PSA: Plants vs Zombies 2 is now released for Android today!

[Zeze]

News

Direct Google Play link

Off I go to play!

 

[BlueWeasel]

The GP store says it's incompatible with my device. Surely it runs on a 2012 Nexus 7, right?

 

[nikto]

When I click install, it says for all of my devices that it is not available in my device's country.

 

[Firsttime]

Yeah, I got the incompatible message too. Seems like it might have something to do with location.

 

[nikto]

Forgot to mention that I'm in USA.

Apparently, the Android version will have a soft launch. According to wikipedia:

On September 12, PopCap soft launched the game for Android in China in Baidu AppSearch and announced that it's coming to Google Play worldwide later in the fall. On October 2, the game soft launched on the Australian and New Zealand Google Play stores.

citing:

http://www.gamesradar.com/plants-vs-zombies-2-android-version-gets-soft-launch/

 

[QueBert]

Says my HTC One isn't compatible, I'd bring up Android and fragmentation, but I've been assured by numerous Phandroid's that fragmentation's 100% made up when it comes to Android.

 

[Carmen813]

Not out for USA yet.

 

[Raduque]

Region restrictions are bullshit.

 

[sweenish]

Says my HTC One isn't compatible, I'd bring up Android and fragmentation, but I've been assured by numerous Phandroid's that fragmentation's 100% made up when it comes to Android.

It's not made up (but it's also not a huge deal), but this isn't a fragmentation issue. It's the dev explicitly limiting devices. It claims to not be compatible with my 2013 N7.

 

[Red Storm]

OP needs to edit thread title, it has not launched for general release, just to a few countries.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Just curious, what's the reasoning behind not releasing an app worldwide at the same time?

 

[QueBert]

It's not made up (but it's also not a huge deal), but this isn't a fragmentation issue. It's the dev explicitly limiting devices. It claims to not be compatible with my 2013 N7.

So it only runs on select Android devices, but that's not fragmentation? Mind you I'm not accusing Google here as the problem, but the fact is this app is fragmented, as it won't install on a pretty high number of Android phones and tablets.

And seeing how this is one of the biggest games of the year, I'd say this is a huge deal, weather you consider it due to fragmentation or whatever reason.

 

[ultimatebob]

It doesn't currently work with a Samsung Galaxy S3 OR a Galaxy Nexus 7?? Those are two of the most popular Android devices around.

EA's release manager must be smoking crack if they think that is acceptable. That would be like releasing a product on iOS does doesn't work with the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini.

Edit: OK, I see. It's not out in the US yet. Why don't they just say that, instead of putting up this incompatibility BS?

 

[sweenish]

So it only runs on select Android devices, but that's not fragmentation? Mind you I'm not accusing Google here as the problem, but the fact is this app is fragmented, as it won't install on a pretty high number of Android phones and tablets.

And seeing how this is one of the biggest games of the year, I'd say this is a huge deal, weather you consider it due to fragmentation or whatever reason.

Well, it turns out it's simply not available in the US right now. Geo-restrictions are not fragmentation.

For what it's worth, I have side-loaded it onto my N7 with no major issues whatsoever.

It can't be helped that certain devs restrict devices (see facebook home). That's not fragmentation in the sense that everyone talks about it. The App store is the same way. Infinity Blade only ran on the newest iPad and iPhone at its release, and the following games were similar.

 

[Raduque]

It doesn't currently work with a Samsung Galaxy S3 OR a Galaxy Nexus 7?? Those are two of the most popular Android devices around.

EA's release manager must be smoking crack if they think that is acceptable. That would be like releasing a product on iOS does doesn't work with the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini.

Edit: OK, I see. It's not out in the US yet. Why don't they just say that, instead of putting up this incompatibility BS?

If you look closely, it says "This item is not available in your device's country"

 

[ultimatebob]

Honestly, I'm not sure why I'm even mad about this. When I tried the iOS version of this game, the obnoxious ways they used to try to get you to purchase game upgrades were really annoying.

Perhaps the Android version is better about this, but I doubt it.

 

[JTsyo]

When is release for US? Also why is this in PC rather than mobile? Are there PC with android now?

 

[Red Storm]

Apparently people are pirating this free game, lol. I'm sure EA has some kind of stupid screwed up "logic" for only releasing the game to a few countries.

Edit: Apparently that reason may be exclusivity deals? http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/apple-denies-paying-ea-to-delay-plants-vs-zombies-/1100-4747/

 

[BlueWeasel]

Looks like the US launch was today. Just installed on my 2012 Nexus 7 from the Play store.

 

[sweenish]

The assets seem to be lower-res, though.

 

[JTsyo]

Played a few levels. Those gravestones makes the early game dicey. The powers are just a gold sink, not sure if there is something else to do with gold though. Trouble with these games with powerups is either it makes the game easy or too hard without them.

 

[kreactor]

wonder if it requires a camera for android devices like it did for ipad 1

 

[QueBert]

Unless it's something funky with my HTC One, if you're going to play the game you should do it in airplane mode. I got a phone call and when I went back into the game it didn't pick up where I left off. Same thing when I got a text. Either the multitasking's broke, or it just does this on my phone. I was almost at the end of a tough level when a phone call killed all my progress.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Installed on my S3 and had a blast on the plane!

 

[Aristotelian]

Honestly, I'm not sure why I'm even mad about this. When I tried the iOS version of this game, the obnoxious ways they used to try to get you to purchase game upgrades were really annoying.

Perhaps the Android version is better about this, but I doubt it.

I'm done playing games that encourage a 'pay to win' attitude. I paid for Plants vs Zombies (for the game itself) and had a great time playing it. I won't be downloading this - and it appears that you're right, one of the first reviews complains that the app is free but somehow requires in game purchases to progress - and it's a shame, as I enjoy the gameplay.