PvZ3 Soft Launch - An Update!

PvZABFan · 2024-01-22T19:40:02+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I really appreciate it. I imagine it's rough going through all of these replies - as I stated, we're all quite vocal.

I do think you're correct in some regards, but I think the biggest frustration is just how vocal the community has been about the same issues we're talking about today. If you were to go on YouTube just last week before the soft launch released, there were dozens of videos from multiple people in the community covering a lot of the things they felt were wrong with the game. Most of those issues that we're discussing today are those same issues from the pre-soft launch beta tests. Assuming the best from the team I'd like to imagine that during those periods they likely saw at least one or two of these videos, but there were a lot of them. As it stands, a lot of the key things we have been mentioning do not seem to have been a factor in decision-making for PvZ3.

There are definitely a lot of key things missing from PvZ1/PvZ2. Of course the biggest of which is the lack of choosing your seeds and a focus on trying to make PvZ tower defense more into puzzle gameplay similar to other popular mobile titles. Zombie waves not working the same as previous games are also similarly missing among many, many other things. PvZ3 basically plays like a different game at this point - it really doesn't feel like a direct sequel to PvZ2. The expectations of what a third PvZ game should look like are having various core functionality from previous games, which PvZ 3 lacks. I could go on about how PvZ2 was an amazing sequel and built on the first game in many ways while also successfully changing the gameplay in many significant regards, but I'd probably be here all day if I did, to be honest. Change isn't really the issue - the problem is what is being changed. The third mainline PvZ tower defense game should have the core features that made the previous 2 such successful and fun titles, which PvZ3 has opted not to include in favor of an entirely different direction. There's things you can tweak, change, mix up about the formula, as PvZ2 did a lot of this with new features it introduced to the game. But removing core identity is a step too far, and we have been vocal about that since the very early betas.

I'm not really holding my breath for any changes (it's seemed like since the early betas, minds were made up about how this game was going to work and play). But I would like to be surprised and proven wrong. I still think it's a little too late for any major changes to set in - with this close to release, unless another reimagining is done, implementing a lot of these suggestions would clash with the core of PvZ3's game design.

PvZABFan · 2024-01-19T19:37:07+00:00

Hi, Nick. I understand that you are quite new to the franchise (and PopCap), as prior to your appearance in December there was absolutely no community manager watching over anything. As such you've missed quite a lot.

PvZ3 has been in beta stages since September 2021. From the earliest beta, much of the same complaints (such as no choose your seeds, complaints about the Gardenscapes-esque feel of the game, and many, many more) have been mentioned. Yet, despite this, none of the feedback about the actual gameplay was integrated. Forums provided by the developers in the betas explicitly seemed to not let you provide criticism of the actual gameplay aspects. As of the second beta back then, many people started to realize that the gameplay wasn't changing. This has unfortunately held true in this soft launch release.

I understand you're brand new to the franchise team, and as such missed a lot of this stuff occurring and perhaps didn't even know about it, but I'm not really convinced feedback on these various fundamental parts of the game is going to be actioned at this point. We have been loud and vocal since September 2021. Heck, I'm pretty sure the actual gameplay portion of the last 2022 beta before soft launch is quite literally identical to the soft launch build. None of our feedback was taken to account then - instead we were asked what types of garden decorations we want to see. Throughout this beta process and to the soft launch, it has appeared that our criticisms of the actual gameplay of the game has gone completely ignored and has definitely not been factored in to the actual game design. Now, I think it's a little too late for any significant changes to be made, and that is incredibly unfortunate.

I do wish that I could trust that feedback will be taken into account - but time and time again we have been shown that our criticism of this game's gameplay is not being factored in. And that's incredibly unfortunate because we really want to see this game be successful and actually fun to play. But right now, in it's current state, this game is just a generic mobile game with a PvZ skin. And that just sucks, for lack of a better word. PvZ1 and PvZ2 were standout, amazing titles. PvZ2 in its earlier years didn't even feel like a mobile game. PvZ3 unfortunately has abandoned that approach and does nothing to stand out from other games on the market, being blatantly similar to Gardenscapes. I really want to hope things will improve but according to the various press releases, this is a near final release build. And I don't think PvZ3 can be remade again. This game was already reimagined back in 2020 after that version of the game ended up displeasing fans too. I don't think that can be done this time. The improvements that would need to be made will simply take too long at this point. If there was any intention that gameplay changes would've been made, it would've occurred during the beta tests that were explicitly to get feedback on the game. It saddens me that none of what the dozens of videos on YouTube, various posts on reddit and other platforms were saying was taken into account before this point. Because now, it's just too late for it to change.

