Tag: PopCap

Geekscape Interview: Talking ‘Octogeddon’ And Popcap With Rich Werner!

by The_acz

Early Monday morning, I had the honor of talking to Ex-Popcap employee Rich Werner. Rich was the character designer for the runaway Popcap hit Plants Vs. Zombies, and is now working on a brand new game with Plants Vs. Zombies co-creator George Fan. The game seems to have that same zany and off the wall tone as most of PopCaps games are. I got to talk with Rich for about an hour and got to find out more about his past working for PopCap, and a little of what we can expect from Octogeddon.

Acz: What inspired you and the team at All Yes Good to form this studio and make Octogeddon?

Rich: Well basically, George had made this Ludem Dare entry “48 hour game jam”. That was the beginning of Octogeddon and he had gotten a lot of positive feedback. He reached out to me and asked if I would like to help make it a real game. I couldn’t say no. I left EA and we started on it. Then I reached out to Kurt because I had known him for many years at PopCap and he jumped on board. We saw the success of PVZ and thought it would be so cool to keep making games like that with a small team, but also be our own boss and own it!octogeddon-1

Acz: That’s great! Always nice to get a fresh new start

Rich: Totally. Seemed like time to take the reins you know?

Acz: Definitely! How was it like working at PopCap at that time?

Rich: PopCap was great. Probably the best job I have ever had other than working for myself. When I was hired there was 20 some people there. A very tight group of people. As time went on though, it got bigger and bigger. It just wasn’t quite the same, but I think that’s totally natural though. It was so awesome being there from the beginning.

Acz: Growing up with Popcap when I was younger, I always loved and appreciated how weird and fresh your guys games were. I remember countless hours spent playing games Like Typer Shark, and Insaniquarium

Rich: It was basically try anything. If it sticks. Cool. If not, then toss it and try something else. Insaniquarium was George’s game before he even joined PopCap if I remember correctly. PopCap wasn’t afraid to fail. If things were going south on a game it was ok to let it go.insaniquarium2

Acz: That’s really awesome. Kind of reminds me of the try anything attitude that Rare also employs. Preferences aside, what would you say your favorite Popcap game is?

Rich: Ours! LOL. Joking haha. I actually really liked Peggle. It was very satisfying to play. There was a Facebook game for a minute that I loved but it didn’t get legs. It was Pig Up! You were a flying pig and it controlled by clicking so he wouldn’t fall out of the sky. Haha.

Acz: I’d have to agree. Peggle is such a simple ,but engaging game.

Rich: Something so nice when you pull off a really cool trick shot. That was the last thing I worked on before leaving. I made some of the characters for Peggle for XBLA.

Acz: You were also a character designer for Peggle 2 right? How did you guys go about updating some of the old masters while also coming up with the new ones?

Rich: Oh man, that was a massive project. There were stacks and stacks of concept art everywhere. Haha. I think that just from me there were at least 20 different Bjorns. And everyone was in on it so hundreds all together I bet. Eventually, the new ones I had done were sort of combining a bunch of designs together and adding my own twist to them. I think they turned out cool in the end.peggle-2

 Acz: So, what are your guys plans for All Yes Good moving forward after Octogeddon?

Rich: I think what we want to do is just make cool games that we love and share them with everyone. That’s why I think George and I work well together. He has such amazing ideas and designs. I get pumped up whenever he tells me about them. I instantly want to make his ideas come to life. Sometimes we’ll be on the phone just riffing ideas and it always ends with us cracking up, and I’ll hang up and totally start drawing stuff haha.

Acz:  Is there anything you can tell us about the game that you’re really excited to show people

Rich: No. JK. As an artist, making cut scenes is super intense, especially doing them solo. I’m really stoked on what people will see. I spared no expense!! So to speak. But honestly, the whole thing is great. I’m really excited to get peoples reactions to the game. I don’t think people can comprehend the amount of work it takes to make a game with a team as small as ours. When I step back and look at it I’m like “woah” haha.

Acz: Well, I’m pretty excited about the game. Last question. What is the craziest or strangest thing you’ve designed for the game so far?

