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Closed Down Shopping Centre In Reading As Zombie Venue


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HOLA441

I saw this on BBC news this morning http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2111755_derelict_mall_is_riddled_with_zombies

Teams of ‘survivors’ are pitted against the zombie hordes in a variety of games, after training by ‘police firearms experts’.

Ammo is scarce and chances to reload are few and far between – meaning the living must work as a team to defeat the undead as they roam around the centre’s shops, restaurants and even a children’s play area.

Good old Labour

zombie.jpg

future.jpg

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Is all this 'zombie' stuff just a laugh - or is there a real underlying feeling of worry about what to do when it all goes pearshaped?

The average British young person isn't politically/economically aware enough to articulate their concerns in a rational way (and those who are would probably be worried they might be seen as 'right wing' if they did).

However, perhaps they have a vague understanding that things could go very wrong in society very quickly, which manages to filter through the haze of Ipods and reality tv, transforming on the way into 'zombie' fantasies.

Or am I over-analysing it? I'm sure there's a Professor of Zombie Studies at some former polytechnic who could enlighten me.

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Is all this 'zombie' stuff just a laugh - or is there a real underlying feeling of worry about what to do when it all goes pearshaped?

IMO that's where it's coming from, while things are pretty normal at the moment we all know that it wouldn't take much for all out anarchy to break out. Zombies are a fun fantasy element, but people are mentally preparing themselves for a world where they will need to fend for themselves.

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Is all this 'zombie' stuff just a laugh - or is there a real underlying feeling of worry about what to do when it all goes pearshaped?

If it is a response to a real worry, it is a very bizarre one. Of all the threats facing us, the dead rising from their graves is not one that I am worrying about. The classic movie zombie (slow, stupid, eats brains) is a very different proposition to what is likely to face you in the event of a real problem: if you get past starvation and dying of cold, your opponents are likely to be cunning and armed, and not interested in eating your brains.

If you want real training on how to shoot stuff, go and do practical shotgun. It is great fun and you can shoot pop up targets with a real large capacity shotgun.

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HOLA4410

Is all this 'zombie' stuff just a laugh - or is there a real underlying feeling of worry about what to do when it all goes pearshaped?

All horror taps into something fundamental - otherwise we wouldn't respond to it - but I don't think the current zombie craze is linked to anything specific to the present.

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HOLA4411

Ahhh the Mall

I play airsoft and have done some marshalling work for this company (First and Only Airsoft). They had previously hosted these games at there sites up North but that empty mall would be perfect for it.

That mall has been empty for years and is destined you remain so for a lot longer methinks, which isnt a bad thing in my book because it makes for an excellent airsoft site!

At 119 quid a pop it may seem quite expensive when compared to a days airsofting for circa 25/30 quid entry but the 'zombies' are trained actors and their make up is excellent

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If you want real training on how to shoot stuff, go and do practical shotgun. It is great fun and you can shoot pop up targets with a real large capacity shotgun.

...but your average ipod addicted inner city trendoid wouldn't like that - guns are for the armed forces, American right wingers or the British landed gentry, none of which they would wish to be associated with...

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Is all this 'zombie' stuff just a laugh - or is there a real underlying feeling of worry about what to do when it all goes pearshaped?

The average British young person isn't politically/economically aware enough to articulate their concerns in a rational way (and those who are would probably be worried they might be seen as 'right wing' if they did).

However, perhaps they have a vague understanding that things could go very wrong in society very quickly, which manages to filter through the haze of Ipods and reality tv, transforming on the way into 'zombie' fantasies.

Or am I over-analysing it? I'm sure there's a Professor of Zombie Studies at some former polytechnic who could enlighten me.

George Romero, the godfather of this sort of thing, specifically set his second zombie movie in a mall (Dawn of the Dead)

If you look upon zombies; perpetually hungry, poorly clothed mobs that need taking down, as a metaphor for the dispossessed poor the current spate of zombie-mania does nod towards a possible future.

It's not the iPod and reality TV numbed masses who are actually making the films and games though. They're just the ones lapping it up.

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George Romero, the godfather of this sort of thing, specifically set his second zombie movie in a mall (Dawn of the Dead)

If you look upon zombies; perpetually hungry, poorly clothed mobs that need taking down, as a metaphor for the dispossessed poor the current spate of zombie-mania does nod towards a possible future.

It's not the iPod and reality TV numbed masses who are actually making the films and games though. They're just the ones lapping it up.

