<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2009	O
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
video	O
game	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
PopCap	O
Games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
First	O
released	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
and	O
Mac	B-Application
OS	I-Application
X	I-Application
,	O
the	O
game	O
has	O
since	O
been	O
ported	O
to	O
consoles	O
,	O
handhelds	B-Application
,	O
and	O
mobile	B-Application
devices	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
takes	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
a	O
homeowner	O
amid	O
a	O
zombie	B-Application
apocalypse	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
horde	O
of	O
zombies	B-Application
approaches	O
along	O
several	O
parallel	O
lanes	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
defend	O
the	O
home	O
by	O
putting	O
down	O
plants	O
,	O
which	O
fire	O
projectiles	O
at	O
the	O
zombies	B-Application
or	O
otherwise	O
detrimentally	O
affect	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
a	O
zombie	B-Application
happens	O
to	O
make	O
it	O
to	O
the	O
house	O
on	O
any	O
lane	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
loses	O
and	O
must	O
restart	O
the	O
level	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
designed	O
by	O
George	O
Fan	O
,	O
who	O
conceptualized	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
more	O
defense-oriented	B-Application
sequel	O
to	O
his	O
fish	O
simulator	O
game	O
Insaniquarium	B-Application
(	O
2001	O
)	O
,	O
then	O
developed	O
it	O
into	O
a	O
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
game	I-Application
featuring	O
plants	O
fighting	O
against	O
zombies	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
took	O
inspiration	O
from	O
the	O
games	O
Magic	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Gathering	I-Application
and	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
;	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
movie	O
Swiss	O
Family	O
Robinson	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
took	O
three	O
and	O
a	O
half	O
years	O
to	O
make	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
order	O
to	O
appeal	O
to	O
both	O
casual	O
and	O
hardcore	O
gamers	O
,	O
the	O
tutorial	O
was	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
simple	O
and	O
spread	O
throughout	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
positively	O
received	O
by	O
critics	O
and	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
multiple	O
awards	O
,	O
including	O
"	O
Download	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Strategy	B-Application
Game	I-Application
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
Golden	O
Joystick	O
Awards	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
release	O
in	O
May	O
2009	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
PopCap	O
Games	O
and	O
quickly	O
became	O
their	O
best-selling	O
game	O
,	O
surpassing	O
Bejeweled	B-Device
and	O
Peggle	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
company	O
laid	O
off	O
Fan	O
and	O
49	O
other	O
employees	O
,	O
marking	O
a	O
change	O
of	O
focus	O
to	O
mobile	B-Application
and	O
social	O
gaming	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
buyout	O
,	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
followed	O
by	O
a	B-Application
series	I-Application
of	I-Application
games	I-Application
including	O
two	O
direct	O
sequels	O
,	O
three	O
third-person	O
shooters	O
,	O
and	O
two	O
spin-offs	O
,	O
most	O
of	O
which	O
have	O
received	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
is	O
a	O
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
video	O
game	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
defends	O
a	O
house	O
from	O
zombies	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Different	O
types	O
of	O
zombies	B-Application
have	O
their	O
own	O
special	O
behaviors	O
and	O
their	O
own	O
weaknesses	O
to	O
different	O
plants	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
Balloon	O
Zombie	B-Application
can	O
float	O
over	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
plants	O
,	O
but	O
its	O
balloon	O
can	O
be	O
popped	O
by	O
Cactus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
examples	O
of	O
zombies	B-Application
include	O
Dancing	O
Zombie	B-Application
which	O
summons	O
Backup	O
Dancers	O
around	O
himself	O
;	O
and	O
the	O
Dolphin	O
Rider	O
Zombie	B-Application
,	O
which	O
rides	O
on	O
a	O
dolphin	O
to	O
jump	O
over	O
a	O
plant	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Positioned	O
at	O
the	O
left	O
end	O
of	O
each	O
lane	O
is	O
a	O
single-use	O
lawnmower	O
;	O
if	O
a	O
zombie	B-Application
reaches	O
this	O
end	O
,	O
the	O
mower	O
activates	O
and	O
kills	O
all	O
zombies	B-Application
in	O
that	O
lane	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
a	O
zombie	B-Application
reaches	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
a	O
lane	O
whose	O
mower	O
has	O
already	O
been	O
used	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
has	O
to	O
restart	O
the	O
level	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
first	O
level	O
of	O
stage	O
two	O
(	O
level	O
21	O
)	O
,	O
zombies	B-Application
begin	O
to	O
occasionally	O
drop	O
in-game	O
money	O
when	O
killed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
unlocked	O
after	O
level	O
54	O
and	O
allows	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
water	O
and	O
maintain	O
a	O
group	O
of	O
plants	O
,	O
which	O
are	O
obtained	O
as	O
loot	O
from	O
killing	O
zombies	B-Application
or	O
purchasing	O
them	O
through	O
his	O
store	O
;	O
