PvZ: Garden Warfare Won't Have Micro Transactions (At Launch)

[Steven Bogos]

PvZ: Garden Warfare Won't Have Micro Transactions (At Launch)

Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, the Microsoft-exclusive third-person shooter, won't have microtransactions when it launches next week.

Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is an upcoming third-person shooter spin-off of the immensely popular Plants Vs. Zombies tower-defense franchise, and it launches next week exclusively for Xbox One and 360. In an effort to quell concerns over Plants Vs. Zombies 2's heavy use of microtransactions, PopCap Games producer Brian Lindley assured GameSpot [http://www.gamespot.com/articles/plants-vs-zombies-shooter-has-no-microtransactions-at-launch-probably-doesn-t-run-in-1080p/1100-6417864/] that the shooter spin-off won't have any microtransactions - at least not at launch.

"So we're not going to have any microtransactions at all at launch," said Lindley, which doesn't rule out the possibility of them working their way into the game later on. He also discussed the game's resolution, stating that "The Xbox One outputs in 1080p," but was unable to confirm whether the game would be 1080p native or upscaled.

Also, while PvZ: GW may be a Microsoft exclusive for now, Lindley gave Sony fans a little hope when he said that "We have nothing to announce at this point, but I always caveat that with the comment that we want to get this game in the hands of as many people as possible."

Finally, Lindley assured us that another SimCity-type server fiasco is not something we have to worry about with this game, as "We've tested extensively; a lot of stress testing and...make sure everything is buttoned up and ready for launch as much as possible."

Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare launches February 25 for Xbox One and Xbox 360, with a Windows PC version planned some time in the future. It is powered by the same FrostBite 3 engine that is behind DICE's Battlefield 4.

Source: GameSpot [http://www.gamespot.com/articles/plants-vs-zombies-shooter-has-no-microtransactions-at-launch-probably-doesn-t-run-in-1080p/1100-6417864/]

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[CriticalMiss]

So they're going to wait until people have bought the game safe in the knowledge that there are no microtransactions, then add them in later on. Cunning bastards.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

So, microtransactions are pretty much confirmed?

Good to know, I think I'll stick with the first Plants vs Zombies.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

So, it's a 4 person co-op style game, the Xbox One price is the same as a AAA game last generation (just under £40)
and EA are planning on implementing microtransactions sneakily later into the full price game's life.

Yep. Even if it doesn't negatively affect team balance and is purely cosmetic (which I'm pretty sure no EA microtransaction has ever been), that's bollocks, and if it works, it will become standard for all EA games.

The turds.

 

[Deshin]

Given the context of the game I think microtransactions *could* work if they added something worthwhile like new classes to the game. (without being horribly broken to the point of everyone without this new char is at a serious disadvantage)

 

[Falterfire]

The problem with PvZ2 was that they effectively destroyed the progression curve of the game in order to make the microtransactions more necessary. Having to repeat levels just to earn enough to progress, i.e. grind, is a feature of a BAD game. Games with progression based on microtransactions are universally terrible games and should be panned as such for breaking their own systems for cash.

They actually fixed that. That was my huge annoyance with it when I played it shortly after launch, but they changed it to a straight progression system now - You play through levels in order, 24 per world. If you beat the 8th successfully you get to move to another world (And of course can keep playing the one you're on). Right now I find that it not only is not annoying you with microtransactions but actually is very challenging and fun.

Interestingly, you can still buy World Keys with $, but since you only have to beat eight levels to get the next one, I have to wonder what sort of person would buy more keys - If you can't get them normally, you obviously aren't actually playing the game at all.

 

[thewatergamer]

Hahahaha no, not going to buy this game, partly because I don't have an Xbox one or Xbox 360 and DEFINITELY have no plans to get an Xbone after micro$ofts always on DRM debacle, and the Xbox 360 is just not interesting to me, also how dumb do you think we are? The key word here is "at launch" so the plan is to have the game be up for awhile to allow people to buy it, and once sales die down a little, ramp up the microtransactions, thanks but I'll stick with the original

 

[NuclearKangaroo]

so we have reached the point in which THIS is a feature?

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

I remember a time when Popcap was a reliable source of fun and innovative games. Then EA bought them... :/

 

[SlightlyEvil]

I actually liked PvZ2 at launch. I thought the non-linear progression was more interesting than the strictly linear progression they have now. Also, when they revamped the progression, they also noticeably upped the difficulty, so many levels virtually require spending coins. I finally uninstalled the game when I discovered that the "big new update" recently was adding a single boss fight. Not one for each existing level, still not the teased fourth world, but one boss fight, for the first world, only.

OT: I sooo want this to be good, but I'm really not hopeful. I only have a PC, so at least I'll get to see how bad it is before I even have a chance to buy it.

 

[Atmos Duality]

so we have reached the point in which THIS is a feature?

Get with the times; selling complete games is for squares, daddy-o!
Gotta put those stupid entitled gamers back in their place.
Gotta remind them who feeds their habit; who cooks their fix.

It's good for the INDUSTRY, man!

Seriously: This is the low state we've reached; where launching a game without back-loaded price-gouging bullshit is an advertised feature.

 

[Cerebrawl]

As I noted in the preview thread(only commenter, heh):
Random power booster packs and (planned post-launch) in app purchases in a multiplayer shooter? No, just no, [redacted] you EA, [redacted] you PopCap. Even without microtransactions at launch the random power boosters is damning enough, with both it's just everything wrong with pay to win in a nutshell.

Not that I'm surprised since Plants vs Zombies 2 got ruined by microtransactions.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

That is the juciest, cheekiest, most shit-eating qualifier I have ever seen. So there will be microtransactions, but after launch, and the game is fucking doomed.