Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 Preview

Todd Jepperson

Next week’s follow-up to the genre bending Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare has been given the full treatment. No longer the simple tower-defense style mobile game, Garden Warfare 2 is being called something akin to Nintendo’s Spitoon meets Call of Duty. 

The beta has been reviewed a couple of times, and each reviewer has come to the same conclusion: although it looks like this game is for kids, it’s definitely fun to play and offers serious interactions for even the serious gamer. 

Plants include Citron, a giant orange-like plant with the ability to knock zombies over or blast them to nothing with a beam of energy. Also, there is Rose, who has the power to turn zombies into goats. But my favorite, Kernel Corn, has gone all out with machine guns for arms.

There are a couple of new zombies in the mix. Super Brainz is an undead Superman/Ryu cross who is a monster of close-combat.Captain Deadbeard is a pirate zombie with a remote control parrot. There’s even a little guy called Imp who’s very fast, but also pretty weak until he jumps into his Z-mech. 

Combine all of this with 12 brand new maps and a whole bunch of free, downloadable extras and Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 looks to be one game you won’t want to miss. 

For a full review of the beta, jump on over to Metro.co.uk where the feeling is that Garden Warfare 2 is “coming up roses.”

Plants Vs. Zombies Free 'til Nov. 10th!

Todd Jepperson

The ADA and PopCap Games have teamed up to STOP ZOMBIE MOUTH this Halloween. From now, 'til November 10th, you can follow this link and grab your free copy of the winner of over 30 game of the year awards, Plants Vs. Zombies!

 There's no limit to how many copies you install, so grab every computer you can get your hands on and share the gift of braaaaaaiiiins.

Plants Vs Zombies Sequel Flowering Soon

David Brown



If you were like me, you enjoyed Plants vs Zombies on not just one, but many of the systems it was released on. In the time it has been out, it has become more than a game. It has become a phenomenon, showing what is possible with a simple premise and some great characters.  Today PopCap made a major announcement concerning the future of the franchise.

In a press release today, they said "The sequel to Plants vs. Zombies is expected to launch by late spring 2013, and will include a bevy of new features, settings, and situations, designed to delight the franchise’s tens of millions of fans around the world." Aside from this, they didn't reveal any more details about the new game.

 

Initial reactions from some of the denizens of the Plants vs Zombies universe included:

“Spring is crullest curlie ungood time, and plantz grow dull roots,” noted an unidentified spokesperson. “So, we are meating you for brainz at yore house. No worry to skedule schedlue plan… we're freee anytime. We'll find you.”

“There was a time we relished a bracing, hearty blend of zombies, in the morning,” said Sonny F. Lower, a representative of the Flora Forever Foundation. “But first, a brisk shower and some strategic pruning are required. Tomorrow is near!”

Look for the madness that is Plants Vs Zombies next Spring and until then keep it tuned here for all the latest coverage. If you would like, you can also check out our previous Plants Vs Zombies coverage below:

Plants Vs Zombies Board Game
Plants Vs Zombies Products
Plants Vs Zombies Unknow Facts

Plants vs. Zombies - 50% off sale

Matt Boiselle
Attention all zombie killers and lovers of gardening, now through November 1st, you can head on over to PopCap games website and purchase the download for the wildly popular Plants vs. Zombies for 1/2 price !! This highly addictive game has just been updated with 20 new achievements, and the new " Zombatar" where you can create your own zombie and watch it come to life in the game. Even without the latest additions this game is packed full of undead goodness. Check it out - battle 26 kinds of zombies using 49 different species of plants duking it out in 50 ascending levels, different game modes such as adventure, survival, puzzle and the zombie-free Zen gardens, perfect for when you need to take a break from all the killing. If that isn't enough for you, there are 20 different mini- games weaved throughout this stacked set-up, all for the low price of only $ 9.95. This deal won't be offered for too much longer so give yourself another treat this Halloween and pick this one up..

Plants vs. Zombies to Brighten Your Day

David Brown

Courtesy of Dorkly.com here is a fun PvZ animated short to make your day a little bit brighter.

Plants Vs Zombies Updated on iPhone and iPod Touch

David Brown


Since it's initial release on the PC, Plants vs. Zombies has continued to build in popularity and expand to various platforms including the iPhone and iPod Touch. Each release has offered more content and added features while maintaining a core standard of great strategic game play. Today we received news from PopCap Games that an update had been released for Plants vs. Zombies on the iPhone and iPod Touch.