in	O
return	O
,	O
the	O
plants	O
generate	O
money	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Adventure	O
mode	O
's	O
last	O
level	O
pits	O
the	O
player	O
against	O
Dr.	O
Zomboss	O
,	O
an	O
evil	O
scientist	O
and	O
the	O
zombies	B-Application
 '	O
animator	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Puzzle	O
mode	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
selects	O
from	O
two	O
types	O
of	O
levels	O
:	O
"	O
Vasebreaker	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
I	O
,	O
Zombie	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
"	O
Vasebreaker	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
breaks	O
open	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
vases	O
,	O
each	O
containing	O
a	O
plant	O
or	O
a	O
zombie	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
level	O
ends	O
when	O
all	O
the	O
vases	O
are	O
smashed	O
and	O
all	O
the	O
zombies	B-Application
are	O
killed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
"	O
I	O
,	O
Zombie	B-Application
"	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
places	O
zombies	B-Application
to	O
get	O
past	O
pre-placed	O
cardboard	O
cut-outs	O
of	O
plants	O
,	O
aiming	O
to	O
eat	O
the	O
brain	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
each	O
lane	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Survival	O
mode	O
offers	O
a	O
selection	O
of	O
levels	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
chooses	O
plants	O
to	O
defeat	O
increasingly	O
challenging	O
waves	O
of	O
zombies	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
designed	O
by	O
George	O
Fan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Imagining	O
a	O
more	O
defense-oriented	B-Application
version	O
of	O
one	O
of	O
his	O
previous	O
titles	O
,	O
Insaniquarium	B-Application
(	O
2001	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
having	O
played	O
some	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
mods	O
,	O
he	O
was	O
inspired	O
to	O
make	O
a	O
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
game	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
considered	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Insaniquarium	B-Application
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
,	O
each	O
screen	O
would	O
represent	O
a	O
separate	O
fish	O
tank	O
—	O
one	O
on	O
top	O
of	O
the	O
other	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gameplay	O
in	O
the	O
top	O
tank	O
would	O
focus	O
on	O
defense	O
against	O
the	O
aliens	O
,	O
while	O
in	O
the	O
bottom	O
tank	O
it	O
would	O
revolve	O
around	O
resource	O
generation	O
,	O
akin	O
to	O
Insaniquarium	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
But	O
inspired	O
by	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
towers	O
,	O
he	O
felt	O
that	O
plants	O
would	O
make	O
good	O
defensive	O
structures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
wanted	O
to	O
bring	O
new	O
concepts	O
to	O
the	O
genre	O
and	O
believed	O
the	O
fact	O
that	O
enemies	O
in	O
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
games	I-Application
would	O
never	O
attack	O
the	O
towers	O
was	O
unintuitive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Enemies	O
were	O
at	O
first	O
the	O
aliens	O
from	O
Insaniquarium	B-Application
,	O
but	O
while	O
Fan	O
was	O
sketching	O
concept	O
art	O
,	O
he	O
drew	O
what	O
he	O
considered	O
"	O
the	O
perfect	O
zombie	B-Application
"	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
theming	O
was	O
reworked	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
went	O
with	O
using	O
zombies	B-Application
instead	O
of	O
aliens	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
game	O
stand	O
out	O
from	O
other	O
video	O
games	O
using	O
plants	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Insaniquarium	B-Application
substantially	O
influenced	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
games	O
have	O
similar	O
pacing	O
,	O
determined	O
by	O
the	O
"	O
drip-feeding	O
"	O
of	O
pets	O
and	O
plants	O
respectively	O
,	O
and	O
choosing	O
plants	O
at	O
the	O
beginning	O
of	O
each	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
level	O
is	O
analogous	O
to	O
choosing	O
pets	O
in	O
Insaniquarium	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
included	O
elements	O
from	O
the	O
trading	O
card	O
game	O
Magic	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Gathering	I-Application
,	O
which	O
he	O
had	O
played	O
with	O
his	O
girlfriend	O
,	O
Laura	O
Shigihara	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Showing	O
her	O
how	O
to	O
customize	O
their	O
card	O
decks	O
inspired	O
him	O
to	O
design	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
with	O
seed	O
packets	O
—	O
instead	O
of	O
his	O
original	O
idea	O
of	O
a	O
conveyor	O
belt	O
that	O
gave	O
random	O
plants	O
—	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
seed	O
packet	O
system	O
's	O
greater	O
complexity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
use	O
of	O
multitasking	O
between	O
lanes	O
was	O
influenced	O
by	O
and	O
was	O
featured	O
prominently	O
in	O
the	O
old	O
arcade	O
game	O
Tapper	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
renamed	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
as	O
a	O
placeholder	O
after	O
the	O
enemies	O
were	O
changed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
planned	O
name	O
for	O
most	O
of	O
development	O
was	O
Lawn	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Dead	I-Application
,	O
a	O
pun	O
on	O
the	O
title	O
of	O
the	O
George	O
A	O
.	O
Romero	O
zombie	B-Application
film	O
Dawn	O
of	O
the	O
Dead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Romero	O
