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Home  ›  Plants Vs Zombies Game Design Document

Plants Vs Zombies Game Design Document

Written By Thursday, 25 November 2021 Add Comment Edit

Impscrapped.png

History repeats itself but it
always gets the details wrong.

The content and images in this article are not fake. They are either unused concepts or scrapped features.

ZombotTommorrowTwitterHD.png

"The future's not what it used to be!
There's more of it!"

This article is about upcoming or scrapped features in the respective game. Do not add false information. If you do, it may result in a warning or even a block.

This page records the beta content of Plants vs. Zombies. There are unused graphics, texts, and mini-games that still remain in the game's coding. There are also earlier ideas for the game. These concepts began production in 2007.

Contents

  • 1 Installable beta versions
  • 2 Early names
  • 3 Concept art
    • 3.1 Plants vs. Zombies: Kingdom
  • 4 Unused text
    • 4.1 Trivia
  • 5 Unused graphics
    • 5.1 Trivia
  • 6 Unused plants
    • 6.1 Gallery
      • 6.1.1 Almanac entries
  • 7 Unused zombies
    • 7.1 Gallery
  • 8 Early and unused designs
    • 8.1 Gallery
    • 8.2 Trivia
  • 9 Earlier gameplay
    • 9.1 Gallery
  • 10 Limbo Page
  • 11 Removed achievements
  • 12 Ice area
  • 13 Stage 6
  • 14 Unused zombie seed packets
    • 14.1 Trivia
  • 15 Other beta screens
    • 15.1 Trivia
  • 16 Post-release
    • 16.1 Unused lyrics from "Zombies on Your Lawn"
  • 17 References

Installable beta versions

As of October 7, 2021, two beta versions have now been uploaded to the Internet Archive. Version 0.1.1.1014 (named "Bloom & Doom") dated December 2, 2008 acn be found here while version 0.9.9.1029 dated February 17, 2009 can be found here. To play them, replace the EXE file with this.

Early names

Before the game came out, PopCap came up with many different names for it, but ultimately Plants vs. Zombies was chosen. Some of the scrapped names still were reused later.

Concept art

As seen in earlier concept art for the game, the player was going to fight against aliens rather than zombies. This concept is used from another PopCap game, Insaniquarium. Some sketches show plants that did not appear in the final version. It also suggests that Jalapeno was going to be bound to the ground. Some of the plants that have not left the concept stage are: a carrot plant, a small cherry (similar to Cherry Bomb), what seems to be a dandelion, a Venus flytrap plant (that seems similar to multiple Chompers), an unknown plant with a gun and an unknown plant with tentacles (possibly a predecessor to Gloom-shroom).

43736bbf1370fd0829bc6b5e2543b5f3c9323219.jpg

Plants vs. Zombies: Kingdom

These plants were planned to appear in a Chinese-exclusive game Plants vs. Zombies: Kingdom Edition, but were scrapped along with the game. Some of them returned in Plants vs. Zombies: All Stars. From left to right, top to bottom, translated from All Stars, their names are: Morning Glory, Pineapple, Blueberries, Ball Cactus, Apple, and Pomegranate.

Unused text

HardNut.png

We need more gems and sprouts.

This section is currently under construction. You can help expand it; it's your choice.

Most of the text is stored in main.pak/properties/LawnStrings.txt. 

[ADVICE_SCARY_POTTER_TUTORIAL] TEMP - Dave put more vases on your lawn!        
[ADVICE_SHOVEL_REFRESH] The shovel needs time to refresh before digging again

In the final game, the shovel can always be used instantly, probably due to it being to difficult to deal with. 

[ADVICE_3_IN_A_ROW] More vases incoming! {STREAK} of 3 waves cleared

These lines were probably used in Level 4-5 (Vasebreaker) before Crazy Dave's proper dialog was implemented. 

[ADVICE_I_ZOMBIE_PLANTS_NOT_REAL] Do not be alarmed Plants are not real

This text was probably used in I, Zombie puzzles before Crazy Dave's proper introductions were implemented. 

[UNLOCKED_SURVIVAL_MODE] Survival mode unlocked! Play it from the main menu!

This suggests that Survival mode was once a from a present item. It's not unlocked from a present item anymore, so this text goes unused. 

[WIN_MESSAGE1] You have defeated the Boss Zombie!  [WIN_MESSAGE2] Congratulations!  You have most triumphantly fended off the zombie attack!  Your lawn is safe... for now!

This message was used in the pre-GOTY version, but became unused in the GOTY version; when you beat the final boss, the "achievements unlocked" screen will appear, but this message is not displayed. 

