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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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BradNicholson

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Edited By BradNicholson

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.    
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Darkstar614

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Edited By Darkstar614

I don't think it's very fair that they had to remove it..

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OroJackson

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Edited By OroJackson

I liked the M.J. zombie better :(

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ohvee

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Edited By ohvee

It really doesn't affect anything. It's definitely a suitable replacement.

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fwylo

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Edited By fwylo

Fair enough. Why is there a fish in his shoe?  Is his shoe made of ice?

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Scooper

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Edited By Scooper

=The fish should of been a zombie too.

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misfit13b

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Edited By misfit13b

@fwylo:  Rent I'm Gonna Git You Sucka.

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JP_Russell

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Edited By JP_Russell

That's not bad.  Not bad at all.  
 
But it's no zombie MJ.  Still keeping my automatic updates for PvZ on Steam turned off.
 
EDIT - Just now noticed the tagline for the article says "Not bad.  Not bad at all."  I'm not sure if it's just a freak coincidence that I wrote the same thing, or Brad saw my statement and concurred enough to make it the tagline, or what.  :P

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BraveToaster

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Edited By BraveToaster
@misfit13b said:
" @fwylo:  Rent I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. "
good movie
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buzz_killington

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Edited By buzz_killington

I hope they don't touch the PC version.

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TwoLines

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Edited By TwoLines
@fwylo said:

" Fair enough. Why is there a fish in his shoe?  Is his shoe made of ice? "

Obviously you're not 70's savvy.
That's an aquarium.
Yes, you heard me.
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Frostler

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Edited By Frostler

Nothing lost, still serves it's purpose the same.

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CandleJakk

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Edited By CandleJakk
@fwylo said:
" Fair enough. Why is there a fish in his shoe?  Is his shoe made of ice? "
Because, I think he's parodying Disco Stu, from the Simpsons.
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fwylo

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Edited By fwylo
@TwoLines: Really? They had aquarium shoes? That's amazing.
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Overwatch

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Edited By Overwatch

Really dig the shoes.

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TwoLines

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Edited By TwoLines

No Caption Provided

No Caption Provided


No Caption Provided

Tke your pick man.
 
 
70s rule.
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billygoat117

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Edited By billygoat117
@CandleJakk: Beat me to it. Anyway, for reference:
No Caption Provided
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turbo_toaster

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Edited By turbo_toaster
@CandleJakk:  More like it's parodying a disco persona in general, those shoes exist IRL. That's where the Simpsons got it, lol.
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thealexray

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Edited By thealexray

Wonder what's going to replace it when Matt Groening sues them.

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JessicaBoo

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Edited By JessicaBoo

And, damn, just doesnt seem correct.... MJ Zombie was the best
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MisterMouse

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Edited By MisterMouse

groovy!

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soralapio

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Edited By soralapio

Honestly, you'd think that with all the shit he got up to, appearing as a fun zombie in a beloved game wouldn't exactly be on the top of the list for his estate as far as embarassing MJ debacles went.

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bacongames

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Edited By bacongames

Not gonna lie, this zombie looks way better.  Any time I see Michael Jackson's image past Jackson 5 I get creeped out and I really could care less about the man himself.  Since none of the other zombies were specific, this non-descript disco-zombie fits right in.
 
Automatic update BACK ON.

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ArjanN

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Edited By ArjanN

Lame. 
 
It's pretty obvious the only reason the Jackson estate took issue with MJ zombie is because they didn't get payed.
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ryanwho

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Edited By ryanwho

They only really have a likeness case because Michael looked like a zombie.

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Waffles13

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Edited By Waffles13

News article about a sprite...

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Crono

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Edited By Crono

At least the replacement zombie looks awesome... still, the MJ estate is lame.

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willwithskills

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Edited By willwithskills

I can understand why they would want the Michael Jackson zombie removed from the game now that he's dead. Although it obviously wasn't intentional, the zombie now seems like a bad, tasteless joke. Disco Stu zombie is perfectly fine for me.

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goulash_enjoyer

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Edited By goulash_enjoyer

You can't top Michael.

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Brackynews

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Edited By Brackynews
Hay una discoteca por zombi? 
Zombies got Soul.  Hope they change the four dancers to have roller skates.
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goulash_enjoyer

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Edited By goulash_enjoyer

Except with six feet of soil.
 
 
Oh... I don't feel good about that at all... :(

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noshitsherlock

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Edited By noshitsherlock

For some reason this reminds me of the Simpsons. Is there a character with fish in his shoes in that too? but they were dead fish?  
  
