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Peggle 2 trailer and screens are head-banging
These screens and trailer for Peggle 2 show snippets of colorful gameplay, the same kind we've come to adore in the series. The trailer is layered with Ode to Joy and peppered with lots of peg-pelting action, but it's the head-banging Bjorn during the "Extreme Fever" part near the end that really gets our blood pumping. Microsoft revealed during its Gamescom press event that Peggle 2 will be joining Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare on Xbox One prior to hitting other consoles, with Peggle 2 launching alongside the system later this year.
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.
Peggle 2, Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare hit Xbox One first
PopCap is bringing the exuberantly announced Peggle 2 and 3D shooter Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare to Xbox One first, Microsoft just revealed at its Gamescom conference. Peggle 2 will be available on Xbox One at launch, while Garden Warfare comes to the system sometime next year.
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 launches worldwide on iOS, offers true free-to-play gaming
If you didn't get early access to Plants vs. Zombies 2 on iOS, now's your chance to play -- PopCap's backyard defense game has just launched worldwide on the App Store. The time travel-themed sequel significantly expands on the original with new plants, new zombies, between-round maps and touch-controlled power-ups. We've tried the game, and it's a welcome refinement of a mostly familiar experience. For some, though, the big change in PvZ2 may be its sheer accessibility. This is a genuinely free-to-play title -- you can see virtually everything it has to offer without paying a dime. In-app purchases are largely restricted to perks, such as coin packs. The developer doesn't yet have a schedule for PvZ2 releases on other platforms, but those who have at least one iOS device can engage in herbal warfare at the source link.
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."
Daily Update for June 27, 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 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.
Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare coming in spring, planned for PC
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is being planned for PC, producer Brian Lindley told Joystiq at E3. The third-person action game was announced for Xbox One and Xbox 360 at EA's E3 press conference yesterday. Lindley said the game will launch in spring 2014, and that "at the moment we're not announcing any platforms." You know, outside of PC. Garden Warfare was announced with a demo of its four-player cooperative multiplayer action. Lindley confirmed that the game will include competitive multiplayer modes in which players can control zombie characters instead of plants. %Gallery-191160%
Peggle 2 coming this year from PopCap
Popcap's John Vechey just announced Peggle 2 will launch this year on unknown platforms from PopCap.
EA reveals Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare [Update: Now with trailer!]
At its E3 conference today, Electronic Arts announced Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, a Frostbite-powered third-person action game inspired by PopCap's "flower defense" strategy game Plants vs. Zombies. In Garden Warfare, players control a squadron of heavily armed plant life, who must collectively fight off invading zombie hordes using organic weaponry. Gameplay is multiplayer and team-based, and each unit type boasts its own unique arsenal. Garden Warfare is coming to the Xbox One first, and an Xbox 360 port will launch afterward. Release dates for either version have not been announced.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 blooms on iOS July 18, is free-to-play
Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time launches (projectiles) on July 18 for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, and it's free-to-play. As the launch trailer indicates, the tagline's Joystiq-level clever wordplay relates to worlds set in different times. Going by the trailer, PvZ2's time travel plans include The Wild West, Ancient Egypt, and The Future. In-game purchases include upgrades and other items, but Popcap says "the vast majority of the game will be entirely free-to-play," and that "players can face every zombie and access every level in every world at no cost."
Hitman: Sniper Challenge, Gyromancer line up on Core Online
PopCap puzzler Gyromancer and Hitman: Sniper Challenge are the latest targets for Square Enix's browser-based Core Online service. Sniper Challenge, if you remember, was a pre-order bonus for Hitman: Absolution. What both games coming to Core Online does alert us to are changes to the service's payment structure. It was originally completely free-to-play, albeit with intermittent ads. However, free play is limited now to 20 minutes each day (still with ads). At 20 minutes a day, it's going to take about a month to complete Tomb Raider: Underworld. You can pay $2.99 per month to get full access to Core Online's library, which at present includes Hitman: Blood Money, Hitman: Sniper Challenge, Gyromancer, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Tomb Raider: Underworld, and Mini Ninjas. Alternatively, each game can be bought individually for $4.99.
