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dislekcia
07-05-2009, 12:56 PM
OMW

This game is crack. Utter, total, refined and purified crack.

Popcap have taken a tower defense concept (lanes of zombies moving across a screen, grid based tower placement and all towers block zombie progress) and just iterated on it, polished it and messed around with producing as many interesting mini-games as possible.

This game destroyed yesterday for me. Now I'm taking it apart to learn how they did it... The main answer is amusing (if not really challenging, until the last few levels) gameplay that constantly switches itself up. Then taking that core gameplay and embedding it in 3 seperate meta-games that are all interlinked and awesome.

Finishing the game is fun. Playing through it again and stamping your mastery on those bloody zombies by farming fields of flowers that do nothing but give you money so that you can buy upgrades for your virtual tamagotchi garden which will give you unique plants and MORE money to be able to afford the truly ridiculously expensive upgrades that will keep you alive during the later levels of the game? That's terrifyingly good game design.

I don't know how I'm going to get time to play "hardcore" games again.

DukeOFprunes
07-05-2009, 01:24 PM
Can you have zombies eat some of your virtual tamagotchi pets for a laugh?

I know what you mean with the closing comment though. Every now and then I discover some small indie or free gem that simply eats all my time, installs itself in my thoughts for weeks and when I then try and play anything big, expensive and pretty it just feels like... OMG, this little game has ruined me for other games.

I'll take a few hits of what you're having tonight.

dislekcia
07-05-2009, 01:27 PM
Make sure you do it via Steam, $9.99 baby :)

Fengol
07-05-2009, 01:29 PM
damn it, I'm studying for my Masters; I don't have TIME to plant sunflowers and bowl coconuts! Just cause you lose days of work doesn't mean you can tempt us with Popcap's goodness! :P

I would love to sit in some of Popcap's design sessions and see how these glorious ideas are brought to fruition

AndrewJ
07-05-2009, 02:13 PM
Download link please?

Fengol
07-05-2009, 02:36 PM
http://www.popcap.com/games/pvz

SplaT
07-05-2009, 06:14 PM
Just got it for myself.
I find this really inspiring, like the rest of PopCap's games.

Just goes to show you don't need the add the latest and greatest 3D technology in your game to make it fun and addictive.

To be honest, I'd rather play this than Crysis.

Fengol
07-05-2009, 10:17 PM
Now I'm taking it apart to learn how they did it...

There should be a "Popcap Rivals" comp :P

Nandrew
08-05-2009, 03:11 AM
dis isn't taking *anything* apart. He's just using that as an excuse to play the game more.

No, seriously, he's playing it as I type these words!

...

I think I'm going to stroll off and see what level he's on now.

Fengol
08-05-2009, 08:47 AM
OMG! When you buy the game be sure to check out the "Thrill"ing surprise

01DT!m3r
10-05-2009, 08:24 AM
This game should made illegal,its so addictive ,simple ,clean fun. Proof that graphics < gameplay. Although the game has some brilliant 2d visuals.

Kensei
10-05-2009, 06:33 PM
And the theme tune is so damn catchy :D

Edit: Make your own Zombatar (http://www.popcap.com/extras/pvz/index.php)

And I think we should move this thread to the main gaming thread

Fruzz
11-05-2009, 11:52 AM
Great find Kensei!! I didn't see the Zombatar link :)

Fruzz
14-05-2009, 02:25 PM
I found a very interesting article on Plants vs Zombies. It has some insight into the games designer's history and what Plants vs Zombies could have been.

http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/44921

Dunno if any of you guys ever read Gamers with Jobs, its usually quite a well informed site.

Chuluka
14-05-2009, 09:22 PM
WOW! is all I can say. I played the demo and was blown away by the sheer awesome of blowing zombies to bits with plants

Annihilatorza
02-06-2009, 11:45 AM
Saw the game on the weekend Looks Adactivwe, not sure if I wanna get it my Tf2 and L4D Levels might never get finshed :D :)