The update adds a number of different updates including the following:

Game Modes

• Zen Garden

6 Mini-Games

• Zombiquarium
• It’s Raining Seeds
• Column Like You See
• Slot Machine
• Beghouled Twist
• Portal Combat

Achievements

• Wall-Not-Attack: Complete ZomBotany without using wall-nuts, tall-nuts, or pumpkins
• Lucky Spin: Get 3 diamonds in Slot Machine
• Chilli Free: Complete Column Like You See ‘Em without using jalapenos
• Enlightened: Collect Zen Garden, Mushroom Garden and Aquarium Garden plants
  
• Green Fingers: Grow 10 Zen Garden plants to full size
• Sultan of Spin: Upgrade all of your plants in Beghouled Twist

We have also been told that future updates will include Retina Display support, IZombie, Vasebreaker, and other features to be revealed later. If you haven't gotten into Plants vs. Zombies, now is the perfect time. Do not miss this great game with all of these updated features.

Plants vs Zombies Attacks Social Media Site

PopCap Games has announced that their hit, Plants vs Zombies, has been adapted for China's leading social networking site, Renren.  To translate for the majority of us Westerners, Renren is China's version of Facebook.  This will mark the first time a Western game developer has received an exclusive launch on Renren.

As-is typical of PopCap's style, the PvZ game will not be a direct port.  For those keeping track, each time the game is released on another platform, it offers features and gameplay elements that differ from the other versions.  This time, players can invite their friends to visit their own personal towns, custom-built to reflect the individual's style and strategy!  There will also be a 2-minute zombie attack called "Rampage Mode".  There will be a new Rampage challenge each week.

Personally, I'm not one for Facebook games.  Granted, I don't have the time.  But, a Plants vs Zombies game?  I am certain I would keep me glued to Facebook longer than I need to be.

Official Plants Vs Zombies Board Game?

Todd Jepperson



At the beginning of this month, we got the lead out. We unloaded everything that we knew about PvZ merchandise. In that article, there was a very interesting little tidbit from Garth Chouteau, VP of Public Relations for PopCap Games. He told us that there was no “official” merchandise on the market, other than the game and the zombie figure that came with the Game of the Year edition. That put a little damper on things, but then he went on to say that they were being overrun by companies wanting licenses to produce official goods. One of those companies may have scored a headshot.

As seen at Toy Fair 2011, Screenlife Games, makers of the hit Scene it? franchise, displayed a concept of their newest creation. According to Gamers.com, the paradigm was so fresh they didn’t even have time to get it on the brochures. Plants vs. Zombies has spread from the digital into the tangible world of paper and plastic.

The details we were able to dig up are that it will be a two to four player brawl where up to forty plant cards and eighty Zombie cards battle it out to see who will be kings of the front lawn apocalypse. The game will be played by rolling dice and drawing cards to see which Zombies will drag themselves onto the board next and which valiant photosynthesizer you may place to defend the home turf. As a twist, you’ll be able to manipulate the other players’ lawns during play, which makes the game a little more fun and a whole lot more competitive.

We’re hearing that this could hit the market as soon as autumn of this year, and there’s a more than a survivor’s chance in suburbia that we’ll have it stocked in the Z&T Toystore as soon as we can get our hands on it. We’ll see what we can work out. Until then, keep checking back and we’ll keep unearthing the details.

Plants vs. Zombies: The Products behind the Phenomenon

David Brown

When you think about things that go together you may often think of peanut butter and jelly or milk and cereal. One combination that many never thought of was plants and zombies. PopCap Games created a phenomenon with this combination that many will call nothing short of brilliant... including me. The game, which has been reviewed countless times, is a work of art that deserves all of the praise that it has received. The game is available on numerous systems, most recently the Nintendo DS.

With the success of a franchise, you usually see a flooding of various merchandise. In the case of Plants vs. Zombies, there is an exception. We have seen plenty of promotional products but nothing commercially available. Since the original release of the game on PC, we have seen a number of promotional products including some great pins, chef’s aprons, custom printed t-shirts, paper masks, and more.

A search for Plants vs. Zombies on eBay alone will give you many products that have been independently produced such as Plants vs. Zombies soft plush toys. One listing we found included plush versions of Sunflower, Wall-Nut, Kernel-Pult, and Peashooter. If you look further, you can find hand-made figures of SunFlower, Tall-Nut, Torchwood, Flower-pot, Repeater, Doom-Shroom, and more. These figures range in height from 4cm to 14cm. There are also figurines devoted to the zombies themselves that can be found on Etsy and on eBay.

Plants vs. Zombies has inspired fans and artists to create their own collectibles including lawn decorations. If you do a Google search, you can find almost unlimited avenues that have been touched by Plants vs. Zombies. Many have created cakes devoted to the game, made their own costumes, and painted their cars. Somebody even took it upon themselves to have their boat painted to reflect their love of Plants vs. Zombies.

In all of this there is one unfortunate truth. Many of the products that are seen and sold out there are purely shown and sold by the fans. According to Garth Chouteau, VP of Public Relations for PopCap Games, there are currently no “commercially available” Plants vs. Zombies items other than the game itself and the zombie figure that comes in the Game of the Year edition retail packaging. He went on to explain that PopCap has received “many overtures from companies” regarding merchandise and that they are “entertaining offers and proposals” for officially licensed products.