Rich: Oh man. If I told you I’d have to kill you. Haha. Trust me, You’ll know it when ya see it.octogeddon-2

It was extremely fun conducting this interview with Rich, and I hope all of you reading are just as excited for the new game as they are now. Octogeddon is scheduled for release in early 2017 for PC.

‘Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare’ Coming To PS3 And PS4 This August

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We were sure that it was coming eventually, and now it’s official: PopCap’s excellent Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is Playstation bound.

PopCap’s Brian Lindley took to the Playstation Blog to make the announcement this morning. Here’s what he had to say:

Ever since we announced Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare at E3 last year, we’ve frequently heard the question: “When is PvZ Garden Warfare coming to PlayStation?” I’m ecstatic to finally be able to answer that question, as we’ve just announced that PvZ Garden Warfare is coming to PS3 and PS4 on August 19th, 2014! PlayStation fans will also be able to experience the Garden Variety and Zomboss Down expansion content from day one.

 

Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare is a crazy fun third-person shooter built in the Frostbite 3 engine. Team up with up to four players in the wave-based Garden Ops game mode or take to the battlefield in 24-player battles full of tactical action! As you play you will unlock new abilities, customizations, taunts and much more.

 

We’re especially excited for fans to experience Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare on PS4, where it will be playable at a native 1080p resolution and blazing fast 60 frames per second. Additionally, PvZ Garden Warfare on PS4 will also be playable via Remote Play on the PS Vita, giving players the option to take the fun of PvZ Garden Warfare on the go. For support-minded players, the popular Boss Mode feature will also be playable as a companion experience on mobile devices via the PlayStation App. Lastly but certainly not least, split screen co-op will be available on PS4.

 

Shooters are about to get weird on PlayStation, we look forward to playing Garden Warfare will all of you this August!

The game is a must-play in my opinion, and I’ve put far more hours into it than shooters like Titanfall. It’s weird, it’s quirky, it’s cute, and totally addicting. You can take a look at the dev diary below, and let us know if you’ll be picking this up on August 19th!

New ‘Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare’ DLC Includes 1 New Map & Other Stuff, Available Now!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Following the ‘Garden Variety’ DLC that was released back in March, PopCap Games has just launched the second free (yep, FREE) DLC pack for the amazing Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare.

The new pack is called ‘Zomboss Down’, and features one new map, and a ton of new customizations for both the plants and the zombies.

Here’s the official description of the DLC from PopCap’s blog:

The plants just blasted down the Zomboss blimp! The zombies are now roaming the desert and battling their way to a local golf course, which may just be a secret facility housing a Cactus army. It can all be found in the free Zomboss Down downloadable game pack, featuring the new Cactus Canyon Gardens & Graveyards Map, 8 new playable characters, over 200 wild customization items, an increased Level cap for each character, and all-new challenges to accomplish. Available for both Xbox One and Xbox 360.

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare has definitely been my most played title between my PS4 and Xbox One, and I can’t wait to try out this new content. Take a look at the ‘Zomboss Down’ trailer below, and let us know what you think of the game!

Free ‘Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare’ DLC Hitting Xbox One Tomorrow!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We already know how much fun PopCap’s Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is (it’s an absolute blast), and tomorrow the game is set to get even better.

PopCap has announced the first piece of free DLC for the game, which they’re calling the ‘Garden Variety DLC Pack’. The pack will include a stellar chunk of new content for the budget-priced multiplayer title. Here’s the breakdown, straight from PopCap:

Major Features:

– New Map: Chomp Town – playable in Garden Ops, Team Vanquish and Gnome Bomb. Yes Crazy Dave IS riding a Chomper… Why??? Because he’s CRAAAZYYY!
– New Game Mode: Gnome Bomb – be the 1st team to destroy all three gardens or graveyards with the explosive new Gnome Bomb.
– Pirates have invaded Port Scallywag and Sharkbite Shores in Garden Ops
– New Abilities for all characters – new character abilities are tucked away in the sticker shop (hint: Crazy Pack and higher are your best bet to get them! Supremium Pack, Incredi-Plant Pack & Vengeful Zomboss Pack have the highest chances to get them)
– 125 new customization items added to the sticker shop – spread across all characters/rarities…
– Added Doom-shroom potted plant consumable for plants
– Added Barrel Pirate, Treasure Map Pirate consumable for zombies

