EA greed ruins Plants V Zombies 2: in game charges galore

Plants V Zombies was one of my favourite games of all time. I played it on and off for around a full year, after it was released. I bought it for several devices and just loved the whole experience. Great pricing and such an additive little game.

Regular readers will know I don't own an iPad, but I managed to get hold of one last week for a steal (no, not literally I am a law abiding citizen) and decided to download Plants V Zombies 2. When I saw they weren't charging for it this time, my spider senses started to tingle. Say what?

Firing it up for the first time I was greeted with the EA logo and immediately I broke out in a cold sweat.

“It's In The Game!' is their famous slogan, and when it comes to in game charges with Plants V Zombies 2, we can't argue.

Image: Pocketgamer

I played the first handful of levels and found that I wasn't being introduced to the plants in the same way as the first game. Heading into the ‘STORE' button in game I found that they were charging for every plant, and then for coins, and even bundle deals. Their ‘best' bundle deal for 450,000 coins was a bargain – only £69.99. I kid you not. A casual game – free, but with in game charges totalling well over £100. Sure, you don't need to buy them, but to get the most from the game you do.

I know other publications have covered this before and I am late to the game today, but this was my first look at the game this week and I really am absolutely disgusted with how EA have destroyed such a charming title.

It isn't just a nice ‘little earner' for EA, its as close to a complete rip off as I have seen. You even have to pay for some of the levels now as well, or they stay locked.

Why not charge a one off fee of £5 or £10? I think most people would be happy paying that up front. But £70 for a massive coin bundle alone? I don't mind a few charges with some titles, but if this is how ‘casual gaming' is going to be in the future, I might just start buying Playstation 3/ Playstation 4 games again. If they work out less expensive than casual games for a smartphone or tablet, it makes sense.

Technologytell posted the costs of in game purchases a while ago in America, I have them listed below. The latest UK edition of the game has higher costs and a few more options now, yep – to extort more money from the public.

Is the game good? Sure, it looks great, but I was so infuriated with the fees I just deleted it from the iPad. This is exactly why we don't want independent killer titles like Plants V Zombies getting bought out by big faceless, money grabbing corporations.

Plants $2.99 each

• Squash
• Imitater
• Snow Pea
• Jalapeno
• Torchwood
• Power Lily

Coin Packs

• 5,000 coins – $2.99
• 10,000 coins – $4.99
• 20,000 coins – $9.99
• 40,000 coins – $19.99
• 100,000 coins – $29.99
• 150,000 coins – $39.99
• 200,000 coins – $49.99

Upgrades $1.99 each

• Shovel Bonus – +25% Sun refund when shoveling
• Plant Food Bonus – +1 Plant food slot
• Sun Bonus – +25 Starting sun
• Bonus Seed Slot – +1 Seed slots

Bundles

• Starter Bundle – Squash plant, 5,000 coins and Shovel Bonus – $4.99
• Torch Bundle – Torchwood plant, 40,000 coins and extra seed slot – $7.99
• Power Bundle – Jalapeno plant, 40,000 coins and start with additional sun – $9.99

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Cu7p9CDj8s']

Pocketgamer posted a video a while ago and its well worth a look – see above.

Kitguru says: My feelings? Well in the immortal words of Bender from Futurama, they can bite my shiny metal ass. This really is greed, personified. 

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