The Playful Undead and Video Games: Critical Analyses of Zombies and Gameplay [Hardcover]

This book explores the central role of the zombie in contemporary popular culture as they appear in video games. Moving beyond traditional explanations of their enduring appeal  that they embody an aesthetic that combines horror with a mindless target; that lower age ratings for zombie games widen the market; or that Artificial Intelligence routines for zombies are easier to develop  the book provides a multidisciplinary and comprehensive look at this cultural phenomenon.

Drawing on detailed case studies from across the genre, contributors from a variety of backgrounds offer insights into how the study of zombies in the context of video games informs an analysis of their impact on contemporary popular culture. Issues such as gender, politics, intellectual property law, queer theory, narrative storytelling and worldbuilding, videogame techniques and technology, and mans relation to monsters are closely examined in their relation to zombie video games.

Breaking new ground in the study of video games and popular culture, this volume will be of interest to researchers in a broad range of areas including media, popular culture, video games, and media psychology.

Introduction: Zombies zombies everywhere, what is one to think?
Stephen Webley

1. Zombies, again? A qualitative analysis of the zombie antagonists appeal in game design
   Matthew Barr
2. Resurrecting Obsolete Video Game Techniques from Alone in the Dark and Resident Evil
   Matt Barton
3. The Undead Past in the Present  Historical Anxiety and the Nazi Zombie
   Adam Chapman
4. The ZlCo