Infected or Zombies zomg

[frogopus]

Just carrying a post from the official forums to here. People seem concerned that we shouldn't call the baddies zombies and such because TRS describes them as Infected and because they believe the term zombie has its own specific definition that cannot be tampered with (never mind the fact that all mythological figures are subject to alteration for fictional purposes). I think the best way to answer this problem is this:

Those at Valve and Turtle Rock say both :P

Sure they're Infected but that doesn't mean they're not speedy examples of zombies you know and love. You'll find that we here will use both terms pretty equally (especially since I get sick of using just one too much).

[Stupoider]

Ill stick to Infected... mainly because they arent the walking dead xD Ive grown attached to Infected, its a nice term for the enemies in L4D ^^

[Tinnesa]

Everything with armes stretched out is a zombie for me ;)
But yea, maybe should learn the word "Infected" lol
So.. exotic.. in some way.. ;)

[KashMunni]

hehe yah i find the word infected exotic too idk but it sounds more smoother and cooler than just plane old zombie but i still rather scream "a zombie is behind u !!!" rather than " an infected is behind u!!" cuz screaming out infected sounds weird to me

[Stupoider]

Everything with armes stretched out is a zombie for me ;)
But yea, maybe should learn the word "Infected" lol
So.. exotic.. in some way.. ;)

Hey, these guys dont stretch out their arms and act all retarded, these guys are gonna rip your head off! xD

[A DUCK]

Hey, these guys dont stretch out their arms and act all retarded, these guys are gonna rip your head off! xD

Before that happens, you will be grabbed by someone's tounge, barfed on, targeted by an Arnold Schwarzenegger reincarnate, and stalked by someone cloaking themselves. Then they will rip your head off. :)

(If you didnt understand, i was describing each of the boss infected.)

[frogopus]

Hey, these guys dont stretch out their arms and act all retarded, these guys are gonna rip your head off!

No but the Boomer does tend to walk with his arms out to the side and waddle because of his fat, and I was a lot more scared of him than I would be of your typical zombie with arms outstretched.

[A DUCK]

heh cant he slap you if he gets close enough?

[frogopus]

Yeah, all Bosses have a melee attack.

[Stupoider]

:O What sort of sounds did the Boomer make? Did he like, grunt, snort and breathe heavily?

[A DUCK]

He said... well he didnt say anything he just farted really loudly! :O

[Rufus]

I don't like "zombie" because...they aren't technically zombies O.o Plus "infected" just rolls off the tongue better :O

[A DUCK]

"zombie" is used too much :)

[sir monster]

its really up to the person but after reading the original thread in the official forums (still waiting for forum activation there)
it seems most people are convinced that in order for something to be a zombie it must be "undead" "living dead" or have died and become re animated. this is true only when talking about voodoo.

according to the random house dictionary (dictionary.com) the word can also be accurately used to describe:
a. a person whose behavior or responses are wooden, listless, or seemingly rote; automaton.
b. an eccentric or peculiar person.

or an alcoholic beverage.

the basic "infected" in this game are not zombies in the voodoo terms of the word because they have not had their souls removed by a zombie master and been forced into slavery for said master.
however, their actions are rote (without thought) making them mindless automatons (a person or animal that acts in a monotonous, routine manner, without active intelligence.)

making each one of them eccentric and peculiar by anyones standards....

these are zombies. no, they are not undead, no they are not living dead, no they are not re animated. but the virus they are infected with has rendered them as mindless zombies.
~edit~

personally i like the term infected and zombies as they are both accurate. but the people who insist that zombies have to be "undead" are not familiar with the words many uses and only with its most recent and therefor currently most popular.

[frogopus]

You win the prize sir monster. GG Random House. I too am awaiting my forum activation (bad bad mod I know) which is why I carried it over here.

[A DUCK]

Not true: In part one of the hands on review the mods talk about how the zombies are actually quite smart in some senses like how they dont run straight at you, they curve, crouch, etc. to avoid your bullets. :)

[sir monster]

You win the prize sir monster
is it a trip to valve to play the game?

Not true: In part one of the hands on review the mods talk about how the zombies are actually quite smart in some senses like how they dont run straight at you, they curve, crouch, etc. to avoid your bullets. :)

very interesting point. this may make them ... self preserving
but doesnt imply any thought. they are still reacting automatically (kill the survivors) and so are still automatons and can still be described as a zombie. there are two forms of the word in essence, one is a name, and one is more of a description. im using the ladder. and will continue to do so well after the games release.

[frogopus]

Not true: In part one of the hands on review the mods talk about how the zombies are actually quite smart in some senses like how they dont run straight at you, they curve, crouch, etc. to avoid your bullets. :)
While this is quite true, they are very mindless in their efforts to consume you. They wander around aimlessly until a living being gets too near. Then they will stop at nothing to reach you and destroy you.

is it a trip to valve to play the game?
If I had such powers, I would be sending myself again.

[A DUCK]

You win the prize sir monster. GG Random House. I too am awaiting my forum activation (bad bad mod I know) which is why I carried it over here.


i prefer these forums to the official l4d forums (at valve/steam)

btw: stop reading these and work on part 2 please! lol