The Next Huge Gaming Sensation in China? Popcap’s Plants vs. Zombies

We’re here to speak the truth about gaming in China. We have written about board games and online games this past week, but this, this is is potentially the largest untapped market for gaming companies in China. It’s a combination of Kaixin’s ridiculously popular and simple Farming Game, a board game’s offline play capability, as well as additional online features that add to the offline gaming experience. What is it? Well it’s a lethal combination for bored Chinese youth gamers: an offline action strategy game developed by Popcap called Plants vs. Zombies (PvZ) or in Chinese, 植物大战僵尸人.

What makes this game so popular? A Chinese blogger states:

In addition to the challenging modes, the entire game has the same modes like Zuma. What’s more, you are allowed to relax in the “ Zen garden”. It lets you grow your own plants. This game makes me feel less bored , but I have decided to uninstall it, because I must stop myself from being too absorbed in it.

Shanghai college student, Sunnie Qin, shares her personal views on the success of this game in China.

PvZ measures both your strategy response time and personal wisdom, but it’s different than typical RPG games. The game is also less intense and is more relaxing. PvZ includes creativity, good picture quality and a fun mixture of cute and horrific zombies that appeal to both young guys and girls.

An interesting facet about this game in China is that it’s offline success opens the door for future online and mobile gaming channels. Popcap will soon launch an iPhone vision of PvZ this December. Additional PvZ products are also in the works. With the popularity of 3G mobile phones in China look for this game and many many games like it to see massive growth in the next 2 to 3 years.