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PopCap removes Michael Jackson lookalike from Plants vs. Zombies

by Griffin McElroy on Jul 27th 2010 3:00PM

A recent update for the iPhone version of PopCap's floral tower-defense title, Plants vs. Zombies, makes a significant change to a prominent member of the game's undead roster: Dancing Zombie. The red leather jumpsuit-clad ghoul formerly resembled Michael Jackson in his seminal, super-lengthy 1983 music video "Thriller." After the update, the shambling fiend now has much more generic disco attire.

PopCap explained the reason for the update to MTV Multiplayer, stating, "The Estate of Michael Jackson objected to our use of the 'dancing zombie' in Plants vs. Zombies based on its view that the zombie too closely resembled Michael Jackson." Rather than risk a legal kerfluffle, PopCap has decided to "replace it with a different 'dancing zombie' character for future builds" of the title.

Unfortunately, the update seems to be causing the game to crash on iPhone 4. Keep an eye peeled for an update update, which will still leave the title King of Pop-less, yet delightfully functional.

Source: MTV Multiplayer

Tags: michael-jackson, mobile, Plants-vs-Zombies, popcap, update

Reader Comments (49)

No! You're being ignorant!

THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!!!

"the zombie too closely resembled Michael Jackson"

I think the problem really is more that Michael Jackson too closely resembled the zombie.

@Jack Spicer Lmao , my thoughts exactly .

Give this man a memorial burn of the day award.

@Jack Spicer

indeed.

although, i think another more real reason was that he kept trying to touch the younger zombies.

poor zombies just couldn't eat brains while worrying about old Michael (look-alike) looking at them way.

@Jack Spicer

Dammit, Jack Spicer, you win this time.

@Jack Spicer

It will only look like Micheal Jackson if he came back as a zombie.

@The MARIO

What would the difference be?

But, what if it really is Michael Jackson's zombie, come back in digital form. Would anyone really think it would be that strange if he came back to life as a video game zombie? I mean, this is MJ we're talking about.

Wow, this is . . . wow. That zombie was amazing . . . Rest In Piece zombie . . . rest in piece -cries self to sleep-

G.O.B. says "COME ON!"

@stubby boardman
Any Arrested Development reference deserves an up vote.

Hmmm ......this makes me want to go play my original version of PvsZ now . MJ zombie shall feel the wrath of my corncob cannon . Wait ......that sounds wrong .

@MBP Not to Zombie MJ. To Zombie MJ, that sounds fine and dandy.

What's sad is that MJ probably would have been ok with this considering his love of videogames.

@Jason B

I see what you did there.

Note to self: never update PvZ app

@butaneko It just updated and it doesn't even open... this might be why though

This is bloody ridiculous! I will make sure I never update my iPhone's PvZ!

Wow what a pussy move. Popcap should have refused and claimed parody

Sounds like a repeat of the Vanna White case (http://www.docstoc.com/docs/302239/White-v-Samsung-Electronics-America_Inc-Case-Breif)

I'd let them sue - there's precedent for recognizing MJ's right of publicity, but the legal community generally regards that case as utter crap.

PARODY IS PROTECTED! Fight for your rights Popcap!

It's not as if he crawled out of the ground and started having sex with the small baby plants.

@Johnny Locke Not yet....

Oh, you mean the digital Zombie MJ, not the real one. My bad.

http://i.imgur.com/pPnj3.png

This is just dumb.

We wouldn't have this problem if Michael just TOLD everybody that he's STILL ALIVE.

Come on!

@Acosta02

Damn you, why did you have to say STILL ALIVE?

Now I'm imagining Michael Jackson doing a cover of that song

This was a triumph, uuuu
I'm making a note here, huge success **crotch grab**

@Acosta02

I can't do that. The reason I faked my death is because I had to escape from the public. You don't understand how tough it is to live in a world where people think you're a pedo, a freak, a woman, and a zombie. I'm also now richer than ever. My album sales went thought the roof and the This Is It movie was a success! Now people can stop it with the pedo jokes and finally remember me for my music and dancing.

It worked for Tupac, it worked for Biggie, and it worked for me.

@TheMichaelJackson

Son of a-

he's a genius. But we already knew that.

@TheMichaelJackson If we say your name in the mirror 3 times, do you appear?

The MJ estate is too uptight, and PopCap is too cheap.

That sucks, I've trying to get those new achievements and haven't notice MJ Zombie is MIA.

Michael is going to be furious...

...kerfluffle?

@Mach2

Yes.

I guess we can just not update right?

WHY, POPCAP, WHYYYYYY?!

Thing is, Plant vs Zombie is not new. It's been out on PC for quite sometime already, with the same look-alike zombie. So why point up the issue now?
MJ Estate: Hey, there's a game developer that we might be able to get some money from. Let's see if we can harass them.
PopCap: Woops, our bad, removed, sorry, kthnxbai.
MJ Estate: ... crap.

@pika2000

...or maybe because the man recently died?

I wouldn't say recently.

What the hell is this? Isn't parody protected? It's not like Pop Cap used Michael's name and songs in the game. There are plenty of Michael Jackson homages out there.

My question is, how did the "Michael Jackson estate" learn about the Pop Cap character? I think someone might have been mad they couldn't finish a level in Plants vs Zombies.

It's all fun and games until someone who has nothing better to do has to make an issue out of something that doesn't matter!!

Shamon denied

Even though he is gone from my iPhone he will always live on through my Mac.

@Shadsy So true

@Shadsy OBJECTION!

Breaking News

Plants vs. Zombies

PopCap removes Michael Jackson lookalike from Plants vs. Zombies

Reader Comments (49)

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:05PM xJimmeh said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:06PM zack11190 said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:07PM Jack Spicer said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:10PM MBP said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:11PM BananaBoat said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:13PM colmiak said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 4:45PM TheMichaelJackson said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 7:19PM The MARIO said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 7:29PM TheGrandHero said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:08PM Courtney said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:09PM Brysonial the Bison said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:12PM stubby boardman said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:52PM Johnny Locke said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:12PM MBP said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:28PM Rocketboy said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:18PM Jason B said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 7:20PM The MARIO said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:19PM butaneko said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 5:03PM Nap said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:20PM Prince David said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:21PM C1 said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:24PM vidguy said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:26PM soniccar said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:28PM Johnny Locke said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:29PM Rocketboy said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:28PM nembutals said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:32PM Ghoti said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:32PM Acosta02 said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:41PM oOWallaceOo said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:48PM vidguy said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 4:53PM TheMichaelJackson said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 5:00PM Acosta02 said

Posted: Jul 30th 2010 4:38PM Rocketboy said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:47PM ch3burashka said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:52PM Joeybeast said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 3:59PM S0lid Sn4ke said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 4:03PM Mach2 said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 4:13PM CubeGuy said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 4:33PM evanset6 said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 4:42PM TheMichaelJackson said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 4:49PM pika2000 said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 5:02PM Acosta02 said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 8:16PM S0lid Sn4ke said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 5:15PM Lerkero said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 5:15PM gamegal2010 said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 5:18PM Maulok said

Posted: Jul 27th 2010 5:32PM InvalidRobot said

Posted: Jul 28th 2010 10:33AM kanbak said

Posted: Jul 28th 2010 1:35PM Shiaoran said

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