Plants vs. Zombies sprouts and shuffles onto the Apple iPhone Feb. 15
If it seems as though Popcap Games marvelous cute and inventive take on the tower defense genre, Plants vs. Zombies, has been in the works for the iPhone/iPod touch for a long, long time, it has – the game was first announced in last August. Although Popcap Games didn’t make its “late 2009″ window, I can forgive the kindly team of casual gaming gurus because the trailer for the upcoming Apple port looks really, really good (and they know how to thoroughly rock a Halloween parade).
Judging by Popcap Games’ video, the winning gameplay looks in tact, but I wonder how the multi-touch will be implemented (which has, unfortunately, added a cumbersome elements to many good iPhone/iPod touch titles). Still, the prospect of playing Plants vs. Zombies on the Apple iPad’s slick 9.7-inch display sounds quite delicious, especially on long flights or road trips, if you happen to think the tweener device is worthy the dough.
Best 2D Puzzle/Strategy/Tower Defense Game Of 2009: Plants vs. Zombies
Irresistible. There isn’t much other way to describe Popcap Games’ Plants vs. Zombies, an addictive and infinitely charming take on the tower defense genre. Instead of planes, tanks, mechs, or other miscellaneous items, the title demands that you defend a suburban home from a zombie invasion using the flora that you plant in your lawn. Plants! If it all sounds a hair bizarre, it is, but in the absolutely best way possible. Fun and addictive, Plants vs. Zombies deserves a place in the collection of any armchair strategist.
Plants vs. Zombies At The NYC Halloween Parade; Goth Gaming Geeks Rejoice
photo courtesy of the official Plants vs. Zombies Facebook fan oage
When one thinks of the city that I call home, typically the Yankees, Broadway, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Coney Island, and a dozen other landmarks and locales comes to mind, but the Big Apple also throws one heck of a Halloween party; absolutely killer if I were to draw from the well of fairly obvious puns.
If you were fortunate enough to be in the New York City this past October 31st, you would have witnessed several wild and wacky outfits that would’ve caused laughter, repulsion, and admiration (sometimes from the same get up) as angels, demons, sexy police officers, and large men dressed as Little Bo Beep shimmied through the West Village. It was all par for the course, really.
What is unusual, however, is for a video game company to act as an in-parade sponsor, which is exactly what Popcap Games did with its Plants vs. Zombies troupe. Popcap Games assembled a motley crew of Halloween revelers (including myself and Examiner’s Gracie Leach who chatted it up with a Popcap Games rep as well as a member of the undead) that either donned the worker bee garb of the Temp Zombie, or the insanely cute visage of one of the many in-game plants. And it was awesome.
Bits and Bytes: 8/23/2009
Bits and Bytes is a weekly round up of some of the more interesting gaming news items that happened to slip through the cracks during our normal posting schedule. They’re presented here in easily-digestible bite-size chunks. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for more 2D gaming commentary.
Virtual Insanity?
Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue is considered one the most untouchable jazz albums ever recorded, but some intrepid chiptunes makers have taken it upon themselves to cover it with Kind of Bloop: An 8-bit Tribute to Miles Davis. This isn’t your typical nerd-remake; Andy Baio paid royalties, paid artists, and pressed discs to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the beloved album, low-fi style.
Popcap Games Invades the iPhone and iPod touch
Plants vs. Zombies is currently the pinnacle of Popcap Games’ success; it is their fastest selling downloadable title, after all. If you’ve been waiting for this copious amount of awesome to hit the handheld market, you’re in luck: Plants vs. Zombies will be available in the Apps Store before the end of the year.
I-play Brings the Hip Hop to the iPhone and iPod touch
Think of it has DJ Hero for Apple’s handhelds. Hip Hop All Star, the latest in the growing rap rhythm game genre, features original tracks from such notable DJs and rappers as Busta Rhymes, Greg Nice, Kool G Rap, Unk, DJ Eclipse, DJ Serafin, and DJ Eddie James. Players must tap notes in rhythm with the music and scratch the t-t-t-turntables. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Multi-player modes lets digital waxmaster battle their boys wirelessly, while downloadable songs and Facebook connectivity spikes the punch.
Review: Bookworm Adventures Volume 2 (PC)
Popcap merges a brain challenging puzzler with the most basic of fighting game elements in Bookworm Adventures Volume 2, the sequel to 2006’s Bookworm Adventures. Like its predecessor, Bookworm Adventures Volume 2 places our plucky protagonist, Lex, into a gauntlet of storybook-inspired challenges which require deft word-forming ability in order to defeat enemies. It may not posses the “I gotta play just one more match” draw that permeated Plants vs. Zombies, but it’s a very enjoyable title nonetheless.
