Plants vs. Zombies 2... or how to turn a long awaited squeal into a cash grab

[ultimatebob]

Now that EA has bought Popcap games, it was only a matter of time before they released a game that uses every dirty revenue generating trick in the book. Plants vs. Zombies 2 is that new game, unfortunately.

Sure, the game is "free" to play on iOS, but look at all of the ways they added to get you to buy in app purchases:

1) They added these "plant food" powerups that you can buy, which briefly make a plant much more powerful. You can occasionally get them for free, but they (naturally) also add a really simple way of buying them as well in the middle of a level if you are struggling.

2) They also added three other powerups that you can buy, that briefly give you God like powers to wipe out an entire map full of zombies. You would have to be REALLY bad at gaming in general to lose after activating one of these at the end of a level. They might as well add a $2 "instawin" feature and get it over with.

3) They block access to many of the more advanced plants (including favorites from the original, like the Jalapeno) with various paywalls.

4) Want more slots for additional plants? Oh, we'll charge you for that as well.

5) Oh... and only the first episode of the game is really free. They want to charge you for each new section, unless you're willing to replay each level three times to "unlock" the next episode. Think Angry Birds, but forcing you to replay until you three star each level before you can continue. Nobody is going to have the patience for that, which I'm sure that EA is counting on.

Basically, the entire game feels like it was designed by accountants and marketing experts instead of an actual game designer. For shame, EA... for shame! If you want my money that badly, just charge $10 for the game and get it over with.

 

[Tweak155]

Is there not a pay for version?

 

[ultimatebob]

Is there not a pay for version?

Nope... Or at least not yet.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

PvZ2 makes me sad for whatever Peggle 2 ends up being.

 

[techietechnics]

Well, there goes another good game. EA definitely pimped this game up.

 

[MetalMat]

I think this issue has been overblown. You don't need to pay a dime to beat the game, I have gotten far into it without paying anything. The game is also gives coins out at a pretty good rate, I had well over 30,000 coins by the time I got to the end.

 

[Aikouka]

The only complaint of yours that is valid is that you have to pay for the old plants. Everything else can be unlocked over time. Extra plants? Extra sun? Extra food? Those are behind key gates! The only complaint there is that keys are a rather annoying mechanic given that they just sort of randomly give them to you. Also, the star mechanic is irritating because you're only awarded one out of three possible stars for completing the stage with multiple possible restrictions. Yes, that means you need to play the same stage over three additional times.

I played the hell out of the original Plants vs. Zombies, but after being stuck in the monotonous clearing of the same level, I just quit.

 

[waggy]

if the release hte full version for like $10-15 i will buy it. i got 1 for $10 and we have played it like crazy

 

[ultimatebob]

The only complaint of yours that is valid is that you have to pay for the old plants. Everything else can be unlocked over time. Extra plants? Extra sun? Extra food? Those are behind key gates! The only complaint there is that keys are a rather annoying mechanic given that they just sort of randomly give them to you. Also, the star mechanic is irritating because you're only awarded one out of three possible stars for completing the stage with multiple possible restrictions. Yes, that means you need to play the same stage over three additional times.

I played the hell out of the original Plants vs. Zombies, but after being stuck in the monotonous clearing of the same level, I just quit.

Does playing the same 5 levels level 4 times to get to the next episode sound fun to you?? It doesn't to me. Seems like a valid complaint to me.

 

[Raduque]

I guess I'll be skipping this one, sadly. I was really looking forward to PvZ 2, but I guess I'll just re-play PvZ.

 

[Rakehellion]

Now that EA has bought Popcap games, it was only a matter of time before they released a game that uses every dirty revenue generating trick in the book. Plants vs. Zombies 2 is that new game, unfortunately.

Sure, the game is "free" to play on iOS, but look at all of the ways they added to get you to buy in app purchases:

1) They added these "plant food" powerups that you can buy, which briefly make a plant much more powerful. You can occasionally get them for free, but they (naturally) also add a really simple way of buying them as well in the middle of a level if you are struggling.

2) They also added three other powerups that you can buy, that briefly give you God like powers to wipe out an entire map full of zombies. You would have to be REALLY bad at gaming in general to lose after activating one of these at the end of a level. They might as well add a $2 "instawin" feature and get it over with.

3) They block access to many of the more advanced plants (including favorites from the original, like the Jalapeno) with various paywalls.

4) Want more slots for additional plants? Oh, we'll charge you for that as well.

5) Oh... and only the first episode of the game is really free. They want to charge you for each new section, unless you're willing to replay each level three times to "unlock" the next episode. Think Angry Birds, but forcing you to replay until you three star each level before you can continue. Nobody is going to have the patience for that, which I'm sure that EA is counting on.

Basically, the entire game feels like it was designed by accountants and marketing experts instead of an actual game designer. For shame, EA... for shame! If you want my money that badly, just charge $10 for the game and get it over with.

Everything is unlockable. You aren't forced to cheat if you don't want to.

 

[alkemyst]

micro-transactions are VERY PROFITABLE now.

 

[Aikouka]

Does playing the same 5 levels level 4 times to get to the next episode sound fun to you?? It doesn't to me. Seems like a valid complaint to me.

