Rumor: PopCap preparing Plants vs Zombies multiplayer shooter

A few job listings and one unnamed source have indicated that a new PopCap team based out of Canada is working on a multiplayer shooter Plants vs Zombies title.

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The next Plants vs Zombies game may not be a tower defense fans would expect. Instead, the latest rumor suggests it will be a game unlike anything PopCap has ever done. Various signs and one unnamed source have indicated it could take the series in a multiplayer-action direction, possibly even as a first-person shooter.

It started with a handful of job openings. Supperannuation reported that the new PopCap team at EA Canada Burnaby's campus showed openings for a 3D animator and a multiplayer designer. The candidates are expected to have console experience, and the multiplayer designer is asked to have experience as a level designer on a shooter or action title. Finally, a world modeler asked for experience with "cartoon style and tone."

Then later, an unnamed source in the Canadian industry told Kotaku that the team is working on a multiplayer, first-person console shooter based in the Plants vs Zombies franchise. It may sound crazy, but it fits all the pieces we know. It does raise certain questions, though, like "what?" and "why?" and "how do you make an FPS with one team literally rooted to the ground?"

According to the report, the project will be submitted to PopCap for final approval later this month, at which point it could simply be taken off the company slate. So even if this rumor is true, the game might never see the light of day if PopCap or EA decides to nix it in these early stages. Shacknews has contacted EA and will update as more information becomes available.

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    August 9, 2012 9:30 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Rumor: PopCap preparing Plants vs Zombies multiplayer shooter.

    A few job listings and one unnamed source have indicated that a new PopCap team based out of Canada is working on a multiplayer shooter Plants vs Zombies title.

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      August 9, 2012 9:35 AM

      [deleted]

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        August 9, 2012 9:41 AM

        ^^^^^^^ so much this. I can't believe they keep churning out anything other than a PvZ 2. did the game not sell well or something?

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          August 9, 2012 9:49 AM

          I think we killed all the zombies

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          August 9, 2012 10:11 AM

          Well if memory serves it took like 3-4 years to make the game, which is sort of unprecedented for them.

          It could be that they are working on PvZ 2 and in the meantime they don't want the brand to go stale so they're doing all these wacky things like make pillows and talking zombie apps.

          If anything the quickie sequel or dlc should be discouraged.

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            August 9, 2012 10:17 AM

            3-4 years?! The game is awesome but it doesn't seem like there's that much content.

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              August 9, 2012 10:21 AM

              Yeah I don't think the time was spent on content, it was gameplay polish.

              And it shows - look how the game gets hard towards the end but the difficulty curve was so slight that your mom could still beat the game

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      August 9, 2012 10:21 AM

      I could see them doing something like a PVP version of Orcs Must Die in a Plants Vs. Zombies setting.

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      August 9, 2012 10:42 AM

      Just... just make PVZ2. Make your multiplayer shooter, but also make PVZ2.

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      August 9, 2012 11:38 AM

      Considering Popcap isn't know for multiplayer games, and neither is the casual gaming space, I'd give little credibility to this rumor.

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      August 9, 2012 8:31 PM

      Please be the "won't see the light of day" option.

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      August 9, 2012 8:40 PM

      I wish the Android PvZ was the same as the PC

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      August 9, 2012 9:59 PM

      HA called it

      http://www.shacknews.com/chatty?id=27389156

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