Plants vs. Zombies (Windows, Mac OS X)

Plants vs. Zombies
Developer: PopCap Games Publishers: PopCap Games (US, AU, European digital release), Mastertronic (European disc release) Platforms: Windows, Mac OS X Released in US: August 18, 2009 Released in EU: February 18, 2011 (GOTY Edition, disc release only) Released in AU: April 28, 2010 This game has unused modes / minigames. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused music. This game has unused text. This game has revisional differences. This game has a prerelease article

To do: Unused graphics (there's more), Limbo Page and all of the unused minigames you can access with it, Squirrel (the only unused minigame that is not accessible through the Limbo Page), and are there any other revisional differences? Check for any more Insaniquarium leftovers (this game was built on top of Insaniquarium and was a sequel at one point) Lots of discoveries were made recently in TCRF discord. Needs to be documented.

Zombies have risen from the dead, and for some reason keep invading your home, not even bothering with your neighbors. To defend yourself, you must plant a variety of zombie-fighting vegetation. As crazy as it sounds, it's actually a pretty solid game.

Changes in GOTY Edition

On August 10, 2010, a "Game of the Year" edition of the game was released (according to the readme, this edition is version 1.2.0.1073). Aside from adding new content, a few changes were made.

Michael Jackson Zombie

When the game was originally released, the Dancing Zombie and Backup Dancer Zombie looked different. The Dancing Zombie originally resembled Michael Jackson dressed in his classic "Thriller" outfit, and the Backup Dancer Zombie resembled the backup dancers from the music video of the aforementioned song. The description of the Dancing Zombie even mentions "any resemblance between Dancing Zombie and persons living or dead is purely coincidental."

More than a year after his death, Michael Jackson's estate objected to its inclusion. PopCap subsequently changed the designs of the Dancing Zombie and Backup Dancer Zombie out of respect to Jackson. The new Dancing Zombie resembles a stereotypical disco dancer, and the Backup Dancers have pink shirts with mustaches. The redesign has been included in the Game of the Year version, released August 10, 2010, and all other versions since. Despite being removed, the textures of the original Dancing Zombie and Backup Dancer Zombie can be found in the game's files.

Pre-GOTY	GOTY

Pre-GOTY	GOTY

(Source: http://plantsvszombies.fandom.com/wiki/Dancing_Zombie)

Zomboni Description

In the original version of the game, the Zomboni enemy had a different description in the Suburban Almanac than it does in the GOTY edition. Judging from the current description, it was most likely changed for copyright reasons.

Original description	GOTY description
Often mistaken for a zombie driving an ice machine, the Zomboni is a totally different life-form more closely related to a space ogre than a zombie.	Not to be mistaken for a Zamboni® brand ice resurfacing machine. Zamboni® and the image of the ice-resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc., and "Zomboni" is used with permission. For all your non-zombie related ice resurfacing needs, visit www.zamboni.com!

(Source: http://plantsvszombies.fandom.com/wiki/Zomboni)

Other Additions

• The Game of the Year version adds an achievement system, in which various awards are given for completing certain requirements. However, because of this, one of the games messages is unable to be seen (see below).
• The Zombatar, an avatar creator, was introduced in the GOTY edition. This allows you to create your own zombie. Additionally, the accessories chosen for your Zombatar will appear on the Flag Zombie.
• The GOTY edition adds some extra music.

(Source: http://plantsvszombies.fandom.com/wiki/Game_of_the_Year_PC_Version)

Unused Music

The unused music is only present in the Bandcamp album, not present in the mainmusic.mo3 file.

Early version of Crazy Dave Theme (Main Menu Theme).

Early version of Choose Your Seeds.

Early version of Grasswalk.

Early version of Loonboon.

Early version of Moongrains.

Early version of Zen Garden.

Early version of Watery Graves (slow).

Early version of Watery Graves (fast).

Called "Zombotany". According to Laura Shigihara herself, this song was to be used in the Dr. Zomboss battle, but it was not used mainly because the "intense" parts of the track were not long enough to sustain the entire battle.