did	O
not	O
permit	O
usage	O
of	O
the	O
name	O
,	O
even	O
after	O
a	O
plea	O
from	O
Fan	O
,	O
who	O
sent	O
Romero	O
a	O
video	O
of	O
himself	O
dressed	O
as	O
a	O
Zombie	B-Application
Temp	O
Worker	O
grunting	O
and	O
programming	O
on	O
a	O
computer	O
,	O
subtitled	O
with	O
references	O
to	O
runtime	O
errors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
initially	O
designed	O
by	O
Fan	O
alone	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Stephen	O
Notley	O
is	O
credited	O
as	O
being	O
a	O
writer	O
for	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
wrote	O
the	O
plant	O
and	O
zombie	B-Application
descriptions	O
in	O
the	O
in-game	O
guide	O
,	O
the	O
Suburban	O
Almanac	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
attributed	O
the	O
design	O
's	O
intrigue	O
to	O
its	O
animation	O
scheme	O
;	O
Tod	O
Semple	O
suggested	O
using	O
Adobe	B-Operating_System
Flash	I-Operating_System
,	O
which	O
Fan	O
worried	O
would	O
generate	O
an	O
animation	O
"	O
cut	O
out	O
from	O
paper	O
"	O
and	O
too	O
closely	O
resembling	O
South	B-Application
Park	I-Application
,	O
but	O
he	O
was	O
ultimately	O
satisfied	O
,	O
crediting	O
Semple	O
and	O
Werner	O
's	O
talent	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
made	O
using	O
PopCap	O
Games	O
's	O
own	O
engine	O
:	O
PopCap	O
Framework	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
consistently	O
posted	O
updates	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
every	O
four	O
months	O
in	O
an	O
internal	O
forum	O
within	O
PopCap	O
Games	O
called	O
Burrito	O
,	O
where	O
he	O
accepted	O
feedback	O
from	O
the	O
employees	O
of	O
PopCap	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
the	O
concept	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
first	O
established	O
as	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Insaniquarium	B-Application
,	O
Fan	O
wanted	O
to	O
make	O
a	O
game	O
where	O
the	O
aliens	O
invade	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
garden	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Fan	O
created	O
the	O
"	O
perfect	O
zombie	B-Application
"	O
,	O
the	O
enemies	O
were	O
changed	O
from	O
aliens	O
to	O
zombies	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Simplifying	O
the	O
gardening	O
system	O
,	O
Fan	O
restructured	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
main	O
aspects	O
to	O
fit	O
better	O
into	O
the	O
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
genre	O
,	O
and	O
later	O
added	O
further	O
elements	O
inspired	O
by	O
other	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
enjoyed	O
the	O
idea	O
of	O
plants	O
defending	O
against	O
the	O
zombies	B-Application
,	O
combining	O
two	O
distinct	O
species	O
that	O
were	O
not	O
yet	O
touched	O
by	O
other	O
game	O
developers	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	O
playing	O
as	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
towers	O
made	O
sense	O
to	O
him	O
,	O
acting	O
as	O
stationary	O
defense	O
against	O
the	O
recurring	O
waves	O
of	O
zombies	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Zombies	B-Application
were	O
designed	O
to	O
move	O
in	O
the	O
current	O
linear	O
five	O
-	O
and	O
six-lane	O
system	O
in	O
the	O
final	O
game	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
enemy	O
zombies	B-Application
to	O
interact	O
with	O
the	O
defensive	O
plants	O
,	O
a	O
refinement	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
that	O
Fan	O
felt	O
worked	O
as	O
a	O
unique	O
gameplay	O
mechanic	O
to	O
make	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
stand	O
out	O
in	O
the	O
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
genre	O
amongst	O
other	O
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
games	I-Application
popular	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
took	O
three	O
and	O
a	O
half	O
years	O
to	O
make	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
ideas	O
for	O
the	O
Puzzle	O
mode	O
section	O
were	O
later	O
modified	O
and	O
moved	O
into	O
Adventure	O
mode	O
:	O
"	O
Vasebreaker	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
I	O
,	O
Zombie	B-Application
"	O
,	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
came	O
from	O
single-level	O
concepts	O
for	O
Mini-Games	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
,	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
consisted	O
of	O
Fan	O
testing	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
writing	O
down	O
notes	O
of	O
what	O
could	O
be	O
done	O
to	O
tweak	O
it	O
before	O
sending	O
them	O
off	O
to	O
Semple	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
last	O
year	O
of	O
development	O
had	O
the	O
team	O
fine-tuning	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
before	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
the	O
critical	O
aspects	O
of	O
the	O
development	O
was	O
designing	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
to	O
be	O
balanced	O
between	O
hardcore	O
and	O
casual	O
gaming	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
discovered	O
that	O
newcomers	O
to	O
the	O
genre	O
of	O
real-time	O
strategy	B-Application
often	O
had	O
difficulty	O
learning	O
the	O
importance	O
of	O
sun	O
collection	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
change	O
forced	O
restructuring	O
of	O
the	O
balance	O
between	O
plants	O
and	O
zombies	B-Application
,	O
a	O
move	O
that	O
Fan	O
said	O
was	O
worth	O
the	O
effort	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
in	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
,	O
time	O
was	O
spent	O
brainstorming	O
ideas	O
for	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