 

Minor Features:

– Improved reliability for the hold (B) interaction wheel – when reviving, building turrets etc….
– Added Bonus Score for playing Garden Ops Solo or with a friend
– Added a min player requirement to each game mode
– Tweaked various hats to improve overall visibility
– Added improved audio to slow firing weapons to queue players when next shot is available

Gameplay Balance Changes:

Alternate Abilities
– Gameplay tuned and balanced all new alternate character abilities to be balanced with existing abilities

Corn Artillery
– Some slight tweaks to gameplay and vfx for Corn Artillery at end of Main Street in Gardens & Graveyards

Giga-Gargantuar
– Increased damage radius for pole slam

Mystic Flower
– Some improvements to aiming

Bug Fixes:
– Various stability & performance improvements
– Toned down some vfx that were making things hard to see
– Fix for players that were sometimes not getting their level up card packs and re-awarded those card packs to any impacted by this
– Fix for characters able to spawn as a character on the opposing team but still be assigned to the previous team
– Disabled 2 players able to spawn garden at same time in Garden Ops
– Fixed Engineer default Handlebars not being selectable once changed in customization
– Fixed Peashooter smiley tattoo not being able to be acquired in sticker packs
– Some general UI cleanup and polish
– Fix for AI Engineers not building teleporters properly in Garden Ops
– Fix to prevent Crazy Dave & Zomboss from flying through shark teeth in Sharkbite Shores
– Various Map fixes to prevent players getting stuck and getting incorrect out of bounds messages when in bounds
– Some Chomper animation clean up and polish
– Added proper title to boasts on leaderboard
– Fix for not getting extracted in Garden Ops when piloting drone standing in extraction circle
– Fix for tallnut cannon not vanquishing players directly in front of it
– Toned down challenges requiring players to plant Rare and Super Rare Consumables
– Fix to disable other items able to be worn at same time as Astronaut Scientist helmet
– Fix in split screen for zoom getting momentarily stuck when using abilities
– Zoom fix issue when near potted plant or grave dirt that would kick players out of zoom when exiting range of pot/grave dirt
– Fix for bossmode counting as player slot – allowing players to switch teams making teams unbalanced
– Stats fix for total coins earned not tracking properly on individual characters
– Fix for out of bounds message sometimes not disappearing if player dies out of bounds in split screen
– Fix for potato mines sometimes still being active once destroyed for a few seconds
– Fix for tombstone looping zombies forever when playing coop in single player and the tombstone challenge failed
– Fixed exploit in bossmode where a player could collect infinite suns before the garden was planted in Garden Ops
– Fix for Engineer Jackhammer that would stick out of engineer when chomper eating engineer gets vanquished before animation was complete
– Fix for some characters not playing their reload animation client side
– Fix for Camera sometimes detaching from character when being shot from cannon in Driftwood Shores Gardens & Graveyards mode
– Fix for Bags of Coins and diamonds coming up in slot machine in Garden Ops sometimes not awarding correct amount
– Fix for Black screen sometimes being displayed joining at a specific point during post round cinematics
– Fix for when character select screen would go under the world and look bad
– Fix for vanquish icon sometimes displaying inconsistently
– Fix for interactable yellow sparkles sometimes not playing on the correct item and generally being unreliable
– Garden Ops fix for Bossmode player looking like unassigned player in leaderboard
– Prevent player from being able to revive when vanquished out of bounds
– Southpaw button layout option did not work properly for drones and has been corrected
– Fixed responsiveness of weapons/abilities after spawning (there were a few seconds of limited input)
– Fixed video audio sometimes not getting turned off when skipping initial videos before reaching title menu

Those sound like some nice changes. It’s great to see that the game still hasn’t introduced micro transactions of any type (being an EA published title, it’s still nearly expected). The only thing that I’m really hoping that we see in the future is an expanded split-screen mode, as right now, it’s pretty lame.

