News
3 CommentsApple reveals top 50 apps of all time, counting down to 50 billion downloads
By Alexa Ray Corriea on May 03, 2013 05.03.13
Nearly 50 billion apps have been download from Apple's App Store, the company announced today. To commemorate the approaching milestone, Apple revealed the 25 most downloaded apps in both the paid and free categories. Topping the paid apps list is the original Angry Birds, followed by Halfbrick Studios' Fruit Ninja, Lima Sky's Doodle Jump, Cut the Rope and Angry Birds Seasons. Words With Friends sits at number eight, while Angry Birds Space is tenth and PopCap's Plants vs. Zombies is number 12. Angry Birds Star Wars also makes the list at number 18, and Minecraft Pocket Edition takes the twenty-third spot. Facebook sits at number one on the free apps list, followed directly by Pandora Radio, Instagram, YouTube, Skype and Words With Friends Free. Twitter's application is eighth with T...
Deals
5 CommentsHumble Mobile Bundle brings a package deal, The Room to Android devices
By Griffin McElroy on Mar 26, 2013 03.26.13
The Humble Mobile Bundle brings the packaged, choose-your-own-price offers of its Mac and PC counterpart to Android devices, the Humble Bundle organizers announced today. The first Humble Mobile Bundle includes four titles for folks who purchase it at any price: strategy title Anomaly Korea, puzzle game Contre Jour, Plants vs. Zombies and "third person action brawler" Bladeslinger. Anyone who purchases the pack at higher than its average price ($5.53, at the time of this writing) will also get Metal Slug 3 and award-winning puzzle game The Room, which makes its Android debut today. As always, shoppers can choose which portion of their donation goes to three potential recipients: the developers of the games, the Humble Bundle organizers or the bundle's designated charities, the...
News
7 CommentsPiracy and plush counterfeits key to Plants vs. Zombies' surprise success in China
By Michael McWhertor on Mar 26, 2013 03.26.13
PopCap found success in China with Plants vs. Zombies in part thanks to software piracy and counterfeit goods, according to developer James Gwertzman, who said that piracy, copycats and clones — frequently viewed as negatives of doing business in China — can be a boon to innovation (and profit) worldwide. Gwertzman, head of strategic development at PopCap Games, said at the Game Developers Conference this week that China can be a "sandbox of innovation" for companies looking to bring their business to the country's potential billion customers. While high piracy rates should be a deterrent for game makers, it's also an incredibly efficient way to distribute intellectual property, Gwertzman said. When PopCap released Plants vs. Zombies in China, it quickly became one of the top...
Deals
11 CommentsThe Cave and Tekken 6 free for PlayStation Plus members this week
By Tracey Lien on Mar 18, 2013 03.18.13
The Cave for PlayStation 3 and Tekken 6 for PSP (with PS Vita support) are coming to the PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection this week, according to the PlayStation Blog. PlayStation Plus members will receive both games for free and also be eligible for discounts on Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken ($40 percent off for PS Plus members) and Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational Course and Character Pack (25 percent off for PS Plus members). As of March 26, Plants vs. Zombies for the PS Vita will leave the Instant Game Collection and discounts on the Scott Pilgrim Ultimate Edition and multiplayer packs will come to an end. Sony's promotion, which credits users $10 for every $50 spent on PSN, continues through this month.
News
5 CommentsEA plans to have 16 titles available for the Samsung Galaxy S4 at launch
By Dave Tach on Mar 15, 2013 03.15.13
Electronic Arts plans to have 16 titles available for the Samsung Galaxy S4 when it launches this April, according to a press release from the company. Games include The Simpsons: Tapped Out, Real Racing 3, The Sims FreePlay, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Monopoly, Plants vs. Zombies, the recently announced Tetris Blitz and Bejeweled Blitz. "We're delighted to be partnered with Samsung to bring some of our fans' favorite mobile gaming titles to the Samsung Galaxy S4 in time for launch," said Glenn Roland, vice president of new platforms and OEM at Electronic Arts. "The device's higher resolution, larger screen and increased processing power will give our games an opportunity to look even more beautiful for Samsung consumers." Revealed yesterday, the Android device will sport a...
