[ Chapter I (1): "PLANTS VS. ZOMBIES" ]
Cam eyed the roulette wheel in front of him, one which is separated into four colors; white for normal, green for uncommon, blue for rare, and lastly purple for epic.
The sizes of each color vary depending on their percentage. The white being the most prominent, with the least---difficult to see---being the purple color.
And lastly, the legendary, which was nowhere in sight. But was still included on the side as a keynote for future spins, probably.
[ PLEASE SPIN THE ROULETTE AS HARD AS YOU COULD TO START YOUR GAME DEVELOPER JOURNEY, PLAYER ]
Still skeptical, but also trusting of the System. Cam did what he was told, and spun the wheel as hard as he could. With it ultimately landing on the white zone---the normal games.
Which was a shame, as he expected it to land on green instead, as that is his lucky color. But who is he to complain? A game is a game after all, no matter the rarity.
Watching with anticipation, he eyed the panel that appeared, announcing his win.
[ CONGRATULATIONS PLAYER FOR UNLOCKING "PLANTS VS. ZOMBIES" ]
"I won... what?" In curiosity, he was about to reach out to the panel. Perhaps use the System and whatever magic it does have, to better understand the game he unlocked.
But before his cotton-filled hand touched the panel, an influx of mind-boggling information shoved its way into his brain. Which made him groan in pain, as he kneeled on the floor.
Holding his head, Cam was force feed knowledge relating to Plants Vs. Zombies. Some he already knew---because he played quite a bit of it when he was a kid---but most, previously unknown to him, now known.
Like for example, the real-life biology of Sunflowers, or how Zombies are truly made. Which surprise-surprise, in labs, by Dr. Zomboss---the villain of the story.
Apparently, there are also other ways, like infection and necromancy. But the most prominent was copying and pasting them through science. The application was lost to him, but the theory, he knows.
And from what information he could get, he could also replicate such things. But from what he found out, he would need to spend Credits, the currency of the System.
The way in which to acquire such currency, was lost to him. Not yet known. But it likely relates to doing missions, or even, progressing and developing Plants Vs. Zombies.
After some mind-shattering headache, Cam was finally able to stand up. This time, with thousands of random knowledge relating to the titular game of Plants Vs. Zombies.
A defense, strategy game that is now more than that. Apparently, the System didn't recognize the game like Cam did, and instead, gave him information on the real-world counterpart of the said game.
Gone was the original 2D lane-based game that he knows of, what instead remains in his head is the 3D counterpart.
Which could theoretically and physically exist in the real-world. Truly, mind-boggling.
"Uhhh, bloody headache." And given enough time, Cam is sure to create it. Actually, the System is somewhat poking him through that direction, as the information he acquired relates to creating the said game step-by-step.
Doing what was instructed of him, he thought of creating his game. And when he did, another panel appeared in front of his eyes; which he then clicked without hesitation.
[ ENTER DEVELOPER MODE ]
[ -----| SCENE BREAK |----- ]
Instantly, Cam disappeared from his home. Like a blimp, he was gone. And instead of the bleak, no-sun, only darkness filled realm that he was in seconds ago, he is now instead standing in a blank, cube-like white void.
The opposite of the place that he has been floating in for eternity. Which to him is a welcome change of environment.
"Again with the headache." He just didn't like the fact that he received another headache, less painful than the last, but still a headache. And he had enough headaches for the day.
[ IN DEVELOPER MODE, THE PLAYER CAN CREATE ANYTHING IN EXCHANGE FOR CREDITS ]
While comforting his head, he eyed the System prompt and gave a weak nod. He didn't need to know, it's formalities at this point.
Especially because he already knew from the copious amount of information shoved into his head like it was brainrot.
To create the background he'll need Credits. To create the grass he'll need Credits. To code the necessary behavior for a proper PvZ game he'll need Credits. To have Plants, to have Zombies, to have Players, he'll need Credits.
Everything truthfully revolves around Credits. Money in short. His life and work revolves around money, but the problem is that, he doesn't know how to get the said money.
Perhaps sensing his confusion, the System changed and answered his questions.
[ CREDITS CAN BE EARNED THROUGH MISSIONS, PLAYERS' ACTIVITY, AND THROUGH IN-GAME PURCHASES ]
Cam read the first two and nod. He was right about the System's Missions being a viable solution to his problem; and the second option sounds great also, he is a Game Developer after all, so he's income depends on Players.
But the last option, In-Game Purchases. It didn't sit well with his free to play self, and to him, it didn't feel right at all. "Feels scammy."
Perhaps it's his way of gaming, but Cam never really did top-ups for cosmetics in games he played, or even bought anything using real-world currency for fictional currency.
Not because he's poor per say---that's also a reason---but because for him winning without the unfair advantages seems more fun, thrilling, and worthwhile, truth be told.
"Do I have any other way to earn these so-called Credits?"
[ PLAYER CAN CLAIM THE PLANTS VS. ZOMBIES STARTER PACK ]
"Claim it then," In seeing that there is a way to earn free Credits, Cam who now knows the true value of such was eccentric. "Claim it!"
Because with it he would be able to finally start coding, creating places, and in the future, welcoming Players into the fold.
