Ranis
2009-02-16, 03:33 PM
The past few months, I've noticed a dramatic increase in the number of zombie-based stuffs going on, to the point where I've realized just how much zombies have become enigmatic figures in gaming culture ever since Resident Evil; hell, ever since Army of Darkness. Because of this pervasiveness in zombical society, I decided to share my thoughts with you as to why zombies seem to be so popular in our (gaming) culture, and look like they will continue to be for some time.
Killing Zombies is Fun!
If I were to make a thread asking for good zombie flash games, I could realistically end up with a list of 30+ zombie games. As such, people love to kill zombies. They are dumb, slow, and mostly easy targets. Zombies are by definition not intelligent, and as such they don't present especially difficult targets. Shooting zombies is fun, then, because in normal shooting games, your opponents either by AI definition or otherwise, at least seem intelligent, and they do something fundamental that zombies don't: they shoot back. In those normal shooters, you are asked to quickly assess the threat levels of multiple enemies based on the weapons they carry, and exterminate them one by one based on your assessment. Zombies provide a much easier time with the simple "shoot them all" methodology, relying on mass numbers (re: Zerg) in place of any individual in the mob posing more of a threat than any other. In this way, shooting zombies can be a much more fun experience.
Adrenaline Rush!
Anyone who has played a Resident Evil title or more recently Left 4 Dead can attest for the adrenaline rush one must face while fighting off undead hordes. The adrenaline rush can be addicting to some, and narcotic to others. I know my girlfriend plays L4D entirely for this reason alone, the panic button factor that "there are zombies all around and you can't see and louis is down and there's a hunter on zoey ohno ohgod getitoffgetitoffgetitoff!" I know few people that played L4D the first time and they weren't shouting and surprised turn after turn, screaming whenever a smoker got hold of them.
Everybody Loves an Apocalypse
Let's face it, everyone likes being special in some way. Playing as the survivor of a zombie apocalypse makes you feel special. Lots of other games and movies are about certain kinds of apocalypses these days, to the moans and groans of unoriginality to some and to the love of others. Zombie apocalypses are one of the mainstays, and while the main idea of a zombie apocalypse or what that entails may vary depending what game or movie you tend to be watching at the time, they are here to stay.
Empty Shells
As a grazed on above, when fighting zombies you only need to focus on mainly which zombie is in front, and that becomes the zombie you shoot. There is no more real attention that you need to pay as far as which zombie in particular bears more of a threat than another. This becomes eased by the fact that zombies are nothing really more than empty shells of human beings, thoughtless, lacking intelligence, and usually only desiring flesh, human or otherwise, and because of this fact there are no moral qualms with shooting zombies; they are a common enemy.
Anyone else have thoughts?
Killing Zombies is Fun!
If I were to make a thread asking for good zombie flash games, I could realistically end up with a list of 30+ zombie games. As such, people love to kill zombies. They are dumb, slow, and mostly easy targets. Zombies are by definition not intelligent, and as such they don't present especially difficult targets. Shooting zombies is fun, then, because in normal shooting games, your opponents either by AI definition or otherwise, at least seem intelligent, and they do something fundamental that zombies don't: they shoot back. In those normal shooters, you are asked to quickly assess the threat levels of multiple enemies based on the weapons they carry, and exterminate them one by one based on your assessment. Zombies provide a much easier time with the simple "shoot them all" methodology, relying on mass numbers (re: Zerg) in place of any individual in the mob posing more of a threat than any other. In this way, shooting zombies can be a much more fun experience.
Adrenaline Rush!
Anyone who has played a Resident Evil title or more recently Left 4 Dead can attest for the adrenaline rush one must face while fighting off undead hordes. The adrenaline rush can be addicting to some, and narcotic to others. I know my girlfriend plays L4D entirely for this reason alone, the panic button factor that "there are zombies all around and you can't see and louis is down and there's a hunter on zoey ohno ohgod getitoffgetitoffgetitoff!" I know few people that played L4D the first time and they weren't shouting and surprised turn after turn, screaming whenever a smoker got hold of them.
Everybody Loves an Apocalypse
Let's face it, everyone likes being special in some way. Playing as the survivor of a zombie apocalypse makes you feel special. Lots of other games and movies are about certain kinds of apocalypses these days, to the moans and groans of unoriginality to some and to the love of others. Zombie apocalypses are one of the mainstays, and while the main idea of a zombie apocalypse or what that entails may vary depending what game or movie you tend to be watching at the time, they are here to stay.
Empty Shells
As a grazed on above, when fighting zombies you only need to focus on mainly which zombie is in front, and that becomes the zombie you shoot. There is no more real attention that you need to pay as far as which zombie in particular bears more of a threat than another. This becomes eased by the fact that zombies are nothing really more than empty shells of human beings, thoughtless, lacking intelligence, and usually only desiring flesh, human or otherwise, and because of this fact there are no moral qualms with shooting zombies; they are a common enemy.
Anyone else have thoughts?