Everyone loves zombies. Well maybe not people getting eaten by zombies. But being gamers, there's nothing we enjoy more than splattering the soft, gray skull of a member of the undead with the butt of our shotgun. Such is the subject of this week's Soapbox. The Sess gets literary on your ass and explains in great detail why zombies are such an important part of American pop-culture, why they work so well in video games, and why they've evolved over the years. So before you chow down on some tasty grey matter, spend some time with this week's Sessler's Soapbox.
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ArrenKae
My favorite Critical Theory professor gave his first lecture on the importance of zombies. I thought he was joking at first or having a fun opener to set us at ease but her seriously got into how art about zombies represented the cultural concerns of the time. Night of the Living Dead had a black guy taking charge (which was apparently a big thing) concurrent w/the civil rights movement. The slow but seemingly insurmountable approach of zombies was taken indicative of the nature of the threat on most folks minds: the cold war building up to nuclear war. The modern zombies related to the sudden attacks of terrorists.
bohalloran95
when the impending zombie apocalypse comes (it will) the nerds will take the earth (thank god for the thousands of zombie shooters)
madman_
Ur a good man sess. if u ever find urself in south jersey when the zombies start to attack, look me up and ill take u into my zombie group. dont forget to bring morgan too tho. it would be nice to have something pretty to look at.
Understatement
Let's all raise are classes to the upcoming zombie apocolypse.
VocVon
I think there is something, in everyone who plays zombie games, that just screams: WHY WON'T THE ZOMBIE OUTBREAK JUST FREAKING HAPPEN!? I'm no different, neither are my freinds. We all want to just have some fun, even if they will rip out our intestines like chease.
murderbydavid
Great Soapbox. What I always like about NOTLD was that Romero did not choose Duane Jones because he was black, and to make a social commentary, he was literally the best actor who auditioned. But it did work out really well for that interpretation. Land of the Dead however had a very obvious (but great) commentary on living in a post 9/11 world.
Spybreak
Very nicely said Mr. Sess, my thoughts exactly and who says other mediums don't influence video games and visa versa.
doomfan71192
great soapbox addam, when the zombie apoc comes, me & some freinds are going to g4 studios!!!! when the zombie apoc comes, the only people left alive are going to be the nerds!!!! We will survive!!! because its a nerds world!!!!
jennytellia
Zombies have already been made into "love-able" characters (Zombies Anonymous, Fido, Day of the Dead and the list goes on). Zombieland just made the genre popular and it wasn t that great of a movie (besides the cameo). Go watch Lloyd Kaufman s Poultrygeist; keeping it indie!
river_tron
Well said Adam. A very thoughtful take on the subject. Kudos for the shot at Resident Evil movies too. I have a personal vendetta against those flicks since the first incarnation, which I was duped into watching in the theatre. One of the biggest mistakes I've ever made. I can only hope for an actual zombie horde to be unleashed on the production of the next one.
blackleo81
No major game release this week! Hello! Demon's Souls why isn't body talking about this epic RPG that has no save points. You die in the tutorial. By far one of the hardest games I've played and one of the most exciting.
P.S. yeah zombies
BryanHelp
I unlike Adam and ever other immoral person, don't play M rated games thank you very much... so take your pro M-rated game love outta here Sessler. =O (Watched the thumbs down button get assaulted) B)
Fortyone
I think you bring up a great point of the Cold War mentality vs the current day mentality. I personally think that the paradigm shift of zombies becoming the fast zombies was the death of horror. In the 60s, even the 90s remake of Night of the Living Dead, this wall of rotting flesh was impending doom incarnate. People's sanity's were at risk as they were unable to deal with the concept of the dead coming back to life and it was as much a battle with one's self as it was with the undead. The zombies in and of themselves were not hard to kill or escape, but it was this notion of never being safe anywhere and it completely surrounding you that gave you this feeling of claustrophobia by being human.
The reason why I don't like the new zombie movies is the fact that they made the zombie itself scary. The characters then became either zombie fodder or action heroes. Everyone was already doomed to start or knew exactly what to do, OR didn't know what to do but had excellent weapons training. To me it seemed far less HORROR based and far more action based. I loved the atmosphere in the older zombie movies, now it just makes you jump, like all current "horror" movies.
The Cold War may be over, but our appetites for true atmospheric horror hasn't. In fact, it affects us more. With horror relegated to things making you jump rather than leaving a lasting impression, an old fashioned atmospheric zombie movie would affect its audience far better than a bunch of screeching blood covered howler monkeys.
And as much as I love zombie games, as cathartic as it may be to kill zombies IN games, how applicable are those skills in a "real" scenario? People are starting to get the idea that being able to play Resident Evil or Dead Rising or Left 4 Dead will make them survive. I love those games, don't get me wrong. But it's taking away what a zombie represents. In fact, as flawed as the original Dead Rising was control wise, I felt it had the most faithful adaptation of a zombie movie. When you first entered the mall, you were frantically searching for something to keep this wall of the undead coming for you. And at night, there were some truly frightening moments. It was an action game, but when you ran out of all your ammo, had no juice and had no weapons nearby and was at level 1, THAT is an experience that genuinely got your heart pumping.
We need to bring back zombies as part of the scenery, as something atmospheric. Down with howler monkeys.
Quinns
There is nowhere that you can hide for any extended period of time, no matter how well stocked with food, guns, medical Supplies, etc. you will still run out eventually. My suggestion is going to the country that very few people live and to start gathering fences to put up around a designated area, (I would suggest 3 or 4 fences deep) with area that you can plant and grow your own food. I would also suggest learning how to use a bow and arrow for hunting, instead of useing guns because they will not attract more zombies to your location, and there is a endless supply of wood to make more arrows, instead of having to search constantly for ammunition. Better to plan for the long term. And remember to have a plan that will allow you to escape, otherwise your just living inside a giant coffin just waiting for death. And make sure that everyone thats with you can be trusted and counted on because human error is far more dangerous than the zombies them selfs. Have a plan, be prepared, and be ready to leave at a moments notice!
deline
God help us all if ther are zombie. But at lest if you played any good zombie game you have a 1up over the zombie and jack thompson if he not a zombie and if he not a zombie. I call the shoutgun for i can blow his FACEbook OFF. lol
Chupacabras_X
I imagine Capcom is kicking themselves in the teeth for that disaster RESIDENT EVIL OUTBREAK that they released. It was like they said "The fan's want a RE game that is online playable, with voice chat, with friends.....so lets take away the voice and friends list and give them this instead".
but hey, Capcom dropped the ball but Valve was there to pick it up with LEFT 4 DEAD
QUIK_LA_420
THEY SHOUD HAVE MODERN WARFARE AFGANI ZOMBIES =)
xyzobon
Look at it from the position of Zombies: desire for immortality, refusal to give up life. Zombies are also a favorite of contemporary philosophy, in so-called "what if" scenarios. Zombies also represent our unconscious, or say, what we might do if we are really really intoxicated or "high," waking up to guilt and regret perhaps the next time we become sober. Zombies are the "mirror other" so loved by Poe and his ilk. Zombies are the people we can really see, in real life, at a supermarket. Zombies can mean and be so much.
MeanBob91
We need more GOOD zombie movies/games
Arguello
You forgot to say Zombies have sweet Dance Moves.
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