Zombies Versus The Infected and The Crazies Tower Defense

There have been many definitions of zombies, from the pure dead-alive, brain eaters to the generic expression encompassing mindless humans who have been transformed from the intelligent to a more instinctual, deadly being. Though the debate may be ongoing as to how the term zombie is used and whether the non-zombies should be even categorized with the true zombies, this should not take over our enjoyment of both varieties, for the underlying theme is similar. What captivates us in both types of definitions is the same: the downfall of society and of humanity, replaced by our instinctual being. If Freud was still alive I am sure he would theorize as to why the ‘de-construction’ of mankind and the manifestation of the id would capture our imagination in the mass of zombie films created.

The Infected Non-Zombies Variety:

George Romero’s The Crazies was one of the first movies to bring us the latter form of zombies– not undead but infected humans who metamorphose away from reason to within chaos. Unfortunately the movie was not widely popular; however with Breck Eisner’s remake of The Crazies, hopefully attention will be brought back to the origins of the infected ‘non-zombie’ zombie as well as present greats featuring the infected such as 28 Days Later.

Movies, of course, are just one of the many layers in truly finding the thrill with zombies and ‘non’ zombies alike. Novels–based either on How to Survive Guides or stories of human nature–are another layer, one which I am quite fond of being a writer myself. My novel (currently in the end stages of editing), Crashing Tides, explores the post-apocalyptic society where Freud’s Id has all but devastated humankind. Again, as in Romero’s The Crazies, I write about the infected non-zombie variety.

However books and movies do not have that one element that brings the fantasy crashing down, and ties you in as an active participant. Games do this, by having you become the pivotal figure in destroying the zombie threat (or what I would like to see: a reversal, where you are the zombie, threatening the sane).

And as for those ‘non-zombie’ zombie games? One game based off of “The Crazies” movie is The Crazies Tower Defense Game. The company I work for, Merscom, published it and it is currently free on Facebook. The Crazies TD Game brings you plenty of thrills while you battle to protect your town from being overrun by the hordes of insanity. What is even more heart pounding: the Crazies do not stop after you log off. They keep coming, and therefore strategy is a must in this game, to prepare the battlefield to survive even in your absence.

Between movies, books, art, and games, we can explore the differences and similarities between zombies and the infected and enjoy both creatures to their fullest. And hopefully along the way, the zombies (and the non-zombies) won’t start to sparkle…