Plants vs. Zombies has caused an explosion in the United States since it was released. The game has seen many incarnations that have received mass praise and appeal from the fans. It is also interesting to note that each version of Plants vs. Zombies is a little bit different and is more than just a simple port.


The success of Plants vs. Zombies is one that cannot be ignored. What originally began as a strategy game putting plants against aliens has grown to become the addiction of casual and hard-core gamers alike. Many people have taken their love of the franchise to unprecedented levels. It is this level of devotion, and the creation of so many great products, that illustrates the power of a simple idea executed correctly. The only bit of sad news is that there are currently no plans for a Plants vs. Zombies 2 to be released, although there are plans to eventually work towards this. I, for one, may be more eager to see some official Plants vs Zombies toys!


In an attempt to show you what is official and what is not, we at Zombies & Toys have photographed and compiled a list of the official Plants vs Zombies merchandise we are aware of. Read on and let the drooling commence!

Plants vs Zombies Invades Nintendo DS

David Brown

PopCap Games, the worldwide leader in casual video games, announced today the North American release of Plants vs Zombies for the Nintendo DS. The game will feature all of the engaging gameplay that was in the PC edition including Adventure, Survival and Puzzle modes. There is also the addition of multiplayer action and four all-new, exclusive mini-games as well as 14 achievements.

The game is available today for the low price of $19.95. If you are looking for a DSiWare version of the game, you can look forward to that in the coming weeks. The DSiWare version will contain Adventure mode, the mini-games from the DS adaptation and an exclusive mini-game known as Zombie Trap. For more information on the all new mini games and achievements, please keep reading.

Four All-New and Exclusive Mini-Games

Air Raid: As a pilot flying repeater, players have to dodge, weave and shoot their way to victory in this side-scrolling shooter-style mini-game

Home Run Derby: In a wacky marriage of zombies and baseball, players hit home runs to score sun. But they’ll have to watch out for the oncoming, sporty hordes of some all-new zombies.

Heat Wave: It’s a real scorcher! Players have only a few plants and they tire out quickly. Swap them around with the stylus and cheer them up with the microphone!

BOMB All Together: Players will blast zombies into the hereafter, but they’ll have to use their plants wisely; there’s a limited supply.

14 New Achievements

Resolute Homeowner – Complete Adventure Mode

Attention Deficit – Earn a trophy in each mini-game

Think Hard – Earn a trophy in each puzzle mode

Tough Beans – Earn a trophy in each survival mode

Shopping Spree – Spend $25000 in Crazy Dave’s store

Book Learner – Fill out the Almanac

Greenhouser – Raise 10 plants to full growth in the Zen Garden

Cerebral Canopy – Grow the tree of wisdom to 100 ft.

Demolitioneer – Blow up 10 zombies at once with a single cherry bomb

Photosensitive – Beat a night level without picking up any sun

Don’t Drink the Water – Beat a pool level without using any aquatic plants

Nebulaphile – Beat an extremely foggy level without disturbing any fog

Unsiege Mentality – Complete a roof level without using any catapult plants

Street Team – Play Download-Play at least once

If you haven’t gotten the chance to play this game yet then this is another reason to go out and get it. The addictive nature and short game sessions really add up to create a fun game. You will not feel sorry if you go out and pick up this game ASAP.

Plants Vs. Zombies Sprouting for the Nintendo DS

Todd Jepperson


Heads up! There’s a trailer that just popped up over on Nintendolife.com to get us all restless about the upcoming Plants Vs. Zombies for Nintendo DS. The game’s set to hit shelves in January of next year, just in time to take back all of the crap that you got for Christmas that you didn’t want anyway.

“With new achievements, a two-player versus mode and four brand new minigames, the trailer should allay fears that the game wouldn’t justify its full retail price tag. It also contains footage of a unicorn with a zombie face, nearly beating the zombie bobsled team seen in the iPhone trailer.”

Plants vs Zombies in WoW

Wow!  Plants vs Zombies in WoW?  What?  Not "what", "WoW".  Let's try this again...  An upcoming World of Warcraft expansion, Cataclysm, will feature a playable homage to PopCap Game's Plants vs Zombies.  The game, called "Peacebloom vs. Ghouls" will also feature achievements and new music from Laura Shigihara.  Shigihara, wrote the original PvZ theme song.

PopCap Games co-founder and creative director Jason Kapalka had this to say:  “We are delighted to have Plants Vs Zombies in Warcraft, and are looking forward to playing the final version of Cataclysm when it releases."