Deals
13 CommentsSpec Ops: The Line, Joe Danger 2 and more free this month for PlayStation Plus members
By Tracey Lien on Mar 04, 2013 03.04.13
PlayStation Plus is introducing five new games to its Instant Game Collection and discounting many more for the month of March, according to the PlayStation Blog. For this month, PlayStation Plus members will be able to download the following games for free: Spec Ops: The Line, Joe Danger 2, Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention, The Cave and Tekken 6. A number of PlayStation Vita games will also be discounted as part of week two of the Vita anniversary sale for all PSN users. Among the discounted titles are Army Corps of Hell, Blazblue: Continuum Shift Extend, Dokuro, Knytt Underground, Lego Lord of the Rings. Sine Mora, Retro City Rampage and more. The full list of games on sale this week on PSN can be viewed here. The following games are leaving PlayStation Plus this month: Guardians...
News
11 CommentsPlants vs. Zombies Vita free for PS Plus members, other Vita titles discounted
By Griffin McElroy on Feb 25, 2013 02.25.13
Plants vs. Zombies for PS Vita is the latest addition to PlayStation Plus subscribers' Instant Game Collections, a post on PlayStation Blog revealed this morning. The casual strategy title joins other recent, complimentary titles in the company's rewards program, including Closure and Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X. Also new to subscribers this week is a large discount on Retro/Grade and its soundtrack, as well as sales for 13 PS Vita titles for the handheld's one-year anniversary, including Escape Plan, Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational and Sound Shapes. Smaller discounts will also be offered to non-Plus members. For a full list of the games on sale this week, check out PlayStation Blog.
One million 'Plants vs. Zombies' trading cards head to dentists to help stop 'zombie mouth'
By Brian Crecente on Sep 28, 2012 09.28.12
One million packs of limited edition Plants vs. Zombies trading cards are heading to thousands of dentists nationwide starting today as part of the Stop Zombie Mouth Halloween campaign, the American Dental Association and PopCap Games announced. Each pack of five cards includes a coupon redeemable for a free copy of the full PC or Mac edition of the Plants vs. Zombies game, as well. The cards feature 45 different zombie types and five new characters, each representing a different germ found in a zombie's mouth, created specifically for the campaign. The Stop Zombie Mouth was announced earlier this month as a way to get kids to either trade in their candy for healthier, non-edible items, or get adults to hand those items out instead of candy. "Changing eating habits among children...
'Plants vs. Zombies' creator shuts down Dublin studio
By Brian Crecente on Sep 24, 2012 09.24.12
About a month after laying off 50 people from their North American offices and kicking off a reexamination of their Dublin team, PopCap Games closed down the offices in Ireland this week laying off nearly 100 people. "And it's official," JP Vaughan, associate producer at PopCap mobile tweeted, "PopCap Dublin is now closed :(" PopCap's senior director for worldwide PR Garth Chouteau later confirmed to MCV that the PopCap leadership team decided this week to close their Dublin office. The closure impacts 96 employees. "PopCap has provided outplacement support and many employees have offers in other parts of PopCap, at EA or new opportunities with technology partners in Ireland," Chouteau told MCV. "Europe remains a critical market for PopCap and we will continue to grow our presence...
Help PopCap prevent 'Zombie Mouth' with free copies of their game
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Sep 10, 2012 09.10.12
Plants vs Zombies developer PopCap is giving away free copies of the game to replace Halloween candy as part of a program to raise oral health awareness, the developer announced today. Codes for free copies of Plants vs. Zombies for PC and Mac can be obtained from the "Stop Zombie Mouth" official website or from participating dental offices. Participants can also get themed trading cards and other items featuring tips for healthy teeth. The codes will be redeemable from October 30th through November 10th. "We at PopCap have been interested in the potential for video games to provide benefits beyond entertainment for many years," said PopCap co-founder John Vechey in a press release. "We're passionate about the very important cause behind the 'Stop Zombie Mouth' campaign and proud to be...
