Humans vs. Zombies invades Ball State

Forget Hollywood’s gore and chainsaws, this battle was waged with socks and NERF Blasters.

More than 100 students and alumni arrived from across the Midwest to fight back the zombie horde that invaded Ball State on Saturday during the Urban Gaming League's 4th annual Fall Humans vs. Zombies Invitational.

“Humans vs. Zombies in its most basic essence is big game of tag … There’s a human side and a zombie side,” Robert Brooks, the invitational event organizer, said. “Most people start on the human side ... and as the game goes on, more people get tapped to become zombies.”

The two sides differentiate themselves by their bandanas, humans wear them on their arms and zombies on their heads.

Humans used NERF style guns and swords, but also were able to use socks to “stun” the zombies for set period of time, temporarily removing them from play.

HvZ games typically feature missions for players to complete throughout the day ranging from holding positions to capturing objectives.

Planning the event is something that moderators do far in advance. Brooks, along with a committee of other students, started building the invitational throughout the summer. Brooks oversaw everything from writing the storyline, promotion and registering participants.

Ball State student Pietre Nordell, a former moderator and participant in this year’s invitational, said he loved planning and writing the aspects of the game more than the action.

“I’m able to tell a story and adapt to that story as the game goes on … it’s a reactive form of storytelling,” Nordell said.

Nordell said that as a moderator, you have to be able to adapt to any situation that might present itself during the game. Anything from missing actors to the weather, which Brooks found out first hand Saturday, with the inclement weather that moved through campus throughout the afternoon.

For many in HVZ, though, it is nothing new. Everything from rain to sweltering heat to snowstorms during the fall and spring seasons make a challenge for moderators who need to incorporate the conditions for an outside game.

“You can’t predict everything, but like if something happens that way throws things off, you got to be able to make a call on something, get people straight on the rules,” Brooks said.

Players weren’t deterred by the 2 to 5 p.m. rain delay, as many sat awaiting the ban on play to be lifted.

That dedicated fan base was formed because, for many, HvZ is more than just a game.

“My earliest memory of HvZ was a large guy yelling at me to tie my shoe and start shooting the zombies,” Devin Smith, a Ball State student and a four-year HVZ member, said.

“I love the diversity in the gameplay," he added. "Humans have a lot of tactics and teamwork, but it changes when you are tagged … It's fun on either side with some really interesting story lines.”

The players get to know each other quickly because when they meet, they find other people talking about similar interests. The game forces participants to coordinate, leading to cooperation and conversation. Even members from other schools are pretty close with HvZ members at Ball State, Nordell said.

“Purdue’s HvZ group comes here twice a year, and we go there at least twice for different events, so we get to know each other pretty well,” he said.

The Urban Gaming League will continue its annual HvZ play in October for its regular fall season, which starts Oct. 24 and continues through Oct. 29.

See more of the Humans vs. Zombies Invitational through this photo gallery.