If you remove Jackson from a game in which he is a zombie cause he is dead then you sir are not paying attention to the current media climate. The people love dead Jacko. he is more of a hit now than he was when he was alive. and he was more of a hit when he was alive when he was in the zombie video. so we all lose if you cut him out of the game and replace him with Simpsons guy.  
meh.

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NHLmaniac

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Edited By NHLmaniac

In the game he does a kind of reverse moonwalk. It looks like he is trying to walk backwards, but is actually moving forward.

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KillyDarko

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Edited By KillyDarko

It's a nice replacement, but I still think this all thing is just plain stupid and idiotic... what are they gonna do next? Try to remove every single popular cultural reference ever made to Michael Jackson?!?

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jos1ah

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Edited By jos1ah

Don't think it's fair they had to remove the first zombie, but a nice replacement indeed.
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Roomrunner

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Edited By Roomrunner

Disco Stu likes disco brains.

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Little_Socrates

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Edited By Little_Socrates

Meanwhile, South Park's version of Michael Jackson goes untouched.

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ArchScabby

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Edited By ArchScabby

The poor fishy is dead.

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CABBAGES

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Edited By CABBAGES

i really dont like this brad fellow 
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Edited By Xeiphyer

This sucks, but the new one is cool. Also I can totally understand why they wanted him taken from the game. People killing the zombie corpse of your dead friend or relative is kind of shitty. Even if its with plants.

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Undeadpool

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Edited By Undeadpool

Zombie Disco Stu likes Zombie Disco Music!...and brains!

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treythalomew

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Edited By treythalomew

Looks good to me. I'm just glad they didn't try to fight it and lose a bunch of money over it.

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Edited By MrKlorox

I would prefer a PvZ expansion pack with 5 or 6 new types of concert/dance stereotype zombies and plants.
 
PvZ is a great game, but they're taking FOREVER to release new content. Instead they're focusing on ports and prevention of lawsuits.
 
They'll probably release a PvZ redux on PC that I'll have to pay full Steam price for again to get the regular game in 1080p like the 360 version. Without actual new content. 
 
And so they're finally giving the suckers who bought it off their website for twice the price of Steam something. A GOTY edition that's totally not worth the cost without new units. A zombie avatar editor? No Thanks. Not worth $20 for me.

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DjRich

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Edited By DjRich

My favorite part is definitly the goldfish. Sometimes I wish I grew up in the '70's, but then I think about how was blessed to grow up in the era of video games. So fuck that

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Edited By thedrinkinggeek

I agree the it totally suck they had to take him out....on the plus side Disco Dan the zombie looks hilarious!

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Branthog

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Edited By Branthog

Plants versus Zombies continues to baffle me. It's a fine enough game in a sort of "waste time on a flash based distraction" sort of way. But there are so many people that play it regularly. What's so compelling about it beyond any other game out there? I played it for a few (two or three) hours. It was fun. It was just about the right amount of time to spend on such a game. And that was that. Yet, I know people who play that for hours every week. Even a year later. 

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Branthog

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Edited By Branthog
@willwithskills said:
" I can understand why they would want the Michael Jackson zombie removed from the game now that he's dead. Although it obviously wasn't intentional, the zombie now seems like a bad, tasteless joke. Disco Stu zombie is perfectly fine for me. "
There shouldn't be any copyright concern, what with fair use and parody. There shouldn't be any concern about taste, either. Seriously, after all the things thrown at Jackson in the public arena and the court of law and the things that will be remembered and assumed about him for eternity (despite legal innocence, etc) -- is being depicted as a zombie (a reference to Thriller) in a videogame even remotely offensive or off putting or in poor taste? 
 
If it is, then all copies of Thriller should be taken off shelves and iTunes. It should be considered poor form to ever play the song or video in any context ever again. 
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PjotrLeschenko

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Edited By PjotrLeschenko
@Turbo_Toaster: 
well the RL shoes had plastic fishes in them and Disco Stu killed his fish, 'cause they were trapped, the X-eyes are an indication for a Simpsons parody imo.
;) anyway
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deactivated-5ba16609964d9

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I would of preferred another recognizable singer but I guess kinda looking like Disco Stu is ok. Would it of killed them to make an MC Hammer zombie ? 

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Greyhound85

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Edited By Greyhound85
@fwylo said:
"Fair enough. Why is there a fish in his shoe?  Is his shoe made of ice? "

lol ya they used to have those for real in the 70's...fish in water on the bottom of the shoe. Made no since, and the lil fishy died in minutes....but then again the 70's didn't make any sense : P