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Plants Vs. Zombies Jackson Replacement Zombie Looks Sharp, Disco-y

Not bad. Not bad at all.

At some point, all new purchasers of Plants vs. Zombies won't remember the Dancing Zombie like we do. They'll know it as a disco-themed character, plucked straight out of a period satire. Equipped with gaudy, pink-tinted goggles the size of beer bottle bottoms, bulbous jewelry, fish-tank platform shoes, and a suit that my father would have died for, this replacement zombie does, at least, make for quite the first impression.

PC Gamer recently got hold of the first big shot of the monster (below), and even coaxed a comment from the zombie, who as described by game creator PopCap Games, is starting to think of itself as a "second class citizen."

“Dear Alive Peeples, I am pleazed too join the big brainz at PopCap and can’t wait to meat you all. And yes, I du my own heir," the disco zombie said in a statement. 

No Caption Provided
== TEASER ==The disco zombie is the replacement for the Michael Jackson "Thriller" zombie, which debuted in the game before the musician died. Jackson's estate has since taken issue with the look of the moon-walking zombie, and PopCap Games was forced to make a "business decision" and remove the character from even current versions of the game.  
 
The iPhone version of the game was the first to feature the disco zombie. Although I can't confirm it, I'm assuming that the Game of the Year Edition of the game, which is now available on PopCap Games official website (and free for those who bought previous versions from the same place), won't have the Jackson zombie. The good news is that you'll be able to make your own with the game's character creator, provided that you go into the monumental project with just a wee bit of imagination.    

152 Comments

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unsolvedparadox

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Edited By unsolvedparadox

I'm almost obscenely excited about buying this a 3rd time on XBLA. Watermelons for the win!

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Princessilea

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Edited By Princessilea

Wish there was an easter egg to toggle between the 2 options.  Like mustache or future mode.

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Brackynews

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Edited By Brackynews

Hey guess what peeples... even if you turn off automatic updates, Steam is still forcing the GOTY download.  Surprise!

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MAguilera

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Edited By MAguilera

Disco Stu doesn't eat brains.

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Caibal

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Edited By Caibal

I actually like this one better then the Jackson Zombie

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SpookyStrelok

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Edited By SpookyStrelok

I has a big sad face now. Not that I have any issues with this new model. But, hell... I pissed myself laughing when that MJ zombie first popped up onto the screen.

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SUPES316UK

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Edited By SUPES316UK

For me this will in no way ruin what is a great game to play.  Looking forward to it coming to Xbox Live Arcade.  Bring on the Zombie masses!

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Chrono_Defying_Ninja

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The replacement zombie looks pretty cool however I don't see how removing the michael jackson one does him any tribute. I think the MJ one should have been left in and the disco still introduced.

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Dogma

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Edited By Dogma

It really don't affect much but I thought it was more humor in the Thriller version of Michael Jackson. It has nothing to do with him being dead, it's just more fun with some kind of social/satirical  commentary.

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casual_alcoholic

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Edited By casual_alcoholic

It's still pretty awesome looking.  I'm glad they did this instead of just giving him a pallet swap.

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Balfas

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Edited By Balfas

I think its better and lawsuit free

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perudon

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Edited By perudon

Yeah, M.J. Zombie was better, but the dead fish in the shoe is a nice touch.

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joawmeens

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Edited By joawmeens

I kind of understand why they are doing this, but it does seem kind of ridiculous.
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pencilbastard

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Edited By pencilbastard

I like it

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Yossarian

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Edited By Yossarian

Zombie disco Stu is zombie.

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gateht

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Edited By gateht

Decent replacement. Think I'll keep Jacko though...

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TEHMAXXORZ

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Edited By TEHMAXXORZ

Disco Stu?

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meatsounds

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Edited By meatsounds

I'm somewhat distressed by the zombie chest hair.

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Invinctus

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Edited By Invinctus

Really sad that they removed it.

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norsedudetr

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Edited By norsedudetr

Disco Stu, huh?

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qvc_on_the_tivo

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Edited By qvc_on_the_tivo

You can stop the truth! The world needs to know about Michael Jackson zombies.

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sudbuster

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Edited By sudbuster

So after Fox sues them they're going to change him into the Tunak Tunak Tun guy next, right?

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ali_d

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Edited By ali_d

Shame, they had to change it. The MJ inspired zombie was great.

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LegitFruitSnack

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Edited By LegitFruitSnack

definately looks dyyynooomyyeett!!

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gregalodon

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Edited By gregalodon

The dead fish in the shoe is a hilarious touch, as well as the cracked and empty heel on the other side.

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BigMaki

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Edited By BigMaki

This one's cool but really, the MJ Thriller one fit much better...

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lonelobo77

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Edited By lonelobo77

that new guy looks cool
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tatpastor

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Edited By tatpastor

Such a fun game.

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dorko21

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Edited By dorko21

Disco Stu...... needs brains!!

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imad81

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Edited By imad81

lol..looks just like him..

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Kintaro

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Edited By Kintaro
I guess I'll check PvZ sometime this week to see if it changed.
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Gramiero

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Edited By Gramiero

It looks... fine, I guess. Doesn't change the game, so I don't care all too much.

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Mjolnir

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Edited By Mjolnir

Any zombie that mildly reminds me of James Caan gets my approval.

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PirateTravis

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Edited By PirateTravis

I think it sucks bad they did this.

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Plasticpals

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Edited By Plasticpals

How is this news?

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mockenoff

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Edited By mockenoff

Just not the same...

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raddevon

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Edited By raddevon

They did a good job with the replacement.

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TeejIV

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Edited By TeejIV

I'm not a big fan of Michael Jackson or anything, but having a zombie version of him (even if it's a character he created) after his death is pretty tacky.  Whether it was legally motivated or not, it's classy of PopCap to change it.  Good on them.

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lennylar987

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Edited By lennylar987

Was about to buy this game the other day.. this could be a deal breaker.

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avantegardener

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Edited By avantegardener

Legality, what you going to do, I suppose a pretty good solution.

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TheDrizzle

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Edited By TheDrizzle

Looks Like disco Stu

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Jaserno

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Edited By Jaserno

This zombie looks pretty sweet :)

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JohnnyAutoFire

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Edited By JohnnyAutoFire

Poor fish, killed in the name of disco...

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RandomlyRossy

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Edited By RandomlyRossy

I was so annoyed that I had blindly patched my iPhone version of PvZ once I heard this was part of it, the MJ zombie was rad, it's so stupid they had to take him out. 
 
I understand in context now it seems a bit poor taste but it's a cool little touch in the game that still amuses me everytime I see it. Generic disco dude just isn't the same.

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Nik_NYG

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Edited By Nik_NYG

Its still ridiculous that they had to take MJ out.

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dougmansion

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Edited By dougmansion

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I was not a fan of this choice until I saw the dead fish in the shoe.  Excellent.

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TheCapn

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Edited By TheCapn

Amazing shoes. I wonder what looks I'll get in Camden market inquiring about a pair...

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stalefishies

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Edited By stalefishies

It's nowhere near as good as the thriller reference, but it's far better than what I feared; Popcap panicking and just slapping in some terrible filler zombie. It's probably one of the designs they produced when designing the character in the first place, and it's pretty good. But still no MJ.

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SolGer360

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Edited By SolGer360

i just didn't see anything wrong with the MJ zombie.  this kinda sucks, but the "disco stu" like someone above said,  looks cool