[ PLANTS VS. ZOMBIES STARTER PACK: ]
[ +10,000 CREDITS ]
[ +25 PLANT SEEDS ]
[ +10 ZOMBIE GROWTH CHAMBERS ]
[ +CRAZY DAVE NPC BLUEPRINT ]
[ +DR. ZOMBOSS NPC BLUEPRINT ]
He eyed the image of the Credits---which wasn't a lot to be honest, it was just a silver coin with the word "CREDIT" written in the middle---then the sack of seeds, then the growth chambers, then the blueprints.
All of which then seconds later floated and vanished into another panel, into his Inventory, a feature he hadn't checked yet. And now, he knows the use of.
Opening his Inventory, Cam eyed the items present on it---no more than pictures with description under it. But no, he didn't care about that insignificant feature. He knows the purposes and uses of those items.
Credits are usable in every aspect of the System. From creating games to allowing Players inside his world, the boundaries are practically limitless as long as he has enough.
He could just pray that 10,000 Credits is enough for all the things he needed to do.
Then his eyes trailed over the next items, on the Plant Seeds that he needs to grow, on the Growth Chambers that he needs to set up.
And finally, at the prized blueprint of Crazy Dave---the protector of Plants, and Dr. Zomboss---the godfather of the Zombies.
From the knowledge infused in his head, he knows the uses of NPCs. You could either code them and make them do certain actions, or code them more, and give them personalities that relates to their original character.
In the case of Crazy Dave: crazy, protective of plants, addicted to tacos, and absurdly knowledgeable about sentient Plants. Total embodiment of the word CRAZY.
And in the case of Dr. Zomboss: genius, vain, spiteful, hates humans as he sees them as weaker and less, and also, heavily addicted with the thought of world domination with his Zombies. Total embodiment of EVIL.
With Cam, he could make use of those traits, as a starting point for the game that he wants to create. He could in theory replicate the original game of PvZ, lane based and all.
2D and entertaining at some point. Or, he could go for more, for broke---make it 3D and life-like. Similar to Garden Warfare, but not totally. And to him, that sounded interesting.
Splitting the "white Hell" that he's in into two; Cam quickly made it work as he created grass on one side and pavement on the other. Plants for the left, Zombies on the right.
He remembers the asthenic of the game quite well, as he did play it a lot when he was young. But also, because he was force feed knowledge about it against his will.
For the Plants, he created the picture perfect word of eutopia. A green field world with trees, gardens, flowers, and some buildings covered in moss and vines.
A place some so-so called fake Vegan would call a paradise. Though satisfied with his work, Cam felt saddened as he watched 665 Credits disappear from his wallet in real time.
He knows the why, as he noticed the silver coins shifting and changing form all-around him. They are, in truth, the foundation of his developer journey. And he's thankful for that.
But still, seeing his money slowly dip the more he change the environment, is also it's own kind of torture.
What if it deplate before he finished the game. What if he gets stuck forever because he ran out, never progressing his System. What if his game doesn't generate enough Credits because his version of PvZ is different.
Those kind of thoughts, which is why Cam approached his starter game with a conservative thought of mind.
Reserving as much as he could, spending less, and thinking of creative, interactive features. That is, within budget of course.
For the Zombie side, knowing the asthethic of them, which is opposite of sunshine, rainbows, and buttercup. He made it so their side appears to be unlivable for normal people.
Which should be paradise for them, as they are considered undead after all. Zombies... though majority of them are made in the lab, lore wise. And in this version, practically all of the Zombies are lab-made.
He tried his best to replicate a suburban environment, while also incorporating big buildings that belongs to cities. Something which he purposely made to look decayed, decrepit, run down, and abandoned.
Something-something he knows the big, bobblehead Zombies would love and appreciate. Though... in their own weird way that is, probably with groans.
To not go over budget, which wasn't a lot in the first place. Cam decided to make the map small, limited. Though not so limited that the immersion wouldn't be there for the Players.
He made the first PvZ Map to be 500 meters by 500 meters. Half the size he wanted it to be, but more than enough for a starter. And besides, after the release, if his plan worked, then he'll be able to increase the size.
For the time being. He made the border of the map seems like an endless expanse of the city. While also being inaccessible. A simple trick of hyper realistic painted background.
While the limit for the sky was 100 meters, either way it isn't important how tall it is, really, no building he made was that tall enough. And so, no Player reaching such heights.
But he did make clouds that are stationary for now, but still life-like, indistinguishable for real clouds... hopefully.
Alongside that, he made a sun. Not 1:1 replicate with his previous life, as this one is merely a ball of light way up in the sky. And luckily, like the real Sun, it can give light and make shadows.
Perfect, and incredibly necessary for realistic gameplay. And for immersion. He does need the Players to stay as long as possible after all, and not quit after minutes in arriving.
The first get-go most importantly, as he doesn't know what the System meant by Players' Activity.
Is it the duration of their playtime? Is it their interaction with the surroundings? Or something else, who knows! The System is just that weird, and to be fran---
[ PLAYERS' ACTIVITY REFER TO THE PLAYER'S IMMERSION, ACTIVE PLAYTIME, AND INTERACTIVITY WITH THE GAME ]
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[ FUN FACT: "The original Plants Vs. Zombies was officially released on May 5, 2009. It was initially released for PC and Mac before its wild popularity caused PopCap Games to port it into almost every other device imaginable---iOS, Android, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and for the Nintendo DS, so-on and so-forth." ]
[ 06/16/2026 ]
[ 06/16/2026 ]