PopCap has released some sales information on their latest iPhone game, Plants vs. Zombies, and it's a runaway hit: the game has sold over 300,000 copies in just the nine days it's been out on the App Store, which means the company has garnered over $1 million in sales already. Very impressive -- first, we had an app make a million total, then a company was making a million a month, and now PopCap has done the same in just over a week. So what's their secret? It's a high quality game, first of all, and PopCap has a reputation for making those already. Second, the game itself had a fairly high profile even before release, since it was extremely successful on the PC as well. And finally, you have to think that the price figures in as well -- I thought the game would sell for PopCap's usual $5, but they actually sold it two dollars less than that. They'd probably have still made a lot of money, but I don't know if they'd be talking about 300,000 sales at a price just two dollars higher. Then again, the game is already available for free online, so maybe the quality and PopCap's profile played a bigger part than the price did (they also trumpet the fact that Bejeweled 2 is also one of the top five grossing apps on the App Store). Congrats to PopCap on all their success. Oh, and our free time called, too. It surrenders.
PopCap harvesting a money crop with Plants vs. Zombies on iPhone
We had assumed that putting PopCap's devilishly addictive Plants vs. Zombies on a handheld device was a recipe for commercial success. However, we didn't anticipate it setting a new sales record for the App Store, moving over 300,000 downloads in just nine days. At $2.99 a pop, the game has already netted the casual developer over $1 million on the iPhone platform alone. We're sincerely hoping this inspires PopCap to explore other match-ups between things in nature and humanoid aggressors. Trees vs. Ninjas? Migratory Geese vs. Robots? The Ocean vs. Witches? Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus vs. Everyone Else on Earth?
Plants vs. Zombies hits the iPhone
Last week we noted the impending arrival PopCap's ridiculously addictive Plants vs. Zombies onto the iPhone / iPod touch, and now this marvelous time-waster has landed. A variant of the the tower defense genre, Plants vs. Zombies requires you to defend your house from mobs of raging zombies by placing various sorts of projectile-emitting, exploding, and zombie-eating plants between them and your front door. Much like previous hits Peggle and Bejeweled, the PopCap team has produced a first-class iPhone port. On my 3GS it runs smoothly and the core gameplay is substantially unchanged from the desktop version, despite the smaller screen (you can get a free gameplay taste with the online version). Minor tweaks include placing your plant "catalog" along the left side of the screen and adding handy highlights which show you exactly into which row and column you're placing your plants. Plants vs. Zombies is available now for iPhone and iPod touch for a bargain price of $2.99. Go get it; you won't be disappointed.
PopCap thinks iPad will change gaming, but not for years
Are you ready for the upcoming revolution (in approximately three years), when Apple's iPad begins to deliver on the "magical" capabilities that Steve Jobs promised not so long ago? We're not exactly on board yet either, but PopCap's co-founder John Vechey believes that we should be prepared for such a possibility. In speaking with Eurogamer, he says, "The iPad's important, but I think it's going to be more important in three years ... it's probably going to take the second generation to make it really, like, 'Wow!'" Before addressing gaming, he admits, "This is my opinion ... it's not like it has a magical set of features, just a great package." His perception is that the device will be perfect for both children and ... his mom? "Because she can't screw it up, she can't download a bunch of stuff ... that's the perfect mum computer, right?" (We're inclined to agree with Vechey's claim, for the record.) It's also a question of accessibility though, he says. "Here's this new device that gets to more people with a really great e-commerce model attached to it ... it's really easy to buy on the iPhone -- that's part of what makes it successful." And yes, like PopCap's Andrew Stein told us earlier this year, Vechey reaffirms the developer's interest in games being re-developed for the iPad. "I don't know if this is a PopCap position or my word, but we're certainly going to support it -- I want to play Plants vs. Zombies on that." In the meantime, we'll be playing PvZ on our iPhone while waiting for that (and the revolution).
Plants vs. Zombies shambling to iPhones February 15
PopCap today announced that the iPhone port of Plants vs. Zombies is heading to Apple's handheld on February 15, seemingly aiming for the exact day that it had originally approximated for a delayed release. What's more, the publisher has also released the first trailer for the game (seen above), showing off the port's pared down touch-based controls and getting us even more (trepidatiously) pumped for the impending release. Sure, some other games are releasing this month or whatever, but do those games grab us by the dopamine receptor and refuse to let go? Yeah, didn't think so.
