PopCap's next glee-inducing step in its war on your free time will be the release of Plants vs. Zombies for the iPhone and iPod Touch, the developer announced today.

The undead lawn defense game will be released on the iTunes App Store, "Around the end of this year." An Xbox Live Arcade version is also en route, with no arrival date given.

Given that a certain member of the Shackstaff was driven a little doolally by the iPhone release of Peggle, which PvZ easily trumps in terms of joyous inanity, we live in fear.

PopCap's excellent tower defense-meets-PopCap game is now headed to Xbox Live Arcade, the company has confirmed to Shacknews. Worthplaying initially caught up with PopCap's Garth Chouteau, who mentioned the port while offering no further details on the project.

Plants vs. Zombies was the studio's fastest-selling game following its May release. PopCap had previously confirmed plans to bring the colorful title to other platforms due to its success on the PC.

PopCap's action-packed tower defense title Plants vs. Zombies has taken the lead as the company's fastest-selling title.

"At this very early point in its history, it's the best-selling game PopCap's ever had," said Popcap's Garth Chouteau to Gamasutra.

Plants vs. Zombies combines the simple, addictive nature of PopCap titles with the strategy of tower defense and the reliable attraction of zombies, making for a broadly appealing title.

"At this juncture, we don't worry much about 'casual vs. hardcore'... Read more

Now available on FileShack is the Plants vs. Zombies demo, a 26MB download that allows you to play PopCap's chlorophyll-powered defense force game for thirty minutes.

While the game isn't officially due until tomorrow, the demo enables you to purchase the full version of the PC title from PopCap today. The company is asking $19.95 for its latest, with the "PLANTS10" coupon code knocking 10% off.

However, there's a cheaper option. Valve's digital distribution service Steam is selling PvZ for a paltry $9.99--half of PopCap's price. The full version unlocks tomorrow morning, with a free copy of Heavy Weapon included as a pre-order incentive.

Look out Jamaica, the undead have unseated your status as bobsled underdogs. And odd as that is, they may not be the most bizarre unit in the lawn defense force game.

Coming from Peggle maker PopCap, Plants vs. Zombies (PC) arrives on May 5.

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Plants vs. Zombies continues to spread joy with word that pre-ordering on Steam will also net you PopCap's side-scrolling shooter Heavy Weapons Deluxe for free.

Plants vs. Zombies is PopCap's take on the tower defense genre, mixed with collectible card games and decked out with its customary glee and wonder, arriving May 5 for $10.

Peggle developer PopCap has pulled the wrapper off Plants vs. Zombies (PC), revealing a catchy teaser and a release date of May 5 for the lawn defense force game.

And no, it's not an April Fools' joke. The company has previously spoken of the title, describing it as a hybrid of "the real-time strategy genre, the tower defense games and collectible card games--but in a casual context."

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Next week's release of Peggle: Dual Shot won't be the only PopCap game to hit Nintendo DS this year, as the casual publisher told Forbes that it's planning to bring perennial time wasters Bookworm and Bejeweled Twist to to the portable soon.

Bookworm challenges players to find words in a randomized tablet of letters, while Bejeweled Twist has players matching three or more blocks of the same color.

In addition, PopCap VP Greg Canessa teased the company's new original PC game, Plants vs. Zombies, describing it as a combination of "the real-time strategy genre, the tower defense games and collectible card games--but in a casual context."

Plants vs. Zombies is due out later this year. And while the description may sound a little confusing, to say the least, Forbes writer Chris Morris points out PopCap has a knack for such things. After all, the ball-bouncing bliss of Peggle could be described as a combination of "pachinko, gravitational physics, pinball, geometry and cartoon animals."