Undead Labs' Jeff Strain is totally into zombies
We've already told you about Blizzard/NCsoft vet Jeff Strain's startup, Undead Labs, which is creating a zombie-centric, console-based MMO (sorry, marketing dept., we're not going to call it an MMOZ), but we haven't told you much about the game itself. Though this Eurogamer interview still provides next to no perspective on that topic, it does offer a considerable amount of insight into how much Strain thinks about zombies.
Take this gem for instance: "People are passionate about zombies ... the reason I'm talking about it is because I want zombie fans. I want the best developers in the industry that love zombies to want to work here."
Or perhaps this: "The reason zombies are so powerful and transcend fantasy is because right now they are the modern, societal guilt-free meat-puppet. We've been through the Nazi phase, we've been through the communist phase, we've been through the terrorist phase. Those were all at various times in history fair game in the gaming culture. Right now zombies are fulfilling that need for us. That no-rules, no-guilt mentality is something that people really resonate with."
So, what Strain is saying is that we used to be really angry at terrorists, but now, instead of that, we hate zombies. Will history remember how close Strain just came to inventing the zombie terrorist, the video game enemy that will someday unite the world, Wyld Stallyns-style? We suspect it will not.
Take this gem for instance: "People are passionate about zombies ... the reason I'm talking about it is because I want zombie fans. I want the best developers in the industry that love zombies to want to work here."
Or perhaps this: "The reason zombies are so powerful and transcend fantasy is because right now they are the modern, societal guilt-free meat-puppet. We've been through the Nazi phase, we've been through the communist phase, we've been through the terrorist phase. Those were all at various times in history fair game in the gaming culture. Right now zombies are fulfilling that need for us. That no-rules, no-guilt mentality is something that people really resonate with."
So, what Strain is saying is that we used to be really angry at terrorists, but now, instead of that, we hate zombies. Will history remember how close Strain just came to inventing the zombie terrorist, the video game enemy that will someday unite the world, Wyld Stallyns-style? We suspect it will not.












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
nightmare452 @ Nov 25th 2009 9:33AM
Best pic ever.
Victor @ Nov 25th 2009 9:34AM
I was going to say best movie ever, but that would be me getting carried away.
Great movie though, as good as (if not better than) Shaun of the Dead!
devilsei @ Nov 25th 2009 4:57PM
That is a great picture!
And you know what? I consider this movie on the same level as "Shaun of the Dead". Both have their own ideas, both have their own stories, and both have their own strong points, so why try and say these two movies can't go hand in hand?
(There's an idea, have Simon Pegg as Shaun pop up in any sequel to Zombieland as a cameo!)
Space @ Nov 25th 2009 9:38AM
I can't wait for this zombie craze to be done with
XBL: xGeneral DEATHx PSN: Deeth82 [Planeteer | Power of General Hostility and Angst] @ Nov 25th 2009 9:50AM
Oh yeah? Well you just wait until zombies are crashing through your front door/windows, Mister. I bet you'll wish you'd have trained more when that day comes!
/s/
Then a White Kid Said @ Nov 25th 2009 10:02AM
Well when the Zombie apocalypse happens how will pressing 'B' help you?
I kid, i kid. I'd like to think all the hours I spent killing zombies would help but I know for a fact I will curl up into a ball and cry
XBL: xGeneral DEATHx PSN: Deeth82 [Planeteer | Power of General Hostility and Angst] @ Nov 25th 2009 10:24AM
I will be thankful for all the time I actually spent outdoors, and the training I've had with guns/bows/knives/blunt objects. I still think that the vast majority of survivors in a zombie apocalypse will be the people who are least expected to survive...gamers/geeks/nerds/shy kids/etc.
HighFiveJesus @ Nov 25th 2009 10:51AM
gamers/geeks/nerds/shy kids don't generally do not have the stomach to survive human genocide.
XBL: xGeneral DEATHx PSN: Deeth82 [Planeteer | Power of General Hostility and Angst] @ Nov 25th 2009 11:24AM
"gamers/geeks/nerds/shy kids don't generally do not have the stomach to survive human genocide."
So by your double-negative, you're saying they DO have the stomach to survive human genocide?
:-p
/Grammar Nazi/
Discotheque @ Nov 25th 2009 2:20PM
Yeah I'm sick of zombies too. I'm enjoying L4D2 but the whole zombie thing is getting a bit overplayed.
Also Shaun of the Dead is by far greater than Zombieland, which was an alright movie but almost exclusively held together by Woody Harrelson (good to see him back).
Dreaded Fear @ Nov 25th 2009 2:38PM
You can never be too prepared for a zombie apocalypse.
KingOfHearts @ Nov 25th 2009 9:38AM
Zombieland was such a good movie.
Very helpful tips for surviving the zombie-apocalypse that will inevitably happen.
Uncontrol @ Nov 25th 2009 9:39AM
modern, societal guilt-free meat-puppet
The Flyin' Hawaiian @ Nov 25th 2009 9:48AM
Why do we think zombies are cool? I think they're cool, but probably cause everybody else thinks so too.
Fuck im just a sheep
Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Nov 25th 2009 10:01AM
They are cool because the blood in their veins does not circulate. Also, all life sustaining processes are off = no heat generated.
cheeto blue @ Nov 25th 2009 11:31AM
Individual zombies are ok, but I think the idea of a zombie apocalypse is more apealing...
Sean Broderick @ Nov 25th 2009 5:11PM
I'd like to kill some terrorist zombies.
Oh damn, how about Nazi Zombie Terrorists, which have occult derived powered, who are aliens that are Soviet-era communists and are from hell!
It'd of course be a third-person, RPG, shooter hybrid, RTS/TBS game.
Katana Master @ Nov 25th 2009 12:34PM
Your insane.
captainprotonx @ Nov 25th 2009 9:57AM
Hit the kid. HIT THE KID!
BxGT @ Nov 25th 2009 10:11AM
Which is jeff, the skinny cowboy,the one from the brady bunch or the pregnant lady?
Paulo @ Nov 25th 2009 10:13AM
why console only? ;_;
hdcase @ Nov 25th 2009 10:14AM
Is it possible to have a console MMO with no subscription fees? I sure hope so because this sounds like it could be really cool.
hdcase @ Nov 25th 2009 10:17AM
The source article is worth a look for the picture captions alone.
HighFiveJesus @ Nov 25th 2009 10:58AM
Argh, i don't like that jesse guy's acting. He's too old to be like the awkard Cera kid, and he's too feminine to be the hilarious bold andy samburg (he kinda looks like him)
whiskeyseven @ Nov 25th 2009 11:46AM
Wyld Stallyns RULE!
DomoBraden @ Nov 25th 2009 2:22PM
YEAH!
Gibbeynator @ Nov 25th 2009 11:56AM
Boomer!
MowDownJoe @ Nov 25th 2009 12:10PM
I think I know his next suits:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtfyJSbo-MI
MowDownJoe @ Nov 25th 2009 12:11PM
SHIT! Wrong post! Downvote me away, people!
x3r9g6 @ Nov 28th 2009 6:38AM
zombies and vampires.........that's all it is now days.