Plants vs. Zombies 2 (PVZ 2) fairly attracted a number of gamers. The creator of PVZ 2, Popcap confirmed it has reached almost 25 million downloads in two weeks; way above the number of downloads the premier PVZ had.
Could this enormous number of downloads affect Popcap’s future ventures?
PVZ and PVZ2 differ from one another in one thing. Popcap’s publisher, EA, has decided to release PVZ2 as a free to play video game. Simply because the game would not have reached its whopping 25 million downloads if it’s not for free.
Popcap and EA Games made a consensual agreement with a reasonable rationale that the game would be released for free on Smartphone devices. The mobile platform became significant in the past years and EA Games is creating a beeline for these users, provisionally setting aside its original PC gaming fanbase. Thus providing gamers with the fun of playing at no cost, however, it also includes the option for gamers to pay for microtransactions.
Initially, it appears hard to comprehend the mega-publisher’s business model, in the long run, perchance; this will generate more money by inflating their player-base to astronomical proportions and then offering them with discretionary microtransactions.
Paying the microtransactions appears to have benefits for the gamer. However, not paying will just mean you have to play a little harder to win.
The question o cheating then comes. Years ago, “cheats” were easily accessible into whatever gaming gadget you have but now, as part of EA’s new business model, it looks like it will take out a feature that was merely ignored and compelling the gamers to pay to get the code.
Contentious issues will also be raised.
Bluntly, Popcap and EA Games’ efforts geared towards making Plants vs Zombies 2 unanimously appealing. PVZ 2 may have made a whopping 25 million downloads, but they have yet to achieve a killer profit.