You can preview the DLC via the video below, and let us know if you’re excited!

http://youtu.be/YyyZaiz71x4

The New ‘Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare’ Trailer Makes Me Want An Xbox One

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: EA has just debuted a short new trailer for their upcoming third-person shooter, Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, and just as before, the game looks glorious.

There are rumours that the title may also be coming to Playstation 4, but if it doesn’t, it may just be the title that gets me to buy an Xbox One. Sure, it’s also coming to Xbox 360 and PC, but I’m looking for any excuse I can to warrant picking up another console.

Take a look at the pre-order trailer for the game below, and let us know if you’ll be picking it up. The game will hit PC, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on February 25th.

Rumor: ‘Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare’ Coming To PS4?

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Could Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare be coming to Sony’s PS4?

So far, the game has only been announced for Xbox 360 and Xbox One, but the Korean Game Rating Board just rated the game for Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PS4… interesting, huh?

The game looks beyond awesome, and seeing as I don’t currently (read: currently) own an Xbox One, I certainly hope it’s coming to PS4 too. PopCap usually puts their titles only every platform imaginable, so I could definitely see this one being true. In any case, the game hits Xbox 360 and Xbox One on February 18th!

Are you excited for the game? Or do you think Plants Vs. Zombies should simply continue with its tower-defense roots? Sound out below!

http://youtu.be/5BqWGTcWLB4

Source: Gematsu

‘Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare’ Gets A Release Date!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: This could be the game that has me buying an Xbox One.

EA has just announced the release date for the highly anticipated Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, which was first shown off at E3. The game is an action-packed third-person multiplayer shooter that puts players in the shoes—or roots—of their favorite characters from the popular Plants vs. Zombies franchise.

I thought that the game sounded stupid when I first heard about it, but that first gameplay reveal ensured me that Garden Warfare would be glorious.

The game will launch on Xbox 360 and Xbox One on February 18th in North America, and February 20th in Europe. On the Xbox One, Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare includes two extra modes including local cooperative split screen and Boss Mode. With split screen, players can team up with a friend on the couch to fight against an endless horde of zombies. In Boss Mode, gamers can utilize their Kinect or a SmartGlass device in any of the other gameplay modes to support their teams. Players have a top-down view of the battlefield and can help out their teammates with intel, health drops, revive stations and explosive artillery strikes.

Are you planning to pick this one up? Be sure to let us know!

Geekscape Mobile: ‘Plants Vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time’ Now Available On Android!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It’s about time!

After releasing for iOS this Summer, and having a test Android run in a few countries last month, EA has finally released its lauded (and criticized) Plants Vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time for Android devices worldwide.

I’ve spent a lot of time with the free-to-play title over the last few months, which has been criticized for its myriad of in-app purchases, but I’ve actually never felt as though I’ve needed to purchase anything. Levels can be completed without throwing down any cash, and if you do opt to do so, it simply seems to put you on the fast track to victory. There are certainly plenty of worse in-app purchase cases out there (plus, it’s pretty much consumer’s fault that in-app purchases exist in the first place).

Take a look at the trailer for Plants Vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time below, and head to Google Play to download! Already played the game? Be sure to let us know how much fun you had!

Geekscape Mobile: ‘Plants Vs. Zombies 2’ Now Available Worldwide

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It’s about time…

After an announcement earlier this Summer, followed by a prompt delay, Plants Vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time is finally available worldwide.

I haven’t yet had a chance to download the game, so I haven’t experienced just how much the in-app purchases and free-2-play model mess with the addictive, simple perfection of the first title. Maybe things will turn out alright?

Plants Vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time is available for free on iOS now. Download it here, and be sure to let us know if you’re enjoying the title!

Geekscape Mobile: ‘Plants Vs. Zombies 2’ Has Been Delayed

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Just weeks after Plants Vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time got an official release date, that release has been postponed.

The game’s official twitter account revealed the news earlier today. There’s no explanation of the delay, but the launch is now set for later in the Summer.

