Plants vs. Zombies!

onidavin

Plants vs. Zombies -- Popcap's tower defense game. Protect yourself (and your lawn!) from a relentless onslaught of zombies. ZOMBIES!

http://popcap.com/games/mac/pvz/

Available via the link above, or for 10 bucks on Steam. Hoot!

Basically, PVZ is a tower defense game set up on a series of rows. Zombies come in from the right, you drop plants on the left. The plants provide resources (sun), shoot zombies, or impede the zombies in some way.

I'm new to this whole OP business. What kind of sweet info should go in here?

chasehatesbears

Plants don't have brains.
This game is innately flawed.

redfield85

Hahaha. Zombie dolphin!

So, from looking at that site is it just an Internet game or is it coming to XBLA and PSN?

RainbowDespair

It looks to be PC/Mac only at the moment, but previous PopCap games have shown up on XBLA so it'll probably make its way over to the consoles eventually.

EDIT: That's one awesome music video. Oh and you should probably put Popcap's name in the title of the thread so that people know this isn't just some cheap flash game.

onidavin

Good idea I'm usually just a lurker, not much of a thread-crafter.

urahonky

Son of a bish. This looks good, I added myself to their newsletter.

SmokeScreen

Are we sure this isn't some odd April Fool's prank?

RainbowDespair

SmokeScreen wrote: »

Are we sure this isn't some odd April Fool's prank?

That's what I'm afraid of, but it looks like way more effort than somebody would put into an April Fool's prank. Besides, what better day to announce a completely insane game than April Fool's?

In any case, if it was an April Fool's Day joke, the millions of emails trying to sign up might convince them to actually make the thing.

capnrico

I don't care if it is fake, I want it.

The trailer is genius, at first I thought it was some sort of "misheard lyrics" thing, but then the zombies started singing.

RainbowDespair wrote: »

SmokeScreen wrote: »

Are we sure this isn't some odd April Fool's prank?

That's what I'm afraid of, but it looks like way more effort than somebody would put into an April Fool's prank. Besides, what better day to announce a completely insane game than April Fool's?

You haven't seen Blizzard's stuff, have you?

onidavin

I don't think it's fake, Offworld ran a bit on it a while ago.

http://www.offworld.com/2009/03/frond-of-the-dead-the-first-lo.html

RainbowDespair

From that old article:

"Lastly, I'll just say this: the scene depicted in the screen shot is a *night* level, during which your standard 'daytime' plants don't work so well..."

Oh and here's the website of the singer in the Plants vs. Zombies music video: http://shigi.wordpress.com/

redfield85

This game is just ridiculous. It is Plants vs. Zombies. Not Ninjas vs. Zombies. Not Pirates vs. Zombies. Not Call of Duty vs. Zombies. It is Plants. PLANTS!

vs.

Gnomocide

This... looks.... awesome! Nice to see Popcap making some crazier stuff

Should be a nice [strike]tower[/strike] flower defense game

That music video is also surprisingly catchy :whistle:

RainbowDespair

The fact that this game isn't getting more buzz disappoints me greatly.

Hahnsoo1

The music video alone... I have no words to describe how awesome it is. "I like your tricycle."

Gnomocide

Here's a bit of gameplay info:

The Escapist preview:

The Escapist wrote:

There are different types of plants, each with different strategic uses like killing zombies, repelling zombies, creating light, etc, according to a PopCap staffer posting on Quarter to Three. Seems that you choose a different "deck" of six or so plants that you can use on a given stage. The zombies, meanwhile, also come in several varieties. In the trailer, there's a zombie with a screen door shield, a zombie with a cone on its head, a zombie shark [Gnomo-note: that's a dolphin you idiots ] and maybe even a gigantic zombie.

And here's some mixed info from this 1up preview (spoilered for medium wall of text):

1up wrote:

...But soon, your undead problem escalates to a lumbering onslaughts from dozens of different zombie types, each of which have their own speed and strength attributes. The Football Zombie, for instance, comes equipped with shoulder pads and a helmet, so it's one tough (and fast) cookie. Some zombies approach wielding common items like screen doors or orange cones for armor. The assorted zombie types help keep you on your toes.

1up wrote:

For starters, your best friend is a sunflower. Not literally, because that would be strange, but the sunflower produces solar power, which is what we all know flowers crave. Harnessing that energy lets you grow the other four-dozen plant types that make up your arsenal against the undead. Some plants are defensive, such as the Wall-nut, which sits in place, slowing down the enemy's trek toward your house (which you're trying to protect, because that's where you, and your brain, reside). It takes a zombie a good long while to munch its way through the poor Wall-nut's shell, and his sad little dying face shows how much pain he's in. But it's all for the good fight. Other offensive plant types, such the Peashooter, shoots peas straight ahead at the zombie threat. (Zombie fact #327: The undead don't like green vegetables.) A wide assortment of other plant types in between deal different types of damage or inflict status effects.

1up wrote:

Unlike some other [strike]tower[/strike] flower defense games, PvZ uses a horizontally oriented grid on which you build security plants. I imagine that'd get pretty boring after a while. Thankfully PvZ keeps things interesting by scattering different objects (like swimming pools, which you can see in the new trailer) across your lawn. Where else can you see zombies in duck-shaped floaties?