I don't recall your original post having a #5 when I read it, and you'll notice that I complained about the star unlocking mechanic in my post.

 

[Subyman]

I think the complaints are way overblown as well. I've played well over 8 hours without paying at all. I haven't had any levels where I needed the pay-for stuff. If anything, they will be losing money with me. I enjoyed the first and would gladly pay full price, but I simply don't need the microtransactions to enjoy the game.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I don't understand why they put microtransactions in. Maybe because it was popular they think they can swindle enough people into buying things in the game.

The first one didn't have this as far as I know so in a way it does seem like EA is just trying to nickle and dime the fans. Overblown or not, it's unnecessary and indeed can seem like a slap.

 

[nageov3t]

the fact that it's iOS-exclusive makes me say fuck the entire company.

 

[jiffylube1024]

I also think they grossly miscalculated on the release. You can easily beat the game and not pay any money, but uninformed buyers are all pissed off because they think you have to pay to advance. It causes them to lose mindshare and confusion. I don't think PvZ 2 will become as ubiqutous and popular as the first.

I feel like they should have just released it at between $1-5 -- most of us would have paid it, and that would have guaranteed a revenue stream. They could still put in microtransactions, but make them a bit less gouge-y. Right now they're basically counting on gamers who suck at the game (or kids, or who don't know any better) to subsidize the game for those of us who will play it for free, which I think will lead to frustrated players and annoyed parents, when I'd gladly pay my share for the game if they priced it like most other iOS games.

The state of microtransactions is bonkers right now -- for example a fantastic game like Kingdom Rush (HD/$2.99) or Kingdom Rush Frontiers (HD/$4.99) are well priced and worth the money IMO. However, for example, Frontiers has heroes that cost up to $8.99 (or $9.99 - I forget). In my opinion, that's too much -- I've beaten the game several times, and would love to try other heroes, but costing nearly double the price of the game itself just to play a new hero is too much - especially when there's like 10 heroes at varying prices and to try them all would cost something like $40 extra!

 

[mmntech]

micro-transactions are VERY PROFITABLE now.

That's probably the biggest understatement of the century.
Most of the top highest grossing games on the app store are "free".

Micro transactions are the natural evolution of the subscription model made popular by WoW and EverQuest. It's the same basic argument that sprung the anti-used game debate. Publishers want to ensure that their product delivers a continuous revenue stream instead of a one time payment. Especially publicly traded companies like EA, which are expected to show perpetual revenue growth to maintain stock values.

People wouldn't be too keen on paying a monthly fee to play PVZ. So micro transactions fill the void. The games are designed to be addictive, and keep the difficulty down just enough to get you hooked. Then you hit a wall. You're given the option of buying an item that will make progressing easier. So a lot of folks, casual gamers especially, will take it. The trick here is you're not actually being made to buy anything. The game is free and can be played for free in its entirety. However, paying does make progressing significantly easier, and is mighty tempting if you're frustrated.

I guess more seasoned gamers hate it for three reasons: 1) it's seen as cheating, 2) it's a bit of an extortion tactic, and 3) a lot of these games target young children without much concept of money.

 

[QueBert]

the fact that it's iOS-exclusive makes me say fuck the entire company.

So you're mad they didn't make it for a platform where they'd make a fraction of the money? It will come to Andriod a year down the road, just like 99% of all other AAA games. This is nothing new and nothing uncommon

 

[nageov3t]

So you're mad they didn't make it for a platform where they'd make a fraction of the money? It will come to Andriod a year down the road, just like 99% of all other AAA games. This is nothing new and nothing uncommon

given that it's 52% of the marketshare (and it was originally a PC game to start with), it just seems like an absurd decision when they're not exactly a struggling company with limited resources anymore.

doesn't really even effect me since I game on my iPad, just annoys me that I have my BF borrowing my tablet because they made an exclusivity deal with Apple.

 

[blurredvision]

I would expect this from all mobile EA games from now on, including Peggle 2. Look at Madden 25 on iOS. What used to be a $10 game is now F2P where you buy plays and players. I'm not sure exactly how gimped it is from the outset but from what I've read, it's fairly bad.

 

[ultimatebob]

the fact that it's iOS-exclusive makes me say fuck the entire company.

Yeah... They screwed over Android users on the launch as well, probably because they aren't as willing to pony up for in app purchases.

 

[purbeast0]

Yeah... They screwed over Android users on the launch as well, probably because they aren't as willing to pony up for in app purchases.

yeah, what a stupid company, putting their resources into making the game on a platform that will be most profitable. i wonder how they stay in business.

 

[Rakehellion]

I would expect this from all mobile EA games from now on, including Peggle 2. Look at Madden 25 on iOS. What used to be a $10 game is now F2P where you buy plays and players. I'm not sure exactly how gimped it is from the outset but from what I've read, it's fairly bad.

I hear it's a wait-to-play game too.

Plants versus Zombies 2 isn't that gimped. Everything is unlockable, like in the first one.

 

[ultimatebob]

yeah, what a stupid company, putting their resources into making the game on a platform that will be most profitable. i wonder how they stay in business.

iOS exclusive product launches aren't making as much sense anymore now that Android has a much larger marketshare.

I'll bet that an ad supported version of PzZ 2 on Android would make as much money as the iOS version, if not more.