purposely	O
gave	O
all	O
the	O
plants	O
and	O
zombies	B-Application
names	O
that	O
matched	O
their	O
individual	O
functions	O
,	O
designing	O
them	O
accordingly	O
—	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
a	O
Peashooter	O
shoots	O
pea	O
projectiles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
also	O
made	O
all	O
the	O
plants	O
stationary	O
and	O
all	O
the	O
zombies	B-Application
slowly	O
move	O
across	O
their	O
lane	O
so	O
the	O
casual	O
player	O
would	O
understand	O
that	O
the	O
towers	O
(	O
the	O
rooted	O
plants	O
)	O
could	O
not	O
move	O
and	O
the	O
attackers	O
(	O
the	O
mindless	O
zombies	B-Application
)	O
could	O
slowly	O
move	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
final	O
designs	O
of	O
the	O
zombies	B-Application
and	O
plants	O
changed	O
little	O
from	O
their	O
inception	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
terms	O
of	O
strategy	B-Application
,	O
he	O
liked	O
that	O
the	O
Torchwood	O
—	O
which	O
gives	O
Peashooters	O
flaming	O
ammunition	O
—	O
required	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
consider	O
how	O
plants	O
interact	O
with	O
each	O
other	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
also	O
liked	O
the	O
Squash	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
name	O
's	O
wordplay	O
;	O
the	O
plant	O
crushes	O
zombies	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
proposed	O
plant	O
would	O
have	O
been	O
placed	O
above	O
other	O
plants	O
to	O
protect	O
them	O
from	O
Bungee	O
and	O
Catapult	O
Zombies	B-Application
;	O
it	O
was	O
difficult	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
to	O
visualize	O
this	O
plant	O
's	O
position	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
similar	O
defensive	O
item	O
(	O
the	O
Umbrella	O
Leaf	O
)	O
made	O
it	O
into	O
the	O
final	O
game	O
,	O
protecting	O
plants	O
from	O
Bungee	O
and	O
Catapult	O
Zombies	B-Application
,	O
but	O
placed	O
next	O
to	O
plants	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
potential	O
plants	O
had	O
concept	O
art	O
but	O
were	O
not	O
in	O
the	O
final	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
has	O
26	O
types	O
of	O
zombies	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
's	O
favorite	O
zombie	B-Application
was	O
Dr.	O
Zomboss	O
;	O
the	O
team	O
spent	O
a	O
full	O
month	O
designing	O
the	O
fight	O
against	O
him	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
liked	O
the	O
Pole	O
Vaulting	O
Zombie	B-Application
due	O
to	O
the	O
likely	O
amusement	O
of	O
its	O
first	O
encounter	O
with	O
the	O
player	O
;	O
he	O
gave	O
an	O
example	O
of	O
a	O
player	O
failing	O
to	O
block	O
it	O
with	O
a	O
Wall-Nut	O
plant	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
zombie	B-Application
jumping	O
over	O
the	O
obstruction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Newspaper	O
Zombie	B-Application
's	O
first	O
iteration	O
simply	O
read	O
a	O
newspaper	O
,	O
but	O
Werner	O
redrew	O
the	O
character	O
as	O
having	O
become	O
a	O
zombie	B-Application
while	O
reading	O
on	O
the	O
toilet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
's	O
brother	O
asked	O
him	O
whether	O
he	O
based	O
the	O
zombie	B-Application
on	O
their	O
father	O
,	O
as	O
he	O
would	O
often	O
read	O
the	O
newspaper	O
on	O
the	O
toilet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
said	O
that	O
while	O
he	O
had	O
no	O
such	O
intention	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
his	O
favorite	O
backstory	O
to	O
a	O
zombie	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Dancing	O
Zombie	B-Application
initially	O
resembled	O
Michael	O
Jackson	O
from	O
the	O
music	O
video	O
"	O
Thriller	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
zombie	B-Application
was	O
present	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
before	O
his	O
death	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
entertainer	O
's	O
estate	O
objected	O
to	O
its	O
inclusion	O
over	O
a	O
year	O
following	O
his	O
death	O
;	O
PopCap	O
replaced	O
it	O
with	O
a	O
more	O
generic	O
disco-dancing	O
zombie	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
other	O
zombies	B-Application
were	O
cut	O
during	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shigihara	O
composed	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
soundtrack	O
,	O
borrowing	O
elements	O
from	O
pop	O
music	O
and	O
console	O
chiptune	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shigihara	O
composed	O
and	O
performed	O
the	O
music	O
video	O
shown	O
during	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
credits	O
,	O
titled	O
"	O
Zombies	B-Application
on	O
Your	O
Lawn	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
song	O
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
"	O
Still	O
Alive	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
played	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
,	O
Portal	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
tracks	O
were	O
eventually	O
released	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
downloadable	O
soundtrack	O
album	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
April	O
1	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
PopCap	O
released	O
a	O
music	O
video	O
for	O
"	O
Zombies	B-Application
on	O
Your	O
Lawn	O
"	O
to	O
promote	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
April	O
22	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
PopCap	O
released	O
an	O
official	O
game	O
trailer	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
on	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
.	I-General_Concept
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
officially	O