Plants vs Zombies Unknown Facts

Plants vs Zombies is now available for Xbox Live in all of its hi-definition glory.  I was uncertain if I would enjoy it as much considering I played the heck out of it on my computer.  Two hours later, I realized it was even more fun on the big screen.  There is a bunch of new play modes and the mouseless gameplay translated better than I anticipated.  I even caved and bought the premium Plants vs Zombies theme package.

So now that PvZ is back in the news, I thought I'd share an article posted at OC Weekly that tells us about some little-known PvZ facts.

*  The game was originally planned to be called "Lawn of the Dead".  This was obviously a pun of the 1978 George Romero zombie film Dawn of the Dead. Due to legal reasons, the title had to be changed to the current Plants vs. Zombies.

*  Senior game designer, George Fan, had three game influences when desigining Plants vs Zombies:  Warcraft III, Insaniquarium, and Tapper.

*  Another inspiration for the gameplay mechanics of Plants vs Zombies comes from the movie Swiss Family Robinson.

*  The song "Loonboon" is inspired by composer Laura Shigihara's cat named Metroid.  The stages that use the song are chaotic, so she drew inspiration for the writing the song by watching her cat running around the house, jumping off walls, and playing with his toy mouse.

*  The development team wanted to use aliens as enemies of the game.  This was later changed to zombies because players are able to react more easily to the slow movement of zombies.

*  One of the enemies that had to be cut from the final version of the game is the zombie dog. 

*  The zombies' movement is based off of the The Finnish Disco:

Plants vs Zombies vs ...Inmates?

Five prisoners in a Philippines jail escaped while the guard on duty played Plants vs Zombies.  Global Nation reports that the five inmates easily escaped with four being captured shortly after.  Anyone who has not played Plants vs Zombies can easily roll their eyes and wonder how such a thing could happen.  However, those of us who have played the addicting game are probably nodding heads with a grin saying, "I can see how that happened".

The Game of the Year Edition of Plants vs Zombies is now available.  We can also expect to see PvZ on Xbox Live next month.

Disco Zombie!

While PopCap Games was forced recently to kill their undead dancing zombie, they have unearthed another. Behold the Disco Zombie!

A PopCap representative had this to say to PC Gamer:

‘I can confirm that there is in fact a new ‘disco zombie’ (see image attached) and I would really appreciate if you could ‘be nice to the new guy’…the disco zombie is starting to feel like a second class zombie citizen, which is really unfair considering the length of time he spent doing his hair! I actually managed to catch up with him earlier today and, while he’s a little adverse to public speaking, he gave me the following (badly) written statement:

“Dear Alive Peeples, I am pleazed too join the big brainz at PopCap and can’t wait to meat you all. And yes, I du my own heir.”’

Plants vs Zombies To Kill Zombie

Those of you smart enough to play Plants vs Zombies or lucky enough to win one of the many copies we have given away right here know all about a certain dancing zombie. The zombie in question just so happens to be wearing a glittery glove, red with black trim leather suit, and dances around in his black shoes with white socks. Sure, there's a certain similarity but it's all in good fun.

Well, the estate of one Michael Jackson seems to think that PopCap Games has gone too far. They have asked PopCap to remove the dancing zombie from future installments of the game including the upcoming Xbox Live version. PopCap has confirmed the actions of Jackson's estate by releasing the following statement:

"After receiving this objection, PopCap made a business decision to retire the original 'dancing zombie' and replace it with a different 'dancing zombie' character for future builds of Plants vs. Zombies on all platforms."

Bummer... maybe the new version will feature a dancing zombie blogger. Perhaps one who also likes toys? I'm a busy guy, PopCap, but I can make myself available if needed.

Plants vs Zombie Attacks Xbox Live

PopCap Game has made it official; We can expect Plants vs Zombies on the Xbox Live Arcade this September. The game will set you back 1200 Microsoft Points. Is it worth it? I know I'll be buying it even though I have it on my computer. Read the news and you be the judge yourself.

Head of worldwide studios at PopCap Games, Ed Allard explains, "with a ton of new features and content exclusive to the XBLA version, we've pulled out all the stops to both expand and optimize this adaptation for a hard core gaming audience."

"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. We're also featuring a customized 'house' for tracking and sharing progress as well as a total of 21 mini-games and 12 achievements, all designed to enthrall Plants vs. Zombies players once again."

Plants vs. Zombies for XBLA features:
* A total of seven game modes, including two new multiplayer modes: Co-Op and Vs. Mode
* 12 achievements and 21 mini-games -- more than any other adaptation

* A goofy new way to track and share progress online, where players create their own custom house and cruise down the street to see their friends' cribs!
* The highest resolution of any Plants vs. Zombies adaptation to date at 1920 x 1080
* All 50 levels of the original Adventure mode along with Puzzle, Survival, and Zen Garden

The most exciting part? It the announcement for the XBLA version was today, what is the announcment on Aug 2nd? Plants vs Zombies 2, anyone?

For a list of the achievements, follow this link.