Humans vs. Zombies (HvZ) is an annual campus-wide game of tag that is returning to Stevenson on April 11-18 to test the wits and agility of its players.

It has become a spring semester tradition at Stevenson University for the Video Games Club, with the collaboration of other clubs, to host a week-long event called “Humans versus Zombies,” also known as “HvZ.” This year the International Student Association (ISA) will co-host.

Information sessions will be held on March 27 and March 29, and sign-ups will be held a week before the start of HvZ.

The event is a variation of the game of tag but with the use of Nerf blasters. To start, the moderators choose one individual to be the “original” zombie. The goal for the original zombie is to tag as many humans as possible to add to the zombie pack. The goal for all zombies is to tag as many humans as possible throughout the week. If a zombie fails to tag a human for 48 hours, the zombie “starves out” of the game. The goal for the humans is to avoid any contact with the zombies and to stay alive. That is where the Nerf blasters come in.

The weapons that humans can use to defend themselves against zombies are Nerf blasters and sock grenades, weapons that must be approve by the HvZ committee. Players are also required to wear bandanas that have the word “human” on one side with “zombie” on the reverse. When humans are tagged, they must switch their bandana over to “zombie” and wear it on their forehead.

Free-play zones, safe zones, and off-limit zones will be marked off and explained during the information sessions. Free-play zones include sidewalks, resident quads, and any open areas; this includes parking lots, though students are cautioned to be careful around parked cars. Safe zones include the outside entrances and overhangs of academic buildings, residence halls, Ratcliffe Community Center, Rockland Marketplace, and Pandini’s. Off-limit zones include the inside of academic buildings and residence halls, the stadium, gyms, sports fields, and the mailroom.

Norman Greenwell, a sophomore legal studies major and second-year HvZ player, said that his first-year experience was “incredible.” Greenwell was able to remain a human throughout the entire week of HvZ last year and is determined to do so again. He said that those who are on team can share ammo, grenades, and blasters.” Greenwell added, “You can watch each other’s backs and have eyes and ears everywhere.” By doing this, teams can band together and take out larger threats.

Jonathan Kuchinskas, a senior film and moving image major and one of the HvZ moderators, suggests to “group up” as soon as possible when beginning the game. He has advice for HvZ first-timers: “The most important thing to remember while playing is that you are playing a game and the point is to make friends and have fun.”

For more information about Humans vs. Zombies, visit the game’s official website https://humansvszombies.org/ or contact game moderators Kuchinskas, Priscilla Williams, and David Warner through Stevenson email. A promotional video made by SUTV was also uploaded last year to motivate the participants.