released	O
for	O
PC	O
and	O
Mac	O
on	O
May	O
5	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
A	O
free	O
Adobe	B-Operating_System
Flash	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
September	O
23	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
demo	O
being	O
replaced	O
by	O
a	O
version	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
play	O
up	O
to	O
level	O
34	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
made	O
available	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
on	O
August	O
11	O
,	O
2010	O
;	O
anyone	O
who	O
already	O
purchased	O
the	O
game	O
could	O
update	O
to	O
the	O
new	O
edition	O
for	O
free	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
edition	O
adds	O
in	O
a	O
"	O
Zombatar	O
"	O
feature	O
allowing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
customize	O
a	O
zombie	B-Application
's	O
face	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
edition	O
also	O
supports	O
Steam	B-Application
Cloud	O
,	O
which	O
lets	O
the	O
player	O
access	O
game	O
save	O
data	O
from	O
multiple	O
computers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
announcements	O
for	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
,	O
PopCap	O
Games	O
revealed	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
be	O
ported	O
to	O
other	O
platforms	O
after	O
the	O
PC	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2009	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
on	O
IGN	O
that	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
would	O
be	O
ported	O
to	O
the	O
iPhone	B-Device
near	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
announced	O
the	O
port	O
's	O
release	O
date	O
on	O
a	O
trailer	O
on	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
in	O
February	O
2010	O
,	O
officially	O
releasing	O
it	O
on	O
February	O
15	O
,	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
port	O
included	O
a	O
modified	O
interface	O
for	O
iPhone	B-Device
users	O
and	O
a	O
Quick	O
Play	O
mode	O
allowing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
play	O
any	O
level	O
in	O
Adventure	O
mode	O
;	O
it	O
removed	O
the	O
Mini-Games	O
,	O
Puzzle	O
,	O
and	O
Survival	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2010	O
,	O
a	O
technology	O
blog	O
named	O
PadGadget	O
found	O
unintentionally	O
public	O
entries	O
for	O
ports	O
of	O
iPhone	B-Application
games	I-Application
to	O
the	O
iPad	B-Device
,	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
among	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
iPad	B-Device
port	O
,	O
named	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
HD	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
April	O
5	O
,	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
utilized	O
the	O
iPad	B-Device
's	O
11	O
touch	O
sensors	O
and	O
restored	O
the	O
Survival	O
mode	O
and	O
the	O
Mini-Games	O
mode	O
,	O
which	O
includes	O
an	O
iPad-exclusive	O
mini-game	O
called	O
"	O
Buttered	O
Popcorn	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Subsequent	O
iOS	B-Application
updates	O
would	O
add	O
more	O
content	O
to	O
their	O
version	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
,	O
including	O
Zen	O
Garden	O
,	O
additional	O
mini-games	O
,	O
and	O
additional	O
achievements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2011	O
,	O
PopCap	O
Games	O
officially	O
announced	O
that	O
Chuzzle	B-Operating_System
would	O
be	O
available	O
on	O
the	O
Amazon	O
Appstore	O
for	O
Android	B-Application
devices	O
for	O
the	O
next	O
two	O
weeks	O
,	O
with	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
becoming	O
available	O
later	O
in	O
the	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
31	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
entered	O
the	O
Amazon	O
Appstore	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
2011	O
,	O
PopCap	O
Games	O
announced	O
it	O
would	O
be	O
releasing	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
and	O
Peggle	B-Application
through	O
the	O
Android	B-Application
Market	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
made	O
available	O
on	O
Google	B-Application
Play	I-Application
Store	I-Application
on	O
December	O
15	O
,	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
has	O
been	O
ported	O
to	O
other	O
mobile	B-Application
devices	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
June	O
23	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
as	O
part	O
of	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
14	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
and	O
January	O
30	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
Kindle	B-Application
Fire	I-Application
and	O
Blackberry	B-Application
10	I-Application
respectively	O
as	O
a	O
launch	O
app	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
later	O
released	O
on	O
another	O
BlackBerry	O
device	O
,	O
the	O
BlackBerry	B-Application
Playbook	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
Nook	B-Application
HD	I-Application
and	O
Nook	B-Application
HD+	I-Application
on	O
November	O
14	O
,	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
in	O
July	O
2010	O
,	O
to	O
be	O
available	O
both	O
on	O
its	O
own	O
and	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
bundle	O
with	O
Peggle	B-Application
and	O
Zuma	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
at	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
on	O
September	O
8	O
,	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
ease	O
use	O
with	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
controller	O
,	O
the	O
cursor	O
was	O
locked	O
onto	O
the	O
lawn	O
's	O
grid	O
pattern	O
and	O
sun	O