Warning        
[VASE] Mysterious Vase        
[FOUND_VASE] You found a Mysterious Vase!        
[VASE_DESCRIPTION] Now you can play Vasebreaker Mode!

In the final game, Vasebreaker and I, Zombie are introduced at the same time. 

[MORE_SEEDS_HEADER] More seeds?        
[MORE_SEEDS_BODY] Would you like to be able to plant more kinds of seeds?

These lines were probably used when the player was offered to increase the number of their seed slots before Crazy Dave's dialog was introduced. 

[ZOMBATAR_FINISHED_WARNING_HEADER] WARNING!

Another warning, but this time a Zombatar warning. 

[REPLAY_LEVEL_BODY] Do you wish to replay level 3-4?

Shown when the demo is completed, as it ends on 3-4. 

[SCARY_POTTER_10] Vasebreaker Facebreaker

An unused Vasebreaker level. 

[SQUIRRELS] Squirrels

Likely a leftover from the cut Squirrel minigame 

[EXPLODE_O_NUT_TOOLTIP] Explodes on contact

A tool-tip for the Explode-o-nut

Trivia

  • Dog Walking Zombie, Dog Zombie, and Propeller Zombie were going to appear in the game but were taken out and there are no sprites for them but only artwork.
  • The shovel had to be recharged before it could be used again.
  • Survival Mode was going to be available from a present item but now it is unlocked after beating Adventure Mode for the first time.
  • There was supposed to be a Mysterious Vase that unlocks Vasebreaker mode, but in the final game, both Vasebreaker and I, Zombie are unlocked at the same time.

Unused graphics

Trivia

  • The unused zombie vase makes its debut Plants vs. Zombies 2 using a different design and color, and always spawns a Vase Gargantuar.

Unused plants

Plant Image Description Sun cost Recharge Additional notes
Cherry Hover-bomb PVZProto1HoverCherry.png Omb that can be planted atop other plants[sic] 175 Very slow Shares design with beta illustrations of Cherry Bomb. Was likely scrapped due to the its redundancy and situational nature
Duplicator Cycler PVZProto1DuplicatorCycler.png Rows seed packets 150 Very slow Repeatedly cycles through the entirety of the seed packet bar, the player can then click on the seed packet of the plant that they want to place on the lawn, after placing said plant on the lawn Duplicator Cycler must recharge for 50 seconds. Was likely scrapped in favor of Imitater
Iceberg Lettuce Iceberg Lettuce.png Hurls ice-cold lettuce, which slows the enemy down 200 Slow Is for all intents and purposes the Snow Pea equivalent to Cabbage-pult. Was likely scrapped due to Winter Melon fulfilling the role of an ice-based lobber plant and being more preferable in gameplay
Stinger Stinger PvZ.png Shoots bees at balloon zombies 125 Slow Can only target flying zombies and can also be planted on top of other plants. Has official artwork by Rich Werner and was scrapped in favor of Cactus[1]
Time Stopper PVZProto1TimeStopper.png Instantly recharges your other seeds 50 Fast Was scrapped after game designer George Fan deemed the mechanics of this plant to be too uninteresting. Momentarily pauses all activity on the lawn after played, was likely scrapped in favor of Ice-shroom in this regard

Gallery

Almanac entries

Unused zombies

Zombie Image Description* Health Additional notes
Dog Walking Zombie Dog Walking Zombie1.png Dog Walking Zombie description TBA
Dog Zombie File:PVZProto1DogZombie.png Dog Zombie description TBA
Propeller Zombie File:PVZProto1PropellerZombie.png Propeller Zombie description TBA

*All zombies listed only have placeholder text for their descriptions

Gallery

Early and unused designs

Early beta illustrations for various plants and zombies as well as concept art by Plants vs. Zombies artist Rich Werner, courtesy of his official website.

Gallery

Trivia

  • Challenges.png
    Old SelectorScreen.png
    Old Surval.png
    The concept of Garlic makes it look like a vampire, which is ironic since vampires traditionally have a weakness to garlic.
  • Some plants have armor on their concept art page.
  • The Pole Vaulting Zombie concept appears to be a zombie with a concussion, wearing a hospital gown.
  • Magnet-shroom was going to look like a mushroom with a magnet welded to its head.
  • Sea-shroom was originally going to have no cap and have leaves or seaweed.
  • There was a "timestopper plant" that was basically an apple as a clock face, which was removed because it made the game unfun to play while that ability was in effect. It was most likely changed to Ice-shroom.
  • The beehive plant, named "Stinger"[1], originally functioned just like Cactus, countering a propeller zombie. The developers replaced the zombie with Balloon Zombie, and, quoting George Fan, "the "pointiness" of the projectile was more important than the "flyingness", which lead to it being replaced by Cactus.
  • Split Pea's head-like-growth was originally going to have larger eyes, a small peashooter-like leaf, and what appears to be its own body dangling off its head.