Plants vs. Zombies Adventures ventures to Facebook May 20
Plants vs. Zombies Adventures, the "extra awesome PvZ experience" that is not Plants vs. Zombies 2, will go live on Facebook starting May 20. If that's not soon enough for you, developer PopCap is also granting early access to the game. Today at 3pm Pacific, the company will post a link on the PvZ Adventures Facebook page, giving early access to the first 500 to clickers. Meanwhile, Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time launches in July.
'Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time' coming this July, finally (video)
Come on, admit it: you've all secretly been longing for more Plants vs. Zombies action, right? Well fans, today's your lucky day. PopCap's just uploaded a YouTube video announcing that the sequel to its wildly successful game -- appropriately called Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time -- will be launched this July. The company makes fun of itself in the video, which shows frustrated gamers yelling and asking for a sequel to the popular game. It's unclear which platform the new title will support at launch, but the original Plants vs. Zombies -- which is four years old now -- first appeared on Mac and PC in 2009 before making its way to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PS Vita, Chrome, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and even Bada (!). The game's success was likely one of the reasons EA acquired the company in 2011. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to find our Samsung Wave review unit so we can play Plants vs. Zombies on that long forgotten mobile OS. Hit the break for PopCap's video.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 sprouts this July
Plants vs. Zombies 2 will finally launch in July, according to PopCap Games. "Yay! I can finally say it! PvZ 2: It's About Time is coming in July!" PvZ Community Marketing Manager Stephanie Bayer announced on Twitter this morning. PopCap Games announced the sequel last year with a "first half of 2013" release window, so we guess this counts as a mini delay. Hey, PvZ zombies are the slow kind.
'Plants vs. Zombies Adventures' sprouting on Facebook
Plants vs. Zombies Adventures is not the announced sequel to Popcap's lawn-defense game – that's still in process. Instead, it's an "extra awesome PvZ experience fans can enjoy on Facebook," the developer tweeted.The Facebook page for the unreleased game says Adventures includes "endless waves of new characters, strategies, territories, and community challenges." Interested parties will have the chance to find out exactly how Plants vs. Zombies has been adapted for the Facebook ecosystem soon: "liking" the page offers a chance to get in on a beta.
Seen@PAX East: PopCap plays tricks
PopCap's PAX East booth was carnival-themed this year, and featured a magician that decided to attempt a "social experiment" Saturday. Stepping down from the small stage, he instructed the crowd to gather closely around the Plants vs Zombies developer's booth, then stood among them. After a brief explanation, he incited a loud, manufactured applause from the crowd before taking the stage and starting his short, but charming routine.The magician believed that by kicking off the presentation with a cheering crowd, those passing by would naturally stop and join the audience. He was right; the video above shows a few folks gathering near our spot on the left side of the stage, but the total crowd gathering around the booth might have doubled in size from the time before the enigmatic performer began his instructions.
Zen Pinball 2 flies down the Wii U chute March 21
Zen Studios has finally provided a concrete date for Zen Pinball 2 on Wii U in North America: Thursday, March 21. The free download will be available on the eShop next week, which lets you sample all available tables in Zen Pinball 2's vault for a limited amount of time before purchase is necessary.Tables are purchased piecemeal through the in-game store, tables including the stock game tables and DLC such as the Marvel Pinball series and the Plants vs. Zombies tie-in. The freshly minted Star Wars tables have not been announced for Nintendo platforms, so naturally there's no mention of them in the announcement.Finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that purchases on other platforms won't transfer over to the Wii U. Zen Studios offered cross-play on PS Vita and PS3, but since the 3DS and Wii U use different stores, transferring already established content from the handheld to the Wii U is impossible.