would	O
float	O
towards	O
the	O
cursor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Versus	O
mode	O
matched	O
two	O
players	O
,	O
one	O
playing	O
plants	O
and	O
one	O
playing	O
zombies	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
zombie	B-Application
player	O
's	O
goal	O
is	O
reaching	O
the	O
house	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
plant	O
player	O
aims	O
to	O
kill	O
three	O
of	O
the	O
five	O
target	O
zombies	B-Application
on	O
the	O
right	O
side	O
of	O
the	O
lawn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
port	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
on	O
January	O
28	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
with	O
Sony	O
Online	O
Entertainment	O
as	O
its	O
publisher	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
February	O
8	O
,	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DS	B-Device
port	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
in	O
August	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
port	O
included	O
the	O
Zombatar	O
feature	O
and	O
the	O
versus	O
mode	O
from	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
version	O
,	O
also	O
adding	O
four	O
exclusive	O
mini-games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
March	O
14	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
the	O
DSiWare	B-Device
port	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DSiWare	B-Device
version	O
only	O
kept	O
the	O
Adventure	O
mode	O
and	O
Mini-Games	O
mode	O
;	O
the	O
mini-game	O
levels	O
consisted	O
of	O
the	O
exclusive	O
levels	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
DS	B-Device
and	O
a	O
new	O
level	O
called	O
"	O
Zombie	B-Application
Trap	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
port	O
was	O
announced	O
in	O
December	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
20	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
declared	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
video	O
game	O
created	O
by	O
PopCap	O
Games	O
,	O
quickly	O
becoming	O
their	O
best-selling	O
video	O
game	O
;	O
surpassing	O
their	O
previous	O
popular	O
games	O
:	O
Bejeweled	B-Device
and	O
Peggle	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Larry	O
Hryb	O
,	O
director	O
of	O
programming	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
,	O
reported	O
that	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
the	O
thirteenth	O
most	O
purchased	O
2011	O
game	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
Arcade	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
particularly	O
successful	O
on	O
the	O
App	B-Application
Store	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
PopCap	O
,	O
the	O
iOS	B-Application
release	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
sold	O
more	O
than	O
300,000	O
copies	O
during	O
its	O
first	O
nine	O
days	O
,	O
generating	O
more	O
than	O
$1million	O
in	O
gross	O
sales	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
rose	O
to	O
number	O
one	O
in	O
sales	O
and	O
money	O
grossed	O
from	O
a	O
mobile	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
before	O
losing	O
the	O
spot	O
nine	O
days	O
after	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
,	O
nine	O
million	O
copies	O
have	O
been	O
downloaded	O
across	O
all	O
iOS	B-Application
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
received	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
the	O
only	O
version	O
that	O
did	O
not	O
receive	O
"	O
generally	O
positive	O
reviews	O
"	O
or	O
"	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
"	O
is	O
the	O
DSiWare	B-Device
version	O
,	O
which	O
received	O
"	O
mixed	O
or	O
average	O
reviews	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GamesRadar+	O
Tom	O
Francis	O
said	O
that	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
only	O
casual	O
in	O
its	O
easiness	O
to	O
understand	O
its	O
premise	O
;	O
he	O
clarified	O
,	O
"	O
There	O
's	O
nothing	O
casual	O
about	O
the	O
30	O
goddamn	O
hours	O
we	O
've	O
spent	O
,	O
effectively	O
,	O
gardening.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Seth	O
Schisel	O
from	O
The	O
New	O
York	O
Times	O
said	O
kids	O
and	O
adults	O
alike	O
would	O
enjoy	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Others	O
disagreed	O
:	O
GameSpot	O
editor	O
Chris	O
Watters	O
said	O
,	O
"	O
Tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
veterans	O
will	O
have	O
to	O
endure	O
a	O
lot	O
of	O
simple	O
,	O
familiar	O
action	B-Application
in	O
order	O
to	O
find	O
a	O
real	O
challenge	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
wait	O
may	O
prove	O
too	O
long	O
for	O
some	O
"	O
;	O
GamePro	O
Tae	O
Kim	O
said	O
that	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
not	O
particularly	O
easy	O
or	O
hard	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
he	O
never	O
had	O
to	O
restart	O
despite	O
being	O
"	O
terrible	O
at	O
these	O
sorts	O
of	O
games.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
his	O
criticism	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
difficulty	O
,	O
Watters	O
praised	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
constant	O
introduction	O
of	O
new	O
plants	O
,	O
which	O
kept	O
the	O
game	O
fresh	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eurogamer	O
editor	O
Christian	O
Donlan	O
agreed	O
:	O
every	O
zombie	B-Application
challenges	O
the	O
player	O
and	O
each	O
new	O
plant	O
allows	O
for	O
a	O
new	O
strategy	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
critics	O
commended	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
for	O
its	O
minimalistic	O
tutorial	O
allowing	O
experimentation	O
;	O
some	O
