Forum Discussion

5 years ago

Popcap Might Be Planning Something...

So, I just came back and saw the new posts and info that BFN is no longer being supported. Although I was very upset since we didn't even get to a year properly, they may be planning something.

It is a hot take, but listen/read.

The PvZ series overall has been very successful, showing how it made itself a unique niche in the vast world games. People love this game and will support it, but BFN has too many fundamental issues. This "final" update might be a secret Repairville. I suspect them to go in one of three directions:

1) They balance and fix the game and let it die within the next year. It makes the most sense and least amount of work. The game is pretty balanced, and has enough content for some time. They can then choose how they are going to make the next few games if they even want to. They could choose how they want to play out the series, being more mobile games or console/PC.

2) They will take a year to fundamentally fix the game and the next year, then they will heavily support the game. This is way less likely. The game plan here is to do an Operation Health and Rework within a year. They don't need to release anymore cosmetic or gameplay content (maps, characters, upgrades, etc.) and we already have some knowledge about what they are doing with characters. This could be a massive update to get people game after they fix everything. Advertisement would start up in a massive way.

3) They quickly stop balance patches for the game, and let it die. They then release a new PvZ shooter. This is the one I would want. Popcap would only do some balancing and heavily focus on the next game. They could either make a straight GW3 or make BFN2 with a more stable foundation, more characters, more legendary upgrades, a better coin and rainbow star economy, and new PvE regions. Imagine BFN2 being the complete upgrade and great sequel.

That is all I have to say, I hope things get better from here.

13 Replies

Iron_Guard8
Legend
5 years ago
@SundropDotI hope you're right, I really do, especially the last possibility.
GW1 was apparently a surprise hit and even though even today the balance is a mess, it' has some great maps and it was a solid proof of concept.
GW2 came out roughly 2 years later and added new variants, new characters, the awesome backyard battleground, zombie ops, private matches, and other great changes. I was still waiting for them to add the missing consumables from GW1, but while I loved GW1, GW2 was even better. They had stopped updating it for a bit and I'm guessing the extra stuff added later on; like the outfits for Torchwood and Hovergoat, were added as the development of BfN dragged on longer than EA were happy with, so they added a few extra things to keep the significant playerbase engaged.
BfN tried to make the game more like OW and other MP shooter titles, to mixed results. While I feel BfN does some things I really like, the reception went from warm at the beginning to hostile and disappointed quickly. The game has its defenders and I'm one kind of the fence here as I feel it has merit but isn't as fun as GW2, but it's felt almost like EA/PopCap had largely given up on it already; the lack of marketing and communication has been alarming for a long time.
If PopCap are indeed still hiring, things may not be as dark as they feel, but we won't know for some time I fear.
DonPanTriste
5 years ago
Yep, I think you're right. At best, if they haven't decided yet to stop with this franchise completely, we will have to wait at least another three years to hear about PvZ on main platforms again.
benn1nat0r
Seasoned Ace
5 years ago
@Iron_Guard8 As you know, I prefer BfN over gw2 (still love gw1). I hope there still is hope of a gw3 happening, since most people seem to prefer a gw3 over BfN 2. They could take some of the things people loved about our short lived BfN and implement them into the gw formula.