Plants Vs. Zombies remains one of the most addicting Tower Defense games that I’ve ever played. Like most, I’m excited for the sequel, but am wary that it’s taken on the free-to-play model. How do you feel about the upcoming sequel?

Geekscape Mobile: ‘Plants Vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time’ Releasing July 18th!

by Derek Kraneveldt

PopCap Games first launch Plants vs. Zombies all the way back in 2009. Since then, the game has released on every single platform imaginable (though it has always played best on touchscreen devices), and in 2011, its developer was purchased by gaming giant Electronic Arts.

Plants vs. Zombies has won a multitude of awards since its release, and now it’s time for a sequel. The cleverly title Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time will launch on iOS device on July 18th.

Now, things are a little different this time around. The ‘designed-from-the-ground-up’ title will launch as a free-to-play game, supported by in-app-purchases. EA does this pretty consistently, so the news wasn’t entirely unexpected, but today’s press release confirms that “the vast majority of the game will be entirely free to play (players can face every zombie and access every level in every world at no cost), Plants vs. Zombies 2 players will also be able to purchase upgrades and other in-game items.”

Watch the trailer for Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time below, and let us know if you’ll be picking it up! I absolutely loved the first title (and have purchased it way too many times), so I know I’ll be checking it out on July 18th!

SEATTLE, Washington – June 3, 2013 – PopCap Games, creator of some of the world’s most beloved video game franchises and a division of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA), today provided additional details regarding Plants vs. Zombies™ 2. The highly anticipated sequel to Plants vs. Zombies, a fan favorite among players of all ages, Plants vs. Zombies 2 will be previewed by invitation only at E3 in Los Angeles next week and will launch worldwide on July 18 exclusively for iPhone®, iPad® and iPod touch®. PopCap today also unveiled a trailer for Plants vs. Zombies 2, on its YouTube channel: (www.youtube.com/plantsvszombies).
Designed from the ground up as a live service, the ever-expanding universe of Plants vs. Zombies 2 continues the epic struggle of plants defending your brainz against zombies from your backyard through the vast reaches of time, both past and future. New worlds with new levels, plants, zombies and new ways to play will be released on an ongoing basis. Leveraging the touch interface of Apple’s popular mobile devices, Plants vs. Zombies 2 includes all-new touch-screen power-ups that enable players to “break the fourth wall” and interact with zombies directly, as well as via plant defenses.

 

Also returning for the sequel is Crazy Dave, the addled neighbor who serves as a guide for players and shopkeeper for special plant upgrades and other tools and weapons. New touch-screen power-ups, plant food that supercharges plants, and novel new game mechanics that both help and hinder players’ efforts to thwart the zombie hordes will enthrall existing fans and new players alike.

 

Free to download, Plants vs. Zombies 2 will expand and extend the classic gameplay of the original and provide players with dozens of all-new levels, plants and zombies across multiple worlds at no cost. While the vast majority of the game will be entirely free to play (players can face every zombie and access every level in every world at no cost), Plants vs. Zombies 2 players will also be able to purchase upgrades and other in-game items.

 

“It’s about time!” said Allen Murray, Senior Producer for Plants vs. Zombies 2. “We’re confident that players will see the love and attention we’ve put into this game. We’ve created wild new ways to experience the plants and zombies you know and love as well as packing the game with tons of completely new content, and we’re still hard at work coming up with even more cool stuff that will keep Plants vs. Zombies 2 fresh and evolving in the months and years following launch.”

Like Plants Vs. Zombies? How About A Free Copy!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Ever hear of Plants Vs. Zombies? It’s an insanely fun and crazily addicting tower-defense title from PopCap Games.

It first released a few years ago, and since has hit almost every device under the sun (iOS, Android, PC, Mac, Consoles, and even some televisions).

PopCap and the American Dental Association are running a pretty cool promo this halloween. Head to the dentist and you’ll get some cool PvZ trading cards, and head to http://www.stopzombiemouth.com/ to get a code for a free Mac/PC copy of the game (redeemable after October 30)!

The price won’t get any better, and the game is addicting as ever. Check out the trailer below, and head to the site for your free copy!