had	O
believed	O
the	O
entire	O
Adventure	O
mode	O
was	O
a	O
long	O
tutorial	O
,	O
or	O
a	O
warmup	O
,	O
for	O
other	O
game	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
art	O
style	O
and	O
music	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
have	O
also	O
been	O
praised	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
reviewers	O
have	O
called	O
the	O
graphics	O
from	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
"	O
adorable	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wired	O
Earnest	O
Cavalli	O
said	O
that	O
while	O
the	O
idea	O
behind	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
sounds	O
macabre	O
,	O
"	O
every	O
level	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
offers	O
something	O
to	O
laugh	O
about	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Critics	O
commended	O
the	O
iPhone	B-Device
port	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
for	O
being	O
faithful	O
to	O
the	O
PC	O
version	O
and	O
for	O
its	O
Quick	O
Play	O
mode	O
,	O
but	O
many	O
were	O
disappointed	O
by	O
its	O
omission	O
of	O
the	O
other	O
game	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
reviewers	O
praised	O
the	O
iPad	B-Device
port	O
's	O
inclusion	O
of	O
the	O
Mini-Games	O
mode	O
and	O
the	O
Survival	O
mode	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
"	O
Buttered	O
Popcorn	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
exclusive	O
mini-game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
port	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
praised	O
for	O
its	O
addition	O
of	O
exclusive	O
game	O
modes	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
Co-op	O
mode	O
and	O
a	O
Versus	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
port	O
was	O
commended	O
for	O
its	O
four	O
new	O
mini-games	O
and	O
its	O
versus	O
mode	O
from	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
considered	O
inferior	O
in	O
its	O
animation	O
and	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
port	O
was	O
also	O
criticized	O
for	O
its	O
comparatively	O
high	O
price	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
DS	B-Device
top	O
screen	O
's	O
sole	O
usage	O
as	O
an	O
indicator	O
of	O
level	O
progression	O
,	O
and	O
for	O
unstable	O
frame	O
rate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
critics	O
found	O
the	O
PS	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
version	O
faithful	O
to	O
the	O
PC	O
version	O
,	O
though	O
unsure	O
about	O
whether	O
or	O
not	O
there	O
enough	O
significant	O
additions	O
in	O
this	O
version	O
to	O
recommend	O
to	O
someone	O
who	O
already	O
has	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
on	O
another	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
various	O
categories	O
in	O
the	O
GameSpot	O
Best	O
of	O
2009	O
,	O
2009	O
Spike	O
Video	O
Game	O
Awards	O
,	O
the	O
13th	O
Annual	O
Interactive	O
Achievement	O
Awards	O
,	O
the	O
10th	O
Annual	O
Game	O
Developers	O
Choice	O
Awards	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
6th	O
and	O
7th	O
British	O
Academy	O
Games	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
won	O
the	O
categories	O
of	O
"	O
Download	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Strategy	B-Application
Game	I-Application
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
Golden	O
Joysticks	O
Awards	O
2010	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
category	O
of	O
"	O
Best	O
Casual	O
Game	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
7th	O
International	O
Mobile	B-Application
Gaming	I-Application
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Electronic	O
Arts	O
(	O
EA	O
)	O
claims	O
that	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
has	O
won	O
over	O
30	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fifty	O
employees	O
were	O
laid	O
off	O
from	O
PopCap	O
Games	O
 '	O
Seattle	O
studio	O
on	O
August	O
21	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
marking	O
a	O
switch	O
of	O
focus	O
to	O
mobile	B-Application
and	O
social	O
gaming	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
statement	O
by	O
Edmund	O
McMillen	O
,	O
creator	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Binding	I-Application
of	I-Application
Isaac	I-Application
,	O
rumors	O
circulated	O
that	O
Fan	O
was	O
fired	O
by	O
EA	O
because	O
he	O
opposed	O
implementing	O
pay-to-win	O
mechanics	O
in	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
confirmed	O
in	O
a	O
2017	O
tweet	B-Application
that	O
he	O
had	O
been	O
laid	O
off	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
he	O
opposed	O
the	O
freemium	O
aspects	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
but	O
did	O
not	O
link	O
the	O
two	O
events	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Three	O
former	O
PopCap	O
employees	O
debunked	O
the	O
notion	O
that	O
Fan	O
was	O
fired	O
because	O
of	O
his	O
concerns	O
over	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
including	O
Allen	O
Murray	O
,	O
a	O
former	O
producer	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
said	O
Fan	O
was	O
fired	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
systematic	O
lay-offs	O
in	O
August	O
2012	O
,	O
and	O
he	O
was	O
not	O
even	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
2	I-Application
team	O
;	O
he	O
was	O
working	O
on	O
other	O
ideas	O
for	O
games	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
game	O
called	O
Full	O
Contact	O
Bingo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
had	O
lost	O
interest	O
in	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
when	O
EA	O
began	O
envisioning	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
