Chapter 33: Endless Mode Tricks

In the afternoon, Jessica Thompson and Lily Emerson arrived, each bringing a few classmates.

The half-full experience store suddenly became lively. Some people started using computers while others used their phones on massage chairs, all playing "Plants vs. Zombies."

Jessica and Lily approached the counter and asked, "We heard the game was launched on the app store today. How's it going?"

Paul Wilder replied, "It's amazing! Check it out. The first chart refresh has it already at the top of the new games chart, crushing the competition!"

Lily exclaimed, "Wow, great job, boss!"

Jessica clicked her tongue, "Not bad, huh? So, is the game popular now?"

Alex Parker responded, "It's too early to say. We need to see the first recommendation and subsequent data..."

Jessica interrupted, "Speak plainly."

Alex admitted, "Yes, it's popular."

Paul and Lily nearly burst out laughing.

Jessica said, "Alright, since it's already popular, stop staring at the app store. It's making you look nervous."

Alex replied, "If I'm not checking the app store for player reviews, I have nothing else to do."

Jessica pointed at her screen, "Teach me how to get past level 100 in Endless Mode."

Alex sighed, "..."

Paul shouted, "No way, Jessica, that's cheating!"

Lily protested, "Yeah, Jessica, you're already at the top of the leaderboard!"

Jessica rolled her eyes, "You guys don't get it. This game is about to flood with new players. Someone might surpass me in Endless Mode soon. I'm just preparing in advance, understand?"

A nearby boy nudged Paul and whispered, "You're missing the point. If the boss teaches Jessica the secrets, we can use them too."

Paul and Lily realized, "Right!"

"Boss, show us the secrets to beat the game!"

The students in the store quickly united, demanding that Alex reveal the strategy for Endless Mode.

Jessica spread her hands, "See, Alex, this is what the people want."

Alex was exasperated, "If these people are 'the masses,' then you must be the dictator..."

Jessica insisted, "Come on, we came all the way here to support you. Can't you share some game secrets?"

Alex pointed out, "If I remember correctly, your school is only ten minutes away from here..."

Lily added, "Yeah, boss. We're your loyal players now. Don't we deserve a little special treatment?"

The boys and girls took turns persuading him.

Reluctantly, Alex agreed, "Alright, I'll show you a small strategy. How much you grasp depends on your understanding."

Alex opened his laptop.

"Yay! We did it!" Lily quickly moved closer. The others stopped playing and gathered around the counter, eager to see what Alex would demonstrate.

Would there be a universal setup to beat Endless Mode?

Or, what strategy would Alex use to pass level 100?

Soon, the counter was surrounded.

Jessica coughed, and two boys immediately made space for her.

"Alright, let's start," Jessica said.

Alex rolled his eyes. Who's the boss here?

Everyone watched intently.

Alex opened "Plants vs. Zombies" on his laptop, then launched another program, entering a line of code and adjusting a number: 2012.

Everyone was puzzled.

"What's the boss doing?"

"Uh... cheating?"

"...The boss is the designer. It's not cheating; it's modifying the game."

"That's shameless! Boss, you can't do that!"

Several boys protested.

Jessica coolly stated, "He's setting the level."

They realized Alex had set Endless Mode to level 2012.

"Wow! Level 2012! That's unbelievable. What difficulty is that?"

"I can barely manage level 80. The boss is starting at level 2012?"

"Does this mean his record will be 2012 if he passes?"

"That's a big 'if.'"

"Can this even be played? He didn't change the difficulty, right?"

"Is the boss that kind of person? Well, maybe he is."

Alex began setting up his plants using the editor.

In the center pool, he placed four corn catapults, four twin sunflowers, and six gloom shrooms. The first row from left to right was a frozen melon, gloom-shroom, two frozen melons, a corn catapult, and a spikeweed. The second row contained lettuce (umbrella leaf), gloom-shroom, frozen melon, corn catapult, and spikeweed.

The pool area was symmetrical, and every plant that could be covered with a pumpkin was covered.

Everyone murmured.

"This setup looks comprehensive. It might work."

"Yeah, the umbrella leaves and gloom-shrooms are well-placed."

"But isn't this too many corn catapults? There are eight!"

"True, they're fragile and can't be protected with pumpkins. A few zombies can easily destroy them."

"But with this layout, zombies might not reach them."

"Stop talking and watch. It's starting!"

Alex set his sun level to 3000, then selected his plants.

He chose ice mushrooms, cherry bombs, imitator cherry bombs, doom mushrooms, jalapenos, squashes, pumpkins, tiny puff mushrooms, sun mushrooms, and coffee beans.

Everyone was taking notes, with some girls even pulling out notebooks.

"I get it. The boss's strategy is to set up strong attack plants and use explosive plants for later levels."

"It's a plan!"

"But... it seems risky!"

"And why imitate cherry bombs instead of ice shrooms or doom shrooms? Those seem more powerful."

"No idea; let's see how he plays."

Everyone held their breath, eager to see how Alex would handle the game.