Unused Text

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

[DOG_WALKING_ZOMBIE]
Dog Walking Zombie

[DOG_ZOMBIE]
Dog Zombie

[PROPELLER_ZOMBIE]
Propeller Zombie

Names of cut zombies.

[DOG_WALKING_ZOMBIE_DESCRIPTION]
Dog Walking Zombie description

[DOG_ZOMBIE_DESCRIPTION]
Dog Zombie description

[PROPELLER_ZOMBIE_DESCRIPTION]
Propeller Zombie description

Placeholder description text for said cut zombies above.

[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 too 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 suggest that Survival mode, was once a from a present item. Its 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 be displayed.

[DIALOG_WARNING]
Warning

May be a placeholder.

[VASE]
Mysterious Vase

[FOUND_VASE]
You found a Mysterious Vase!

[VASE_DESCRIPTION]
Now you can play
Vasebreaker Mode!

In the final game, unlocking puzzle mode also unlocks I, Zombie and vasebreaker mode.

[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 amount 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

[ADVICE_SQUIRRELS_ONE_LEFT]
{COUNT} more squirrel to go!

[ADVICE_SQUIRRELS_LEFT]
{COUNT} more squirrels to go!

[ADVICE_SQUIRREL_ZOMBIE]
Oh no! Find all the squirrels before 
the zombie makes it to your house!

leftovers from the cut Squirrel minigame.

Limbo Page

A hidden menu called "Limbo Page" exists in the game's code. This menu allows the players to access most of the unused minigames and hidden features. To enable "Limbo Page", change the following bytes in PvZ's process ("popcapgames1.exe" or "PlantsVsZombies.exe") by using a cheating program such as Cheat Engine.

Original version

Address	Original Value	Edited Value
0x42DF5D	136	144
0x42DF5E	89	144
0x42DF5F	84	144

GOTY version

Address	Original Value	Edited Value
0x430C80	136	144
0x430C81	88	144
0x430C82	100	144

After changing these values, a link to Limbo Page will appear at the bottom of the Mini-games/Puzzle/Survival page. Note that this also adds three other links: PAGE0, PAGE1, and PAGE3. PAGE0 is Survival, PAGE1 is the regular Minigames menu, and PAGE3 is Puzzle. The Zen Garden and Tree of Wisdom can also be accessed from this menu.

The minigames are:

• Art Challenge Wall-Nut: Place Wall-Nuts in the proper spaces to create one giant Wall-Nut.
• Sunny Day: Same as a normal level, but all Sun from the sky is 50 Sun instead of the normal 25.
• Unsodded: Rows 1 and 5 cannot be planted on, but Zombies still appear in those rows.
• Big Time: Same as a normal level, except Sunflowers, Marigolds and Wall-Nuts are all twice their normal size.
• Art Challenge Sunflower: Place plants in the proper position to create a large Sunflower.
• Air Raid: A Fog Level where a lot of Balloon Zombies appear.
• Ice Level: This level is unplayable. It has six seed slots with Peashooter, Cherry Bomb, Wall-Nut, Repeater, Snow Pea, and Chomper. No zombies appear, and there is no way to reset the level. Name suggests it would have been a snowy level.
• High Gravity: A roof level where all projectiles hit the ground due to high gravity.
• Grave Danger: The Zombies all surface from graves, and more graves appear frequently.
• Can You Dig It? The lawn is full of Wall-Nuts and you can only plant Peashooters.
• Dark Stormy Night: The same as level 4-10 in Adventure Mode, but with different plants and zombies.
• Bungee Blitz: The same as level 5-5 in Adventure Mode.
• Intro: The beginning segment of the game.
• Survival: Day through Roof Endless: The same as Survival: Endless, but inside the day, night, fog, and roof areas, respectively.
• Upsell: An advertisement for the full version of the game from the trial version.
• Squirrel: This hidden minigame is about finding 7 Squirrels by digging up Wall-Nuts. Does not appear in the Limbo Page.

