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Warnings
- The macOS (OS X) version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.
Key points
- For Windows 8 and later: use WineD3D to fix low frame rate issues.
- Lacks improvements from home console and mobile versions,[1] including native widescreen, improved sprite resolutions, and controller support.
General information
- Official website (archived)
- Steam Community Discussions
Availability
Essential improvements
Enable 3D acceleration with WineD3D
- Most modern graphics cards won't be able to enable 3D acceleration in the game options.
- Enabling 3D acceleration can fix low frame rate issues.
Use WineD3D[3]
|
- Download WineD3D for Windows version "4.5 staging" from this link (direct download). You can also go to Federico Dossena's website, access "Older versions archive" and download it from there.
- Open the ZIP archive and extract
ddraw.dll , libwine.dll , and wined3d.dll to C:\ProgramData\PopCap Games\PlantsVsZombies .
- Open the game, and open the options menu. 3D acceleration should be enabled; if it is not, enable it.
- If it is still not possible to enable 3D acceleration: try extracting the files to <path-to-game> as well.
|
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
Save game data location
- Use pvz converter to convert saves between Windows and OS X versions.
System |
Native |
Notes |
Origin |
|
|
Steam Cloud |
|
Does not sync between Windows and Mac due to saves being incompatible across platforms. |
Xbox Cloud |
|
|
Video
- The low frame rate fix isn't needed with dgVoodoo; if applicable, you should uninstall the low frame rate fix first.
Use borderless hack[4]
|
- Download dgVoodoo 2 (v2.73 or later).
- Copy
dgVoodoo.conf , dgVoodooCpl.exe , \MS\x86\D3DImm.dll , and \MS\x86\DDraw.dll to <path-to-game>.
- Open
dgVoodoo.conf with a text editor.
- Find
FullscreenAttributes = under [GeneralExt] .
- Append
fake to it, so it looks like FullscreenAttributes = fake .
- Change
DisableAltEnterToToggleScreenMode = true to DisableAltEnterToToggleScreenMode = false under [DirectX] .
- Save changes. The game should run in borderless fullscreen now.
- If the game doesn't run in borderless fullscreen run it in Windows XP (Service Pack 2) compatibility mode.
|
Input
Audio
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
|
|
Surround sound |
|
Stereo only. |
Subtitles |
|
All in-game dialogues are mumbling and always subtitled. The music video played at the end of the game has English voice acting and its lyrics is always displayed. |
Closed captions |
|
|
Mute on focus lost |
|
|
Royalty free audio |
|
|
Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
|
|
|
|
French |
|
|
|
Origin only. |
French |
|
|
|
Fan translation for Steam GOTY, download. |
German |
|
|
|
Origin only. |
German |
|
|
|
Fan translation for Steam GOTY, download. |
Hungarian |
|
|
|
Fan translation, download. |
Hungarian |
|
|
|
Fan translation for Steam GOTY, download. |
Italian |
|
|
|
Origin only. |
Italian |
|
|
|
Fan translation for Steam GOTY, download. |
Polish |
|
|
|
Fan translation, download. |
Russian |
|
|
|
Official localization by Buka Entertainment; local retail only.[5] |
Russian |
|
|
|
Fan translation for Steam GOTY, download. |
Slovak |
|
|
|
Fan translation, download. |
Brazilian Portuguese |
|
|
|
Fan translation, download. |
Spanish |
|
|
|
Origin only. |
Latin American Spanish |
|
|
|
Origin only. |
Spanish |
|
|
|
Fan translation for Steam GOTY, download. |
Issues fixed
BASS_ChannelSetAttributes function not found in bass.dll
Rename bass.dll[6][7][8]
|
- Rename any
bass.dll file(s) found in these locations: %WINDIR%\ , %WINDIR%\System32\ and %WINDIR%\SysWow64\
- If this causes issues with the program that installed
bass.dll there, rename the file(s) back to bass.dll
|
Run the game in compatibility mode for Windows XP[citation needed]
|
Unable to load Steam.dll
Run the game in compatibility mode for Windows XP SP2, and as an administrator[citation needed]
|
Delete/rename Steam.dll[citation needed]
|
- Exit the Steam client.
- Go to the Steam installation folder.
- Delete or rename
Steam.dll
- Launch the Steam client and let it update.
|
Invalid Command Line Parameter: -changedir
Add -changedir parameter[citation needed]
|
- Right-click the game in the Steam client and choose Properties.
- Click Set Launch Options and add
-changedir
- Click OK to save the changes.
|
Low frame rate in fullscreen mode
- This game has frame rate issues in fullscreen mode on Windows 8 and later.
Apply the low-framerate fix
|
- Download the low frame rate fix.
- Extract the files from the .zip into the
<path-to-game> .
- Run the Install.bat as administrator to apply the fix.
|
Error reading user file: Failed reading file
- This is an error that occurs when the save game data is corrupted, likely as a result of syncing saves between Windows and OS X and launching the game.
Completing the Ice Level
- Ice Level is one of the 17 hidden mini-games in the Limbo Page.[10] With no zombies (or nearly anything for that matter), you need to hack the game in order to win this level.
Hacking the game manually[11]
|
- Close Plants vs. Zombies if it is open.
- Open
user1.dat (located here) with a hex editor such as HxD.
- Go to offset
0B4 , change the data from 00 to 01 , and save. The next time when you open the Limbo Page, there should be a trophy mark on the Ice Level button.
|
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
DirectDraw |
7 |
|
OpenGL |
|
OS X only. |
Software renderer |
|
|
Executable | PPC |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows | |
|
|
|
macOS (OS X) | | |
|
This 32-bit-only macOS game does not work on macOS Catalina (10.15) or later. |
Middleware
|
Middleware |
Notes |
Audio |
BASS |
|
- The design for the Dancing Zombie was changed shortly after the game's release; this fan patch restores the original design for those who prefer it.
Cosmetic-based tweaks
- Type these during gameplay[12]
Cheat |
Description |
pinata |
Showers candy when a zombie dies |
trickedout |
Alternate lawn mower appearance |
future |
Gives zombies futuristic shades |
dance |
Makes the zombies dance |
sukhbir |
Toggles the zombie's "call for brains" sound |
daisies |
Zombies leave small daisies behind when killed |
mustache |
Zombies now have mustaches |
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Operating system (OS) |
XP |
Processor (CPU) |
1.2 GHz |
System memory (RAM) |
512 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
65 MB |
Video card (GPU) |
128 MB of VRAM DirectX 8 compatible |
macOS (OS X) |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
10.4.11 |
10.5.8 - 10.6.x |
Processor (CPU) |
1.66 GHz Dual Core | |
System memory (RAM) |
1 GB | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
50 MB | |
Video card (GPU) |
64 MB of VRAM | |
Notes
References