Earlier gameplay

As seen in earlier screenshots of the game, Snow Pea was going to cost 200 sun, Tangle Kelp was going to be a ground plant, and plants were given via conveyor style, but the player still needed sun to plant them. Possibly, players were going to select the rating of getting plants on the conveyor belt.

Also, in October 2007, when the name was "Lawn of the Dead", the progress bar was shorter, the Sunflower costed 100 sun, the sun counter was near the right side of the screen, the lawn was zoomed in more, the lawnmowers were closer to the grass, and Potato Mine cost 50 sun instead of 25 sun and was bigger, as wide as a grass tile. Like the Snow Pea, Chomper originally costed 200 sun, and in an ice world (most likely Ice Level), the Wall-nut was seen costing 75 sun.

Gallery

Limbo Page

Main article: Limbo Page

The Limbo Page

The Limbo Page completed

The Limbo Page is a hidden amount of data in the PC version of Plants vs. Zombies that contains ten mini-games, along with four variations on Survival: Endless, that were going to be added to the game, but were eventually canceled and removed from the game. It is possible to access this page via using third-party memory editing programs such as Cheat Engine and changing specific data values.

Removed achievements

These achievements were originally intended for the iOS version but were removed. They are still hidden in the coding for the game, albeit disabled.

  • Disrespect The Dead - Remove 10 graves during a single nighttime level.
  • Heavy Weapons - Complete Last Stand using only Cob Cannons to kill zombies.
  • Zen Profit - Earn a total of 100,000 coins through your Zen Garden.
  • May Not Contain Nuts - Defeat a nighttime level without using Wall-nuts or Tall-nuts.
  • Even Morticulturalist - Use every Plant at least once.
  • Beat It - Defeat a Dancing Zombie before he summons Backup Dancers.
  • Gold Farmer - Plant 5 Marigolds and a Gold Magnet in a single level.
  • Face To Face - Complete a level with Digger Zombies without any of them reaching the left side of your lawn.

Ice area

Main article: Ice Level

An ice-themed area that was made as an April Fools' joke for people working on the game at the time. However, it still managed to be left in the code in the final release, albeit partially.

Stage 6

Main article: Stage 6

A sixth area is present in the game's code, intended to come after Level 5-9. It appears to be a duplicate of that level, using the Day area as a placeholder in the final version and the old backyard design in the beta version. It was scrapped for unknown reasons.

Unused zombie seed packets

There exist unused seed packets for the Zomboni and the Pogo Zombie in the final game for use in I, Zombie levels. They can only be obtained via hacking and do not crash the game when planted.

Trivia

These zombies have unusual appearances and behavior:

  • The Zomboni has its front end cut off when selected.
  • The Pogo Zombie ignores the brains if he is still on his pogo stick.

Other beta screens

Trivia

  • In the game files, the "Mini-games", "Puzzles" and "Survival" buttons are named "Survival", "Challenges" and "Vasebreak".

Post-release

Plants_Vs_Zombies_Zombotany_Beta_Music._Zombies_-_Zombotany_Beta_Music_(Unreleased_Track)

Plants Vs Zombies Zombotany Beta Music. Zombies - Zombotany Beta Music (Unreleased Track)

The song, "Zombotany".

After the game was released, a Plants vs. Zombies soundtrack was released afterward. In the soundtrack, it included an unused soundtrack originally designed for the battle with Dr. Zomboss. It was not included in the final release because the "intense" parts of the track weren't long enough to sustain the entire Dr. Zomboss battle, but portions of it are scattered throughout the game's released songs in the form of a leitmotif.

Unused lyrics from "Zombies on Your Lawn"

During the Indev version, the Bungee Zombie in the song 'Zombies On Your Lawn' would say "I used to live a good life".

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 George Fan's tweet on Cactus and Stinger
  2. ↑ George Fan's prototype zombies tweet
  3. ↑ George Fan's prototype plants tweet

Plants Vs Zombies Game Design Document

Source: https://plantsvszombies.fandom.com/wiki/Plants_vs._Zombies/Concepts

Posted by: velezhavenou.blogspot.com

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