(Source: Limbo Plants vs. Zombies Wikia on Limbo Page)

Squirrel

Squirrel is an unused minigame that cannot be accessed through the Limbo Page. To access it, you will need Cheat Engine. First, go to ZomBotany and key in 16 in the Value bar. Click First Scan. Then go to Seeing Stars and key in 22 in the Value Bar. Click Next Scan. When the address appears, change it to 49. If you have more than 1 address in the result, repeat the steps until you get 1 result. Make sure to change the value before the "Choose your Seeds" dialogue appears.

The minigame involves digging up Wall-Nuts to find squirrels. The game ends when you find seven squirrels.

(Source: Plants vs. Zombies Wikia on Squirrel)

Unused Graphics

An unused zombie vase for Vasebreaker, which would produce zombies. They only come out of mystery vases in the final game.

An unused second stage of degradation for the pumpkin, which resembles the first stage.

Second stage of degradation of the Spikeweed.

Mushrooms sleeping near the pool. What appears to be an early version of Magnet-shroom can be seen at the bottom left.

A Mockup of the slot machine. The game's early name can also be seen, along with its old icon.

Vasebreaker was supposed to be accessed from the main menu. Could have possibly been meant for the web version, as Vasebreaker can be accessed from the main menu there.

Helmets that were supposed to be used with Gargantuars. Might have been for an early version of Giga-Gargantuar.

An early design of Gatling Pea. Its hat and barrels have a different design.

An early design of Tangle Kelp's face.

A store item named "PvZ." This was used in the free trial version that was put on PopCap’s website, and is found in Crazy Dave’s Twiddydinkies. Clicking on it brings the player to a page where they can buy the full game.

Here is where the icon was used.

This "Quick Play" option goes unused in the GOTY version. However, a remnant of this can be found in the release version. If the game is played in full-screen and on a big monitor, hovering your mouse over an area with the black bars turns your mouse into a hand. Left clicking there will make the standard clicking sound, and nothing else will happen.

An early screenshot of the Roof. There are many differences here, such as Sunflower costing 100, Ice-shroom costing 100, Blover costing 150, Melon-Pult being crudely drawn and costing 250 and Potato mine costing 50. There are also early Lawnmowers.

An early version of the Dr. Zomboss fight. The Roof appears to have had its hue changed, the Conveyor Belt looks different and Dr. Zomboss has a different pose. The level progress bar has a different font.

An early version of the Main Menu. There are differences here, such as Zen Garden having its own button, a mode called "Challenges" and a vase tipped over in the background. The grave and buttons also have a different color.

A screenshot of the achievement menu.

A screenshot of the main menu.

A screenshot of an unused shop page, featuring all of the upgrade plants.

Obscured Graphics

The Cattail's head can not be fully seen because of the hat it wears. This is what it looks like.

The Umbrella Leaf's body, without it being obscured by leaves.

There is some skin on Crazy Dave's leg sprites that you can't see

The Zomboni has a Mullet underneath the driver's beanie.

The Gatling Pea has a full head under his helmet.

The Imitater's full body, without the Beret he wears.

Command-line Parameters

The game's executable mentions developer command lines for starting the game. It's not friendly with commands using spaces, so use = instead. These are:

• -play: Plays popcap.dmo if its present, if not present, an error is shown. -demofile can also be used to choose the name and location of the file.
• -recnum: Records demos with Popcap.dmo and Popcap#.dmo if that's taken on every boot.
• -playnum: Plays demos with Popcap.dmo and Popcap#.dmo from -recnum if that's taken on every boot.
• -record: Records a demo named Popcap.dmo and saves after shutdown of the game.
• -demofile: Specifies filename for recorded demos.
• -crash: Crashes the game immediately with an Access Violation error.
• -screensaver: Makes the game act like its a screensaver, any movement or key presses will immediately force close the game. This is a leftover from Insaniquarium Deluxe, which came with a "virtual aquarium" screensaver that showed the player's progress in that game.
• -changedir: Changes game installation directory, for the current boot.
• -version: Shows the product name, version, build number and build date with a popup instead of starting the game.