By: Emma Brill
At OBU, Humans Vs. Zombies are a very prominent part of campus life. The game allows for a sense of unity between everyone involved that is unable to be accomplished inside the classroom alone. With life-or-death odds, the game of Nerf guns and bandanas brings out the fun side of every member who plays.
Students and staff are encouraged to play, but there are a few basic rules to follow. Game moderator Piker Butler explains the rules.
“There are Humans and Zombies. The Humans’ goal is to survive and be the last one standing. The Zombies’ goal is to tag the Humans and turn them into Zombies. The Humans wield Nerf guns, and if they shoot the Zombies, the Zombies are frozen for two minutes, allowing them to make it inside where they cannot be tagged,” Butler said.
To add to those rules, notorious Humans Vs Zombies player Dr. Keith Hess (associate professor of religious education) said “the game is played outdoors, not indoors. The last standing Human wins, and off campus is out of play.”
With the rules set in place, the games are ready to be played. However, this year’s theme put a spin on the competition.
“This year’s theme has been Mafia. So both the Humans and the Zombies have a Don, or a leader of their crime family. This has led to new strategies and competition like no other year since I have been here,” Butler said (see above photo from Campus Activities Instagram).
Dr. Hess said the psychological toll this has taken on every player.
“The set up made people less willing to switch sides from Zombie to Human and Human to Zombie. Before, people were willing to just flow freely back and forth. But this time, it was viewed as a betrayal if you switched from Zombie to Human. Or a big loss if you lost a member of your family to the Zombies,” Hess said.
As either a moderator or a player, both Butler and Hess have their favorite memories of Humans Vs. Zombies. Butler can enjoy the game from an outsider’s perspective.
“My favorite memory has been running the games. As a moderator, I can watch both chats and see the chaos unfold,” Butler said.
Hess said he can speak from personal experience from his years of participating.
“My favorite memory is going around with different people- the faculty and the students- and hiding out with them, sneaking up on people, running away from Zombies, whatever the case may be, and just hanging out with people through the game,” Hess said. “The memories that I’ll have of getting to know those people and playing the game with them would be my favorite part,” he added. This, of course, is only a close second to his win from last year.
With all their experience, both Butler and Hess give their own opinion on the game, along with advice.
“I think Humans Vs. Zombies is a must-play event at OBU because of the involvement of the professors. In no other event are you able to compete against and work with the professors and have fun,” Butler said. For his piece of wisdom, the moderator advises to “never trust the moderators.”
Hess has his encouragement for members to be involved in the game.
“It helps you make connections with other people. So, if you want to get to know people on campus, this is a good way to do that. I’ve met so many students that I never probably would have met otherwise,” Hess says. For any Human player, Dr. Hess’s advice is, “Don’t be alone. You can go outside, but don’t be alone. And if you’re a Zombie, don’t give up. Just be patient.”
With so many great reasons to play Humans Vs. Zombies- why not join in on the fun? The winner this year was Hayden Forest, but the title next year is up for anyone to take.
