That den of parasites known formally as the "Jackson Estate" has forced Plants vs. Zombies developer PopCap to update its popular defense game due to a zombie that resembles Michael Jackson's classic look from the "Thriller" music video. Known as the Dancing Zombie, this enemy had the iconic jacket and a joke bio that stated its similarities to real-life figures was "purely coincidental."
Unfortunately, the Jackson Estate doesn't take too kindly to jokes, and sent a pestilent army of lawyers to protest against the game. Faced with a potential lawsuit, PopCap made a "business decision" to patch the adversary out of the game.
Be warned that if you have already bought Plants vs. Zombies and try to update the game on an iPhone 4, the game will crash. You'll have to wait for PopCap to fix that specific issue before you update the game. You might as well thank Jackson's vampiric survivors for that inconvenience, too.
Considering how broke those assholes are and that the Dancing Zombie could easily have been protected as a parody, PopCap should have fought the Jackson Estate and struck a blow for justice. These leeches need to learn that, now Jackson's dead, they should go and get jobs rather than suing someone every time they want a another pet giraffe covered in gold.
Michael Jackson Estate Forces 'Plants vs. Zombies' Update [MTV Multiplayer]
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
Likes
PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
58 comments | showing # 1 to 50
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
2:40 PM on 07.27.2010
| 
I was literally wondering about this when I got my pre-release copy of PvZ. I think Michael had JUST died when the game finished, and I was wondering how many ignorant people would say "OMG THAT'S TERRIBLE HOW COULD THEY".
DONT STOP TILL YOU GET ENOUGH!
Still dumb.
Jackson died 1 month after PvZ was released.
These leeches apparently don't understand that this a tribute to MJJ. But estates leeches never understand that, they just want money for everything to their estate.
But man, this does suck. I wish they'd fought it too, but they probably felt douchey about doing so, considering he'd died since the game's release.
It wás a kind of unfortunate reference/parody, that much is true. But there was no bad intent from Popcap at all (with the game coming out before his death and all). It was more a tribute to Thriller than something else.
And I find it absolutely horrible how these people keep finding new ways to make money of his death. I didn't even líke Michael Jackson (I was born in the '90s, I missed the part where he was all that), but making money off a show based on him not even a couple of months after he died? You just don't do that!
Or maybe that's just me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0AEJle_6_4
This doesn't make a whole lick of sense, though, because it firstly doesn't generate revenue and secondly only serves to antagonize the community of people who are primary consumers of their products. Sure, they have to protect their copyrights, but come on, this was no threat at all. In other words, LAME.
But yeah, that's American suing culture to sue for that, particularly true of musicians, particularly of those around Mr Jackson, after that whole kid stuff that never went away. It's silly.
P.S. If some fucker sues me for this, I will... I don't know what I'll do. Anyway, I need to play this game again sometime. Loss of save data put me off. :(
Well, I hope they do as a matter of principle. Are the lawyers going to go after Adult Swim and "ask" them to stop selling whatever series it is that has the MJ-Returns-to-Earth sketch?
What they are doing in this act by demanding what is obvious parody be removed is more a disservice to themselves than anything. Not that I really care either way but looks like I'll be remembering their client through southpark not PvZ.
MJ died (relatively) recently under questionable circumstances, so letting his fam and fans be able to let MJ rest in peace is just the respectable thing. Just throw a generic Thriller zombie, they'll get the point.
The little giggle you get having a MJ corpse in a Thriller jacket is not worth having his people feel like his legacy is being tarnished for some quick attention to the game.
and @tabalito23
Not that many people care?? You're bugging, all due respect
People all over the WORLD still held memorials this year on the anniversary of his death. He was known as (arguably) the best pop star EVER. I think that still makes him kinda a big deal.
More people care about him than about PvZ, I'll tell you that much.
The game's still awesome, though
It's obvious you never saw Jackson's videoclip Thriller. As the zombie of PvZ is pretty much the same zombie Jackson as it was present in that videoclip. It has shit to do with Jackson dieing and now being a zombie himself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ_ExkfcBao#t=7m10s
So, now he's going to be replaced by a disco zombie? Will that mean Travolta is going sue PopCap?
Freaking stupid.