History SoYouWantTo / WriteAZombieApocalypse

As long as we're on the subject of video games, ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' (especially the earlier games) is also a must-play for anybody interested in zombies. Not only is it the TropeCodifier for the SurvivalHorror genre, it is also largely responsible for the resurgence of interest in zombie media in the late '90s and 2000s, as well as popularizing the idea of zombies being created by TheVirus. Every game in the series (other than the ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilGunSurvivor Gun Survivor]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak Outbreak]]'' spin-offs) is available on [=PS3=], be it on a disk or through the UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork, so if you own a [=PS3=] you have no excuse not to play them. A word of caution: starting with ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil4 RE4]]'', the series started downplaying both the zombie and horror elements in favor of an action-shooter direction, with the "traditional" zombie enemies replaced with a cross between ''Film/InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers'' and the "sprinters" of modern-day zombie fiction -- a shift that wound up creating a BrokenBase in the ''RE'' fandom. There also exists [[Film/ResidentEvilFilmSeries a live-action film series]] based on the games, but be warned: it is a classic case of divisiveness. A last mention would be the popular bonus game in Call of Duty: World at war. This "Nazi zombies" mode offers a survial-as-long-as-you-can spin on zombies in videogames. It supply's you with endless undead nazis that increase in numbers and speed each round. The gameplay is tense and addicting, and the atmosphere as well as the haunting shreaks of the 40's era zombies will stay with you. Give it a go if you think you can handle it.

->''[[Film/DawnOfTheDead1978 "When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the Earth..."]]''

Most of them are usually set in America as well. Why not try another country and deal with the unique problems, advantages, quirks and culture that comes with it? Perhaps you can pick a country with very little gun ownership, or has a harsh environment after civilization breaks down, or is densely populated on a small landmass, or don't know much about zombies because they haven't seen the movies? ''Manga/HighSchoolOfTheDead'' does just that, showing what happens when a bunch of Japanese high school students (and the school nurse, and later a little girl and a dog) find themselves [[BlackAndGreyMorality forced to steal things (including guns) to survive]], drive without licenses, and rely on themselves ([[TrueCompanions and each other]]) rather than on government or authority figures, bringing in a whole bunch of ValuesDissonance considering how Japanese culture works ([[{{Fanservice}} also]] [[GagBoobs boobies]]).

Due to George Romero's influence, many zombie apocalypses done today have strong themes of social breakdown. Usually, we see social breakdown happen on a large scale first (i.e., the people we look to for help and protection are [[PoliceAreUseless helpless,]] [[RedShirtArmy dead]], [[GhostTown unavailable]], or have [[ArmiesAreEvil gone crazy in the commotion]]), and then on a small scale within the main cast. Stress makes people bicker and fight, and paranoia spreads. People have [[TriangleRelations complicated love affairs.]] With no external society to check their actions, normal people may [[MoralEventHorizon commit heinous acts.]] It is standard for several members of the core group to die -- killed by zombies, or just as often killed by each other.

You will need lots of extras. Preferably extras who are very good at looking glazed-eyed, don't mind being dressed in rags and made up to look partially decomposed, and have a convincing zombie impression. There seems to be no shortage of volunteers; zombies appear to be one of the more popular roles that extras can get. For the actors playing the living, get people who aren't squeamish around violence and gore, can convincingly pull off light action sequences, and are willing to subject themselves to a brutal death scene (which is, after all, [[KillEmAll how many zombie movies end]]). The usual rules regarding acting talent and remembering one's lines also apply.

For the survivors and heroes, you need weapons of some kind; guns (particularly [[ShotgunsAreJustBetter shotguns]]), [[KnifeNut butcher knives]], and blunt objects like [[BatterUp bats]], tire irons and crowbars tend to be popular.

''The Walking Dead'' by Robert Kirkman is probably one of the best adaptations of a zombie apocalypse into serialized form. Starting out as [[ComicBook/TheWalkingDead a comic book series]], it was later turned into [[Series/TheWalkingDead a hit television series]] on Creator/{{AMC}}, which now uses it as one of their chief tentpole programs. Both feature [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a rich cast of characters]], some memorable scumbags and villains (The Governor... ''brrrr''), and loads of zombie mayhem, and are definitely worth a read or watch.

As long as we're on the subject of video games, ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' (especially the earlier games) is also a must-play for anybody interested in zombies. Not only is it the TropeCodifier for the SurvivalHorror genre, it is also largely responsible for the resurgence of interest in zombie media in the late '90s and 2000s, as well as popularizing the idea of zombies being created by TheVirus. Every game in the series (other than the ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilGunSurvivor Gun Survivor]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak Outbreak]]'' spin-offs) is available on [=PS3=], be it on a disk or through the UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork, so if you own a [=PS3=] you have no excuse not to play them. A word of caution: starting with ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil4 RE4]]'', the series started downplaying both the zombie and horror elements in favor of an action-shooter direction, with the "traditional" zombie enemies replaced with a cross between ''Film/InvasionOfTheBodySnatchers'' and the "sprinters" of modern-day zombie fiction -- a shift that wound up creating a BrokenBase in the ''RE'' fandom. There also exists [[Film/ResidentEvil a live-action film series]] based on the games, but be warned: it is a classic case of divisiveness. A last mention would be the popular bonus game in Call of Duty: World at war. This "Nazi zombies" mode offers a survial-as-long-as-you-can spin on zombies in videogames. It supply's you with endless undead nazis that increase in numbers and speed each round. The gameplay is tense and addicting, and the atmosphere as well as the haunting shreaks of the 40's era zombies will stay with you. Give it a go if you think you can handle it.