Finally!  After several short delays in 2009, and increasing excitement by many fans of the game – Plants vs Zombies is finally released in the iTunes store. This is going to be great on the iPad !

Plants Vs Zombies in the UK iTunes App store

A superbly balanced easy-to-play-and-get-addicted-to tower defense / strategy game mixed with the expected polish from Popcap, masters of casual gameplay.

Plants vs Zombies on iPhone / iPod / iPad released February 15th 2010

Charismatic, colourful illustration style, amusing animations, fitting sound effects and catchy music only add to the experience which is guaranteed to help you lose a few days to protecting you house from an onslaught of all manner of zombies (including bobsledding Zombies – apt considering the Winter Olympics have just begun).

The iPhone / iPod / iPad is a perfect platform for Plants vs Zombies.  The game actually works better than on the PC – no more frustration moving the mouse around to collect Sun – the all important currency for growing and adding to your plants.

Right down to the different game modes that are basically tailored for varying lengths of Bus or Train journeys.

It’s a must buy for all ages, and is bound to become a top grossing game on the iTunes app store, based on it’s previous success as a PC and Mac game sold through Steam and Popcap’s own website.

There are a fair few cheeky little illustration ‘easter eggs’ in the desktop version of PvZ – so expect to find a whole load more on the iPhone version, such as these oriental zombies found in the title screen achievements area.

PvZ on iPhone iPod Touch iPad Oriental Zombies illustration easter egg - dig deep to find them!

I’ve scanned one of the more complex of my hand drawn game levels, created in several stages to test out a 2D side scrolling platform game engine I am working on in my spare time.

First of all I came up with a really rough concept level design on a scrap of paper (no-one can over estimate the value of scraps of paper!).  Some tweaks were needed, but this concept contains the basic ideas for puzzle-y elements in the level design.

After I was satisfied with the level design, I planned it out a little more accurately on squared paper. This ensured that the player character could make certain jumps up platforms, and across gaps.  I don’t want to player to find it either impossible or nearly impossible to access certain areas, unless that is intentionally part of the level design.

The draft level was adjusted in places on squared paper, then tested in the game engine, playing with the character to ensure that the various areas were the right height and widths etc.  This squared paper version was then photocopied for use as a template when drawing the final level.

The final level was drawn using tracing paper, masked to a photocopy of the squared level drawing, so that there was an accurate guide for where the platforms, walls and ceilings should be placed.

The drawing was done starting at the top-right of the image, across and downwards, to minimise smudging.  The rough details were placed with 2B pencil, and then filled in with extra detail over the course of the drawing.

I’ll put either a playable demo, or video of this level up soon.