Slippery Rock University’s chapter of the Urban Gaming Club travelled with five members to Penn State University’s Humans vs. Zombies invitational last weekend, an event that garners hundreds of people from different schools each year.
Sophomore political science major, Jared Bonaminio, 21, travelled to Penn State University to participate in its chapter of Urban Gaming Club’s sixth annual invitational, where they took 11th place.
Bonaminio joined the Urban Gaming Club three years ago, and has been to both Ohio State University and Penn State University’s invitationals in the past.
“There’s one thing you have to understand about Humans vs. Zombies, and that is that zombies always win,” he said.
President of UGC and senior public relations and creative writing major, Aristotle Piso, 23, said that in comparison to their game, which lasts nine days, the invitationals are boiled down to two days, which amplifies their intensity.
“I recall one invitational at Penn State, where we were at an intersection, and zombies were coming from at us from every direction,” Piso said. “We all hid in the bushes between the pathways, and when the zombies found us, we all took off in different directions, and although we didn’t see each other for hours, we ended up making it through the entirety of the game.”
Piso said that the most common misconception about their game is that it’s nerdy and for a niche group.
“Everyone has something different they can bring to the game,” Piso said. “Whether it’s stealth or speed, it gives everyone the opportunity to play up their strengths. It also gives adults the opportunity to have fun outside with their friends.
Bonaminio said that unlike Penn State’s game, SRU’s Humans vs. Zombies match is undiversified.
“In Penn State, there are nerds, athletes and fraternities and sororities who get involved with the game and have a blast,” He said. “I’d really like to see more of that here. We’d like to get 100 new people so that we can make that diversification happen.”
In order to move toward that diversification, Piso worked hours on amendments to UGC’s rulebook, which included two types of missions instead of one. Bonaminio also said that the group has added special infected, which is based off of the videogame, Left 4 Dead, and a segment based off of Nazi Zombies, to appeal to Call of Duty players.
Piso also said that he’d like to reach out and involve more clubs in game making decisions for UGC.
“We’d like to start up quidditch again, and will be in touch with the club Dumbledore’s Army soon,” he said.
The official Humans vs. Zombies game will take place from April 20-29 after night classes, and a recommended introductory meeting will take place tonight from 8-10 p.m. in Advanced Technology and Science Building 132.
