Is there a way to bring back the Michael Jackson zombie?

[Mordaris]

The "disco" zombie isn't nearly as amusing, given the Thriller reference. I see people alluding to a way to do it on the forums, but I've not seen an actual method.

[Leonard]

i think there is a mod for that

[mooncake]

hm

[Mordaris]

Considering that Thriller is arguably Jackson's 'swan song' album, and the Thriller video is the possibly the most historically-famous video on the planet, changing the "Thriller-zombie" was an unneccessary move, in the first place.

[Bob the Boomer]

Originally posted by Mordaris:

Considering that Thriller is arguably Jackson's 'swan song' album, and the Thriller video is the possibly the most historically-famous video on the planet, changing the "Thriller-zombie" was an unneccessary move, in the first place.

typical of publishers

[Xegethra]

Apparently they changed it because the Jackson family were gonna sue popcap for using his likeness....and his death kinda hit a sore point for them, even though the game came out just before his death. I dunno how true that is though, but I do agree that the Jackson zombie would be more amusing....but still, Disco Stu zombie is quite funny.

[Laura Blues]

Originally posted by Xegethra:

Apparently they changed it because the Jackson family were gonna sue popcap for using his likeness....and his death kinda hit a sore point for them, even though the game came out just before his death. I dunno how true that is though, but I do agree that the Jackson zombie would be more amusing....but still, Disco Stu zombie is quite funny.

What I read about the reasons for pulling it out was exactly what you said. A Disco Stu may be "not bad", but the Thriller reference was precious because ZOMBIES! It was perfect.

[Trip Fisk]

Originally posted by Xegethra:

Apparently they changed it because the Jackson family were gonna sue popcap for using his likeness....and his death kinda hit a sore point for them, even though the game came out just before his death. I dunno how true that is though, but I do agree that the Jackson zombie would be more amusing....but still, Disco Stu zombie is quite funny.

This guy's right. It was a change forced under legal pressure from the Jackson estate. I seem to remember the reasons put forth by the Jackson family were stupid and misguided. Their problem wasn't so much Michael's likeness, but they felt it was offensive and disrespectful he's an enemy you have to defeat. This game came out right around the time Michael died, so the timing was bad for this sort of thing.

In reality, its the complete opposite. The reference was a massive tribute to the man and respectful to the impact he made as a pop culture icon. If Michael were alive, I'm certain he would've been Thrillered to be a zombie in the game.

Michael and his family didn't seem to give a ♥♥♥♥ by this scene from Night of the Living Dead Part 2 from the 80's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hd1zMak2Vg

go figure

[Laura Blues]

Originally posted by Trip Fisk:

I seem to remember the reasons put forth by the Jackson family were stupid and misguided. Their problem wasn't so much Michael's likeness, but they felt it was offensive and disrespectful he's an enemy you have to defeat. This game came out right around the time Michael died, so the timing was bad for this sort of thing.

In reality, its the complete opposite. The reference was a massive tribute to the man and respectful to the impact he made as a pop culture icon. If Michael were alive, I'm certain he would've been Thrillered to be a zombie in the game.

Michael and his family didn't seem to give a ♥♥♥♥ by this scene from Night of the Living Dead Part 2 from the 80's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hd1zMak2Vg

go figure

My guess was that it was all about the money. The game said that the resemblance was coincidental (yeah, sure), so the MJ estate just had to cry out disrespect and threaten them to have it removed. Because they don't seem to give a FF about tribute or homage, but the $$.

Fans all over were sad with the decision. I'm saving my old version in my laptop and I will never update it. I love that Dancing Zombie and you're right, it IS a massive tribute to the icon that he was and the huge impact that that Thriller video had.

[PsydeFX]

I could have sworn this game came out a few years before his death, not around the time of it. I could be wrong as I'm probably the one guy in the world who wasn't impacted by his death. I too, though, felt it was a tribute to him, and enjoyed seeing him in a zombie game. I thought it was well fitting and deserving. If I were part of the jackson estate, I would have let it be, even been happy about it. He was being digitally immortalized. By forcing the removal from the game, they only hurt his memory. The more they remove him from the world with actions like these, the more he's going to be forgotten, and that's worse than allowing him to be an "enemy".

[Capn_Tucker]

Actually the game came out about a month and a half before MJ's death. The only reason his estate complained is they weren't getting any royalties from the use of his image. Popcap was not legally bound to remove MJ from the game, and would have won any court case, but they didn't want to spend a bunch of money on legal fees.
In any case, those who still want to play the game with MJ in it just need to pick up a boxed 1st edition of the game on eBay. You need to make sure it's the box with only the "garden variety zombie" on the cover, and not the GOTY version.
Copies are still cheap, and average $5-7 for very good condition. I just scored a factory sealed copy for under $10. It won't be on Steam, but you don't need the CD in the drive to play anyway..

[Jacob the dude]

Originally posted by Capn_Tucker:

Actually the game came out about a month and a half before MJ's death. The only reason his estate complained is they weren't getting any royalties from the use of his image. Popcap was not legally bound to remove MJ from the game, and would have won any court case, but they didn't want to spend a bunch of money on legal fees.
In any case, those who still want to play the game with MJ in it just need to pick up a boxed 1st edition of the game on eBay. You need to make sure it's the box with only the "garden variety zombie" on the cover, and not the GOTY version.
Copies are still cheap, and average $5-7 for very good condition. I just scored a factory sealed copy for under $10. It won't be on Steam, but you don't need the CD in the drive to play anyway..

Hey I know I'm posting this 5 years after you made your first post but is it possible for me to get MJ with software download or does it require the disc to get MJ. This link is what I'm talking about. Thanks of you get back to me.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Plants-vs-Zombies-PC-SOFTWARE-DOWNLOAD-ONLY/264229126687?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160811114145%26meid%3D7800bec22a4e480181675f42ed540ef2%26pid%3D100667%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D264229126687%26itm%3D264229126687%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2045573&_trksid=p2045573.c100667.m2042

[PaNtzBoY]

I am too, interested in getting MJ, is there a way to mod him back in now or nah?