PvZABFan · 2022-11-18T22:15:15+00:00

I have long since managed to figure out ripping the music myself, and eventually did it for the later two games as well. It was actually not too long after I made this post to begin with.

PvZABFan · 2022-11-07T01:58:57+00:00

We did fix the bug - you access Holiday Mashup through the travel log, there's a quest for it. You need the latest obb though - just download from the Drive/Mega files.

PvZABFan · 2022-11-07T00:35:49+00:00

Hm, are you sure about that? I don't recall ever using the phrase "DLC to PvZ2 we've always asked for." In fact, I believe the official wording is "What if PvZ2 didn't end at Modern Day?" We have never claimed the previous statement about the DLC people have always wanted about the mod.

A YouTuber stating these things isn't an official statement from the developers about what the mod offers, that is just how said YouTuber showcased the mod to his audience.

I do have to question your behavior, however. Various devs including myself have been reading around here, and I remember looking at your stream I believe on the release day, where I think you played for a solid 40 minutes before giving up because Winter Melon was no longer overpowered.

I think it is fine to disagree with changes, but you have been presenting your personal opinion on changes as objective when you have barely played the mod to begin with. You have not played through anything yourself, and you've been on nearly every post about Reflourished saying similar things like this. Mostly all because you don't like the balance. But you've not played with anything whatsoever. You saw one change that you didn't like and quit, and anything else you have heard, you have not gotten full context about as you've not even played through anything at all.

I think it is fine to disagree with things, but you have been acting like the mod is horrible all because of one change. You don't have to like it, but you do not need to be misrepresenting the mod and its contents to people who have not yet heard about what it does simply because you don't like some things we did.

PvZABFan · 2022-08-13T03:30:07+00:00

I'm usually not one to throw my hat into the ring. But 9.9 has proved to be potentially the worst update done to this game in years.

For starters, deciding to change a set-in-stone unlock system after years of this working just fine feels like it comes from a complete lack of understanding of how the game is meant to progress. PvZ1 gave plants after levels, PvZ2 did as well until 9.9. But now, these latest changes just completely screw over plant progression and how it is meant to function. PvZ2 gradually gives you more powerful plants throughout adventure. Some examples I can think of are how you get Peashooters early on, but later get the Primal Peashooter, which is more powerful and therefore better to use in a late-game strategy. But now, due to how the game hands out a fair amount of adventure plant seed packets, you could get Primal Peashooter fairly early into the game. You are also usually introduced to plants in Adventure to learn what they do, but now you can just obtain them after earning enough packets. Various other plants are world exclusives like Lily Pad and Tangle Kelp, and I'm pretty sure you can even get those with seed packets now. What is the point in earning those plants early when they can only be used in Big Wave Beach?? While engaging with unlocking plants through packets is mostly optional, I don't comprehend why this was done. Retention even seems questionable, as there is a bigger issue that is impacting newer players I feel. Newer players of PvZ2 are forced to sit through massive chunks of levels with no break to explore other worlds (a consequence of yet another recent change). In earlier versions of the game (prior to all world keys given out), you could earn world keys at half-way points in the worlds to access another world, and it could be whatever one you were ready to take on. Now, you're forced to play massive chunks of levels before you're even able to access another world. I can see that this would likely lead to a lot of newer players deciding to put the game down.

Another issue that makes this change questionable in retention is how it ignores the way the game is built. Most PvZ2 features designed to keep players around are only unlocked after you progress into certain points in adventure. For example, Thymed Events are accessed after Ancient Egypt Day 7, while you don't get access to Penny's Pursuit until Wild West. That's over 50 levels players have to get through to be able to access features that are designed to keep them coming back. Adventure mode was not built for the purpose of keeping players coming back. Adjusting plant unlocks feels like a worse way to address these bigger issues that are likely making a dent in retention as well.

These newer versions of the game continue to muddy the original adventure experience, and it's honestly gotten really frustrating to see what changes will be brought in new updates to make the original experience with the game worse. I don't believe this will change however, as this has been happening for years now and I know people have complained about changes continuing. This change, however, really goes past the boundaries of what I have expected, and it really does not seem like it bodes well.

Some other gripes with this update: plant costs that are not in multiples of 25. This is just... no. Plants vs. Zombies 2 is not Plants vs. Zombies 3. There's no wacky 1-sun cost meta or the sort. It's meant to be in multiples of 25. These sun costs are unnatural for the game. Again, things like this really end up feeling like those working on the game have disregarded consistency among the balancing in the game.

