‘Humans vs. Zombies’ sweeps nation’s college campuses (your parents are so proud)
Oct 25, 2011, 2:20 PM EDT
OK, it’s Humans vs. Zombies, a game played on any college campus where slackers and goof-offs are looking for stuff to do instead of going to class (in other words, your school). Here are the basic rules: 1. Zombies must act like the undead. If one tags a human, that human becomes a zombie. 2. Zombies must “feed” (tag a human) at least once every 48 hours, or they die. 3. Humans can “stun” zombies by shooting them with foam bullets from Nerf guns, or by hitting them with rolled-up socks.
Forgive me for just finding out about this, but the Humans vs. Zombies phenomenon has been around since 2005, when it was invented by two Goucher College (near Baltimore) students. It’s since grown in epidemic fashion, with versions being played in schools all over the U.S. and in several other nations. There have been Humans vs. Zombies-themed weddings, HvZ products, and there’s even a Humans vs. Zombies movie coming out in November.
Two noteworthy examples in the news today, both involving schools known as OSU:
There’s a game occurring as I type this at Oklahoma State. Twitter messages from the front lines:
@CSJames13: Humans vs zombies day 1: I am still alive, I’ve completed my first mission. The zombies are multiplying.
@QuinnSims: just got caught in the middle of humans vs. zombies #scaredformylife #getoffcampus.
@TheGweiLow: This zombies vs. humans game s*** is getting real. It’s about to go down.
Oregon State is in town for a matchup with the Washington State Cougars on Saturday. But when the Beavers booked their hotel, likely out of convenience, they probably should’ve checked the other events. You see, Oregon State grabbed a hotel near the airport, and just south of downtown Seattle, only to discover zombies on arrival.
What, that doesn’t make sense? We should be more panicked because of a zombie infestation in Seattle? Oh, right … it’s zomBcon.
What doesn’t makes sense is Oregon State playing Washington State in Seattle. But then I’ll never get used to saying “the Pac-12″ either.
Photo courtesy of Maxistentialist.
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- winkeroni - Oct 26, 2011 at 11:30 AM
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I’ve seen them play it because I work at a college campus. I am perplexed by it because it seems completely harmless. It’s not like guys walking around with super soakers shouting zombie at attractive women while shooting them with their super soakers.
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- dowhatifeellike - Oct 27, 2011 at 4:21 PM
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It’s a great way for students to spend their down time and meet/flee from new people. Certain places are usually designated as safe zones like classrooms, dining halls, and bathrooms, so it’s not like they’re causing a scene anywhere.
