Freemium Woes

I've been replaying the excellent Plants Vs Zombies, but this time on my smartphone. And I have certainly had a very good time.

So I was so chuffed to see an advert pop up one day telling me to download PvZ 2! Hurrah! It really is about time! (the slogan- you will know what I mean when you play it.)

It was free! Free! Wow! Thank you, thank you for giving this to us for free :)

So, some graphics improvements, changes to the music, slightly different zombies and plants, but effectively the same game. Grrrrrrrreat! Something about travelling through time...erm...not sure...why??? But still great.

After playing a few levels, some gameplay changes were introduced which are mostly unnecessary I think, especially the power ups. I do like the plant food though, this is a nice addition and it is fun to see what happens when you use it on each plant. Still having fun, but starting to move away from the simplicity that made PvZ so appealing.

Then I get to level 11 and there is a gate that I can only get through if I have enough stars (another addition, don't ask). I don't have enough stars, but the game insists that I click on the 'stargate'. So reluctantly I do.

Pirate Seas! The next zone! Hurrah.  But I don't have enough stars... I need 8 and I have 4 (or something, I can't remember the exact amount, don't get cross). But if I want to I can buy the next level for £2.99.

Not a huge amount, but I'm pretty sure I bought the whole PvZ smartphone game for less than that. Suddenly I see why it is free.

It just jars with me that I'm in the game (PvZ 2 is VERY immersive, thank you) and suddenly I'm being asked for money. Surely the point of the game is to enjoy playing it, not to just pay your way through it, playing as little as possible? (Remember I'm a 100% completion freak.)

I'm not as used to these kinds of games as you lot might be. I tend to ignore any real money transactions and stubbornly grind my way through the game, because that's the purpose of a game right? To win with skill, practice, dedication and the odd bit of luck. PvZ 2 is perhaps the first time that it has been pushed in my face quite so much.

Sigh. It is a sign of the times. I understand why freemium is needed. I'm quite happy to have PvZ 2, which possibly wouldn't exist without it. And I am happy to have BF4, which again might not be possible without EA exploring new ways of making money.

But I don't think I will be contributing in that way. *Stubbornly folds arms*