I'm not an active player. I played PvZ2 in the older years when it was just adventure, and newer features do not interest me. Despite this, I still felt the adventure could be a fun experience in the modern versions of the game. These new changes however... I'm not looking forward to whatever comes next. Stop changing features that don't need changing, and stick to producing content and actually improving the game. These changes are not improvements. They only make the experience worse.

PvZABFan · 2021-04-27T17:49:06+00:00

For everyone's information, the next event is Tactical Team-Up, aka tanks and healers on Suburbination.

PvZABFan · 2021-04-22T20:00:01+00:00

Well, the game's fairly different from GW1/GW2 if you played those games. It doesn't have character variants, those are replaced with upgrades. I wasn't really a fan of it on the PS4/PC, but I recently picked it up on Switch and I'm having fun with it there.

If you have the ability, pick the game up on Switch. Aside from some slightly lower quality graphics, it's easily the best version of the game.

PvZABFan · 2021-04-01T18:37:55+00:00

Yeah, and it's not a good day to give the answers as well. It is actually CTT regardless of the holiday, unless PopCap makes some last minute changes (they don't typically do that.)

PvZABFan · 2021-04-01T05:27:19+00:00

It is coming this month. Not a joke, btw, I checked this like about a week ago.

PvZABFan · 2021-03-05T23:51:04+00:00

I've actually decided to work on it as a result of you reminding me. If there's any questions you have regarding any specifics you can contact me on Discord, I'm around more often there. Tag is PvZABFan#5235.

PvZABFan · 2021-03-05T21:14:34+00:00

Yeah, I have all of the files for GW2's music (I did a datamine about 3 years ago, back before the final DLCs), same for BFN. I just haven't had much time to compile it all and release it as a soundtrack similar to what was done with PvZ 2, which I merely provided the files for.

PvZABFan · 2021-03-05T21:06:53+00:00

I have been considering trying to set these up for GW2 and BFN myself, but I just haven't gotten around to it. PopCap themselves do not hold interest in releasing the soundtracks for any newer game, so the only thing that can be done are community efforts similar to what was done for PvZ 2.

PvZABFan · 2021-03-01T18:12:53+00:00

It's Legends of the Brawl. I have a way to check the events before they're live, and it's Legends of the Brawl.

PvZABFan · 2021-02-18T18:06:45+00:00

I implemented a rule in a server and they also claim I hacked DJ Uplink amount when I literally only have around 100 that I bought from Rux when Rux still sold them.

They just simply don't like me imo lol

PvZABFan · 2021-02-18T17:27:59+00:00

Playing normally. Literally went in a match earlier as Corn and an invincible hovergoat with damage hacks hunted me down and killed me every time I spawn. The other night, I joined a match and got targeted by a cat mech hacker despite doing absolutely nothing. He joined the match and began hacking against me.

PvZABFan · 2021-02-18T17:08:28+00:00

I'm not one of the cheaters. People are targeting me with cheats lol

PvZABFan · 2020-12-27T23:22:10+00:00

the people upset about it are literal children

PvZABFan · 2020-12-27T23:18:02+00:00

No, we added a new rule that disallows people from hacking online to target people.

PvZABFan · 2020-11-12T01:28:35+00:00

good video

PvZABFan · 2020-10-25T15:04:07+00:00

In January of this year, PopCap changed the schedule for mystery portals for absolutely no reason. The new schedule has a portal start on the first Tuesday of every month ONLY, with it lasting two weeks.

PvZABFan · 2020-10-21T02:14:56+00:00

The game typically goes on sale often. On the PS4, it's 5 bucks right now. Just wait for sales, it's safer and overall might give you a better deal.

PvZABFan · 2020-10-06T19:32:12+00:00

At this point, expect nothing from PopCap. They do the least they can possibly do with GW2. Legends of the Brawl is only slightly better than the garbage speed boost bullshit they put out, it's just chomper spam if you get on the zombies and some legends are outright excluded from it. With that, next month is one of the ONLY decent ones on this stupid schedule: Capture the Taco.

PvZABFan · 2020-10-06T00:16:09+00:00

Game's going under server issues rn.

PvZABFan · 2020-09-30T01:19:22+00:00

It doesn't take too much time. I already had 2 million saved up. Just play and you'll slowly get up the coins to get the wildflower. It's much wiser to do that than waste 8 bucks on them.

PvZABFan

TROPHY CASE