+1

The stark contrast between haves (Mall residents) and have-nots (zombies) is a reasonable metaphor, especially when you consider the right wing economists' use of the word zombie: essentially those parasitically living off the state. Of course, we now have many "haves" doing the latter - bailed-out bankers, doctors, £99,999 income households, G4S & A4E executives and majority shareholders, MPs etc, but somewhere in there there are still people doing valid, self-supprting things off whom the rest are living.

Must admit, I had the zombie-paintball idea years ago. However, having witnessed the sheer glee with which some greet the decapitation / impalement / immolation etc of a zombie at the cinema, it was always my belief that it will only be a matter of time before some poor unsuspecting zombie actor gets seriously hurt by a participant making sure they are well and truly dead; head-shots strike me as a particular risk.

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HOLA4415

Unfortunately due to extraordinary demand, Zombie Shopping Mall is now sold out. We hope to offer more tickets/dates in the new year, but until then tickets are not available anywhere. We do, however, have other awesome zombie experiences....

Selling tickets to Sir Mervyn's interest rate announcements?

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HOLA4416

My wife bought me a ticket for Christmas. What can I say? We're zombie nuts in this house. We have an escape plan and everything.

Take the time to lace up your best running shoes and ignore the other non-zombies when they ask you why you are wasting time doing that.

Edited by Democorruptcy
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A chap made another zombie post on here the other day

I was watching The Walking Dead last night and it struck me that the UK is like that. Debtors are the zombies and they are all around me.

http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=186494&view=findpost&p=909230211

The UK's Zombie Economy

http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2012/01/19/the-u-k-s-zombie-economy/

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IMO that's where it's coming from, while things are pretty normal at the moment we all know that it wouldn't take much for all out anarchy to break out. Zombies are a fun fantasy element, but people are mentally preparing themselves for a world where they will need to fend for themselves.

I agree. The reason I like rural Australia is that I have learnt so much in the way of practical skills from the sort of people who are rather more likely to survive than your average NLP life coach twaddlista.

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George Romero, the godfather of this sort of thing, specifically set his second zombie movie in a mall (Dawn of the Dead)

If you look upon zombies; perpetually hungry, poorly clothed mobs that need taking down, as a metaphor for the dispossessed poor the current spate of zombie-mania does nod towards a possible future.

It's not the iPod and reality TV numbed masses who are actually making the films and games though. They're just the ones lapping it up.

+1 also.

Tomandlu - We also have a zombie escape plan in this house. It usually starts with a comment like "A zombie is coming in the room in 3 seconds, fast moving, what are you going to defend yourself with!" Answers range from guitar, chair etc, whatever's closest. While fun/slightly mental, it does hint towards how you'd cope in a real social breakdown situation. Planning to take the stairs out is an excellent idea and for that reason ground floor flats and bungalows should be avoided.

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HOLA4423
If you look upon zombies; perpetually hungry, poorly clothed mobs that need taking down, as a metaphor for the dispossessed poor the current spate of zombie-mania does nod towards a possible future.

A useful aspect of killing zombies is that they are as good as dead anyway so it's guilt free! It's not like killing real people.

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  • 4 weeks later...
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HOLA4424

Tomandlu - We also have a zombie escape plan in this house. It usually starts with a comment like "A zombie is coming in the room in 3 seconds, fast moving, what are you going to defend yourself with!" Answers range from guitar, chair etc, whatever's closest. While fun/slightly mental, it does hint towards how you'd cope in a real social breakdown situation. Planning to take the stairs out is an excellent idea and for that reason ground floor flats and bungalows should be avoided.

Our favourite zombie-based game is out doors. Basically, approach every parked car and corner and cautiously and safely check for zombies. Can get quite tense. Extra points for not looking like a twit whilst playing.

BTW back from the mall - good fun (not sure whether it was enhanced or diminished by the coppers having to turn up to escort ten lads from the mall who'd turned up pissed and consequently dangerous as well as being prats - that's over a grand of their money down the tube).

zombie1.jpg

To add a bit of forum relevance to this - not been to Reading for many years. The mall is, I'd guess, from the '70s. Not surprising it's closed - there is a huge new modern mall spanning both sides of the river about 100 yards away, and it was heaving as far as I could tell. Not just window shopping, since the restaurants were packed.

post-17279-0-89595500-1360082895_thumb.jpg

Edited by tomandlu
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