PopCap has announced that Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is now available in stores and for digital download on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Origin.

The newest entry in the world’s wackiest shooter franchise features the expansive suburban region of Neighborville where another coniferous conflict between the brain-less and botanicals is brewing. The battle continues to bloom with three free-roam regions that will have players kicking grass beyond the town. With 20 fully customizable character classes, six glorious online multiplayer modes and the new Giddy Park social region, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is blooming with freshly picked content.

“We’re thrilled for adventure-seeking neighbours around the world to fully experience our biggest and most accessible shooter ever with Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville,” said Rob Davidson, game director at PopCap in Vancouver. “We set out to release an early edition of our game that was available for six weeks before today so we could polish performance, listen to feedback and establish a more stable launch. We thank our fans for joining us on this journey.”

Like the previous Plants vs. Zombies shooter titles, over-the-top multiplayer gameplay continues to plant itself at the core of Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville with six online multiplayer modes including the new 4v4 Battle Arena in the Funderdome. Alongside returning character favourites such as Peashooter, Sunflower, Imp and Mech and Soldier, players will bring even more strategic depth to the all-out botanical battle with six newly-sprouted faces such as the flame-blowing Snapdragon, and a new zombie of few words and fewer thoughts, 80s Action Hero.

Ridiculous quests, vibrant cosmetics, and a familiar cast of zany characters are scattered across the game’s three free-roam regions, including the familiar central location of Neighborville Town Center, as well as adventuring through the outer edges of Neighborville in the hot and dusty Mount Steep, and the lush and strange Weirding Woods. Players can join forces in split-screen couch co-op and online co-op, whether it is battling through the flourishing free-roam regions or jumping into online multiplayer battles.

Additionally, players can jump down into the new Giddy Park social region in-between the action to engage in light multiplayer battles, while on different amusement park rides, or use the social board to interact with other players and group up. Giddy Park also includes a target range to test each character’s wildly different abilities and also a giant piano to play a catchy tune. Transformative monthly events such as October’s spooky Lawn of Doom Festival can also allow players to unlock seasonal cosmetic rewards and challenges.

Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Standard Edition includes the full base game for $40. The Deluxe Edition includes 2 legendary costumes for Peashooter and 80s Action Hero, an exclusive Battle for Neighborville digital comic and 5 emojis for $50. Passionate fans who purchased the Founder’s Edition, an early edition of the game with exclusive cosmetic rewards, won’t miss a beat as their game progression transferred today to the full Standard Edition. Those who purchased the Founder’s Edition or Standard Edition can also upgrade to the digital Deluxe Edition for $10 today.

EA Access and Origin Access Basic subscribers can play up to 10 hours, along with 10% off the purchase of the full game. Origin Access Premier subscribers get all the benefits of Basic on top of full access to the game on PC for as long as they are subscribed.

The time it takes to develop, prototype and roll out new IoT devices has been dramatically reduced by the new HERA300 modular IoT hardware platform and rapid prototyping methodology from Eseye, the UK-based cellular IoT connectivity specialist.

On average, an IoT device currently takes around 12 months to bring to market. which is a barrier to the success of many IoT projects. The new platform fast-tracks the process from initial idea to a working prototype in a few weeks, maintaining the momentum of an IoT project.

When combined with Eseye’s rapid prototyping methodology, HERA300 allows IoT theories to be tested in their native environments, where real data can be gathered to support operational planning and investment business case requirements. Once the required data is captured, it can be delivered to hyperscale cloud providers, such as AWS, through preferred System Integrator partners, to maximise a wide range of additional IoT services and functionality.

Alongside HERA300, Eseye has developed an eight-step rapid prototyping methodology that enables the rapid build and deployment of IoT devices. From building the initial model, to carrying out iterative test and development stages, resulting in a prototype that can be confidently and successfully deployed immediately into the field. Using Eseye’s methodology removes a significant amount of financial and reputational risk throughout the exploration phase of the project and builds significantly on the likelihood of success for the final approved designs.  

Jon Darley, director of Things at Eseye, says: “With the rapid growth of IoT ideas we recognised the need to create a solution that would embed a technically robust testing process, but also significantly reduce time to market and increase competitive advantage. The HERA300 modular IoT hardware platform and rapid prototyping methodology successfully fulfil this brief and reduce IoT device development time by at least three quarters. This will unlock significant opportunities for companies that wouldn’t otherwise have been able to invest in IoT development with its previously associated costs and time to market.”

The HERA300 platform carries essential functionality on a modular board, meaning the platform can be rapidly adapted to meet the testing requirements and ensure project success. It features multiple sockets allowing for up to five additional sensors or modules to be plugged in, a modem interface, core software architecture including over the air software updates, and built-in temperature, pressure and humidity sensing designed to monitor the board’s environment.

Click here to read more about the HERA300.