PvZ 2: Popcap prefers to "start with one platform and get it right"

Plants vs Zombies 2 is only on iOS so far because PopCap likes to start with one version and port from there, according to franchise business director Tony Leamer - a more socially acceptable answer to why Plants vs Zombies hasn't turned up outside Apple's domain than yesterday's little debacle.

Speaking to [a]list Daily, Leamer said releasing on just one platform to start with is PopCap's modus operandi.

"If you look at the way PopCap develops games, we start with one platform and get it right. With this game we started with mobile, and specifically iOS," he said.

This comment closely aligns with the developer's history to date - in fact, when it was purchased by EA, PopCap said the buy out would allow it to hand off ports to other teams, allowing it to stay focused on a single lead platform.

Leamer's comments come in the wake of a scandal over a comment from EA executive Frank Gibeau, which suggested Apple had paid off EA to delay the Android port of Plants vs Zombies 2. Apple denied the allegation; it's possible Gibeau's comments refer to a deal cementing Plants vs Zombies 2's lead platform as iOS.

The Android version is expected next month. EA and Popcap can't confirm any further platform plans as yet but as you'd expect Plants vs Zombies 2 is likely to turn up everywhere it can.

"That’s only the beginning. As you saw with Plants vs. Zombies, the first game came out on PC first. It wasn’t even on mobile until almost a year later," Leamer said.

"The approach we’re taking with PvZ 2 is similar, where we want to get it right on the first platform, make sure we’re delivering a great experience. But could we see this experience extending to lots of other platforms going forward? Absolutely.”