a	O
huge	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
worked	O
on	O
the	O
arcade	O
action-strategy	O
game	O
Octogeddon	B-Application
after	O
being	O
laid	O
off	O
,	O
initially	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
Ludum	O
Dare	O
contest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
idea	O
was	O
received	O
positively	O
and	O
Fan	O
formed	O
a	O
company	O
along	O
with	O
Werner	O
,	O
the	O
artist	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Kurt	O
Pfeiffer	O
,	O
the	O
programmer	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
port	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
developed	O
Octogeddon	B-Application
for	O
several	O
years	O
,	O
releasing	O
it	O
on	O
February	O
8	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
to	O
generally	O
positive	O
reviews	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
EA	O
's	O
acquisition	O
of	O
PopCap	O
Games	O
,	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
has	O
expanded	O
into	O
a	O
franchise	O
spanning	O
many	O
consoles	O
and	O
several	O
genres	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
Adventures	O
,	O
a	O
spin-off	O
and	O
social	O
game	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Facebook	O
on	O
May	O
20	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
and	O
closed	O
on	O
October	O
12	O
,	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
mainline	O
sequel	O
named	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
iOS	B-Application
on	O
August	O
14	O
,	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
:	I-Application
Garden	I-Application
Warfare	I-Application
,	O
a	O
multiplayer	O
third-person	O
shooter	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
February	O
25	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
One	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
sequel	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
February	O
23	O
,	O
2016	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	O
4	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
One	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
digital	B-Application
collectible	I-Application
card	I-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
Heroes	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
internationally	O
for	O
the	O
iOS	B-Application
on	O
October	O
18	O
,	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
franchise	O
released	O
its	O
third	O
third-person	O
shooter	O
,	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
:	I-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Neighborville	I-Application
,	O
on	O
October	O
18	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	O
4	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
One	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
third	O
mainline	O
title	O
is	O
currently	O
in	O
development	O
for	O
Android	B-Application
and	O
iOS	B-Application
as	O
of	O
October	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
nearly	O
all	O
the	O
sequels	O
and	O
spin-offs	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
received	O
generally	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
his	O
opposition	O
to	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
2	I-Application
freemium	O
model	O
,	O
Fan	O
has	O
praised	O
the	O
series	O
for	O
delving	O
into	O
different	O
genres	O
,	O
particularly	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
Heroes	I-Application
entering	O
digital	O
card-collecting	O
;	O
he	O
hopes	O
EA	O
will	O
continue	O
the	O
series	O
into	O
more	O
genres	O
while	O
keeping	O
the	O
charm	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Zen	O
Studios	O
and	O
PopCap	O
made	O
a	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
interactive	O
pinball	O
table	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
and	O
using	O
PopCap	O
assets	O
,	O
during	O
development	O
of	O
Zen	B-Application
Pinball	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
Pinball	B-Application
FX	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DLC	B-Protocol
was	O
released	O
on	O
September	O
4	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
September	O
5	O
in	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
July	O
and	O
August	O
2013	O
,	O
Dark	O
Horse	O
Comics	O
released	O
six	O
issues	O
of	O
a	O
comic	O
book	O
adaptation	O
miniseries	O
onto	O
an	O
iOS	B-Application
app	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Chris	O
Carter	O
,	O
editor-in-chief	O
of	O
Destructoid	O
,	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
is	O
frequently	O
referenced	O
in	O
pop	O
culture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fan	O
said	O
his	O
favorite	O
homage	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
the	O
Magic	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Gathering	I-Application
card	O
"	O
Grave	O
Bramble	O
"	O
,	O
created	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Innistrad	O
expansion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
re-creation	O
of	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
was	O
added	O
as	O
a	O
mini-game	O
quest	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
Peacebloom	O
vs.	O
Ghouls	O
"	O
to	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	B-Protocol
World	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
:	O
Cataclysm	O
expansion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
song	O
"	O
Bad	O
Guy	O
"	O
(	O
2019	O
)	O
by	O
Billie	O
Eilish	O
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
theme	O
music	O
for	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
.	O
</s>