Bits and Bytes: 8/9/2009
Bits and Bytes is a weekly round up of some of the more interesting gaming news items that happened to slip through the cracks during our normal posting schedule. They’re presented here in easily-digestible bite-size chunks.
Must Have XBLA Titles
If anyone doubts the viability of 2D gaming on modern consoles, check out The BBPS‘ Top 10 XBLA Games article which is chock full of 2D goodness, ranging from Castle Crashers to Ikaruga. Did your favorite make the cut?
Promotional Parody
Gaming sites running Google Adsense are frequently littered with busty Evony ads (ahem), which have quickly become the the joke/bane of webmasters and readers alike. Popcap Games’ latest Plants vs. Zombies ad campaign riffs on Evony’s by featuring stacked undead looking to satisfy their lords in every way possible. Offworld has hilarious screens.
Hidden NES Gem
An interview with several of Nintendo’s legendary game geniuses reveals a 22-year old Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! secret. See if you can find it within this rather lengthy, but very interesting, Wii.com interview.
The Rainbow Connection
Spawnkill dissects the pull of console color refreshes. Would you double dip on a system for a nice new coating?
Bits and Bytes: 8/2/2009
Bits and Bytes is a weekly round up of some of the more interesting gaming news items that happened to slip through the cracks during our normal posting schedule. They’re presented here in easily-digestible bite-size chunks.
Bookworms and Mysteries
This week, Popcap (the geniuses behind Plants vs. Zombies) launched two new titles for your gaming pleasure: Bookworm Adventures Volume 2 and Mystery P.I. Lost in Los Angeles.
The Recession Hits the Mushroom Kingdom
Offworld found a rather excellent piece of artwork showcasing hard times in the Mushroom Kingdom, as well as what exactly dwells in the many pits scattered across Super Mario Bros.’ landscape.
Half-Minute Hero Interview
We’ve taken our own personal look at Half-Minute Hero, but Unit of Truegameheadz sat down with XSEED’s Jimmy Soga about the game in which you save the world 30 seconds at a time.
The Skin Game
The issue of race and stereotypes has become a hot-button topic in videogamedom. Games in Mind takes a look at it from a slightly different perspective than most commenters.
Bits and Bytes: 7/26/2009
Bits and Bytes is a weekly round up of some of the more interesting gaming news items that happened to slip through the cracks during our normal posting schedule. They’re presented here in easily-digestible bite-size chunks.
8-bit Hash Pipe
Like chiptunes? Like Weezer? Pterodactyl Squad mixed chocolate with peanut butter to create Weezer – The 8-bit Album, a 14-track record covering the band’s hits with an old school computer sound.
The Legend Lives On
Konami announced that it’s partnered with Universal Music Enterprises to bring the sounds of The Jackson 5 to the multi-platform Karoake Revolution. Wannabe crooners can belt out classics such as “I’ll Be There” and “ABC.” R.I.P., Mike.
Zombies Invade Xbox Live Arcade
Popcap Games’ monster tower defense game, Plants vs. Zombies, has been confirmed as being ported to XBLA. No word yet on extras/achievements. [Hat tip: Videogamepreview]
I’m in Your PS3, Crashin’ Yo Castlez
Castle Crashers, the Xbox Live Arcade surprise hit is a-comin’ to the PlayStation 3, with the possibility of new features. [Hat tip: Offworld]
Review: Plants vs. Zombies (Mac, PC)
When it comes to designing incredibly addictive, infinitely playable casual games, no company can match the track record that the magicians at Popcap have produced. Zuma was marvelous. Even more so, Peggle. But with the release of Plants vs. Zombies Popcap has truly outdone itself by crafting what is one of the most fun, engaging, and dare I say flawless games of this generation. Hyperbole this is not.
Plants vs. Zombies’s premise is a simple one: You’re given the task of protecting your home from a zombie invasion by planting a variety of flora in the yard which grant a variety of offensive and defensive capabilities. As the undead make their slow march from the street toward your abode you seed a six square high grip with a number of plants including a exploding cherries, Peashooters (which can snipe from long range), and Chompers (a zombie-eating Venus Flytrap-like green). The most vital plant of the dozens that you’ll acquire is the Sunflower, which is the fuel for your attack.
As with analog plants, these digital ones require sunlight to flourish, which is represented by falling golden orbs that are affixed with point values that let you purchase plants. These will occasionally appear on the field all by there lonesome, but as you plant more Sunflowers, they appear at a far quicker rate, vastly increasing your “money” supply, and thus your armaments. However, you can’t simply litter the field with the most powerful of weapons and sit back; icons on the top of the screen display each individual plant’s refresh rate, some like the Sunflowers are swift, while others takes seemingly a lifetime to recharge.
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