You can also find 3 informative screenshots at 1up (posted here in link form, as they are HUEG):

http://www.1up.com/media?id=3698570&type=lg

http://www.1up.com/media?id=3698569&type=lg

http://www.1up.com/media?id=3698568&type=lg


Some of this could/should probably be added to the OP - if zombies in duck-shaped floaties doesn't awaken people's attention, nothing will! :rotate:

prawnstar69

Registered my e-mail for 10% off, this looks great.

Hahnsoo1

Gnomocide wrote: »

http://www.1up.com/media?id=3698570&type=lg

There's... a zombie on a zamboni. A ZOMBONI. :O

IceBurner

This is so incredibly cute. Interestingly, the freelance VGM artist (and singer for that video) also made a Japanese version of the song and is apparently working on her own project in RPG Maker XP.

Cronus

I can't believe no one has posted this yet. This was on RPS yesterday and is hilarious.

The game doesn't look that good. Especially since I've been playing Defense Grid. However it does look really funny. I can't wait for a demo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N1_0SUGlDQ&feature=player_embedded

Hahnsoo1

That's because that music video is posted on the front page of the website that was linked in the OP. And it's what everyone is talking about, too. :-P

cloudeagle

Looks like a tower defense game.

And I'm going to be singing that song for days now. "There's a zombie on your lawn...."

onidavin

Some sort of weird video they made for the game.

Surreal.

http://www.offworld.com/2009/04/plants-zombies-temp-worker.html

redfield85

onidavin wrote: »

Some sort of weird video they made for the game.

Surreal.

http://www.offworld.com/2009/04/plants-zombies-temp-worker.html

Hahaha. That was fun.

BloodySloth

The music video reminds me all too much of the soundtrack to Giant Killer Shark: The Musical.

...


Time to dig up that soundtrack again.

TheStig

Cronus wrote: »

I can't believe no one has posted this yet. This was on RPS yesterday and is hilarious.

The game doesn't look that good. Especially since I've been playing Defense Grid. However it does look really funny. I can't wait for a demo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N1_0SUGlDQ&feature=player_embedded

So that's what aqua has been up to!

Zombiemambo

that song is terrible.

Cronus

TheStig wrote: »

Cronus wrote: »

I can't believe no one has posted this yet. This was on RPS yesterday and is hilarious.

The game doesn't look that good. Especially since I've been playing Defense Grid. However it does look really funny. I can't wait for a demo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N1_0SUGlDQ&feature=player_embedded[/UL]

So that's what aqua has been up to!

Aqua?

I needed anime to post.

onidavin wrote: »

Some sort of weird video they made for the game.

Surreal.

http://www.offworld.com/2009/04/plants-zombies-temp-worker.html

Ever since knowing a guy in high school who edited on an iMac I know every Garage Band song. Every one. And it ruins 90% of all videos I watch.

All I can hear is Garage Band, Garage Band, Garage Band...

Feriluce

Cronus wrote: »

TheStig wrote: »

Cronus wrote: »

I can't believe no one has posted this yet. This was on RPS yesterday and is hilarious.

The game doesn't look that good. Especially since I've been playing Defense Grid. However it does look really funny. I can't wait for a demo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N1_0SUGlDQ&feature=player_embedded[/UL]

So that's what aqua has been up to!

Aqua?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEzh10_xoqw

cloudeagle

Zombiemambo wrote: »

that song is terrible.

Of course you don't like it, the song's anti-zombie. I can only assume you're pro-zombie.

Gnomocide

There's a new trailer up. Rather short, but still pretty damned awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHAbHz8iYHc
Zombie Bobsled Team!

Oh you can also create your own zombatar (zombie avatar).

Get ready to soil your plants!

cloudeagle

Oh goddamn, that's funny. Glad to see the initial trailer song didn't spoil everything.

And the "spudow!" the potato mine makes when it explodes is a great touch.

Fandyien

The song from that music video has been stuck in my head for days. I plan to acquire this and remedy that.

mastrius

That music video is so full of win.

mojojoeo

i was just getting over peggle... and they drag me back with singing flowers... and zombies.

Popcap are evil geniuses.

urahonky

No one truly gets over Peggle. There's just a break period between Peggle and more Peggle.

learntofly

I bet the soundtrack for this game will rock.

Dr Snofeld

According to the PC Gamer review (it got a high score) there's a whole bunch of unlockable bonus modes, including being able to play as the zombies, and defending your lawn while at the same time playing Bejewelled with the plants.

...I soiled myself.

RainbowDespair

Preorder on Steam and they throw in a free copy of Heavy Weapon Deluxe.

I was sold on this game when I thought it was going to be $20. Now, that I know it's only $10, my demand has become frothing.

EDIT: Just saw this comment:

"I have probably wasted 50 hours of my life playing it. It has a normal set of stages and also a survival mode a la Geometry Wars or L4D's survival. You go and go, trying to last as long as possible as it gets progressively harder. The game is really fun and a perfect way to kill 20-30 minutes if you don't have time for a full fledged game."

Cronus

RainbowDespair wrote: »

Preorder on Steam and they throw in a free copy of Heavy Weapon Deluxe.

I was sold on this game when I thought it was going to be $20. Now, that I know it's only $10, my demand has become frothing.

EDIT: Just saw this comment:

"I have probably wasted 50 hours of my life playing it. It has a normal set of stages and also a survival mode a la Geometry Wars or L4D's survival. You go and go, trying to last as long as possible as it gets progressively harder. The game is really fun and a perfect way to kill 20-30 minutes if you don't have time for a full fledged game."

Oh man that's an awesome deal. I wasn't planning on picking this up, but $10 for both those games is too good.

And it looks like it's still going on.