Zombies is an infectious, large-scale, outdoor survival game where the goal for survivors is to survive to the end without being infected and the goal for zombies is to infect everyone
Survivors have a health bar that is constantly counting down and they need to pick up health packs to stay alive, otherwise they become a zombie. Survivors get 1pt for every 10 seconds they stay alive, plus a bonus for every health pack they use. Zombies get a bounty for every survivor they infect, and infecting is done using bluetooth, or optionally by physical tagging
What is Zombies like?
High pressure or slightly scary
Dynamic energetic movement
Think on your feet & adapt to the situation
Smartphone with data, bluetooth, camera and GPS
Bluetooth is used to infect other players at distance and the camera is used to scan other player's QR codes to directly infect them when they are tagged (if 'Biting' is switched on). Sometimes using a low power mode can prevent GPS from working, so make sure your battery is charged or you have some power banks available
PlayCulture App
You don't need an account to play, we don't collect any private data and we don't show ads. It's worth remembering that it is possible to interact with other app users through our Groups, Events or Chat features
If you're playing in a space that other people also have access to, we'd suggest having your players wear sports bibs, or other recognisable uniform
Because Zombies is about hunting and chasing you should take care to make sure onlookers understand that what's happening is part of a game. If all players are wearing the same clothing, that should be totally clear
FAQ
During the game, how can you tell if another player is a zombie?
In the simplest version of the game you have to use your intuition to judge whether someone is acting like a zombie, but you can also use reversible vests or headbands that players flip over when they are infected if you want to have a visual cue.
How do infection bounties work? I thought I got more points for my infections during the game!
When you successfully infect a survivor you get a bounty. If the longest surviving player scored 100 points, then your bounty for each infection would be 25 points, so a zombie who infects 4 other players scores the same amount as a survivor who survived to the end. If no one survives to the end (and the total game time is reduced) then the bounty amount is adjusted to maintain this ratio
What's the best way to explain the game to new players?
Link them to the player introduction video at the top of this page, and take a look at our example welcome script in the Resources section below
Can I use this app as part of my business?
Yes! Our mission is to get more people playing fantastic games, so if you're an individual or sole trader and you want to support yourself by running these events, that's totally fine. If you are planning to do this we'd appreciate you joining our Patreon to help support the project. If you're a private company or other organisation then please get in touch first
Safety
Remember this is not an exhaustive list of advice and you need to make your own safety assessments and communicate any important info to your players before you begin. In particular they should never blindly follow any instruction given to them by a mobile app or by other players. You are responsible for the safety of yourself, your players and anyone else around you.
In particular consider the space you are playing in, especially if it is not a private or enclosed space, or if there are hazards within your playable area. Only play in safe locations where you have permission to do so.
Don't forget to make your players aware that the PlayCulture App does not know everything about their surroundings and might suggest or encourage them to perform an action or access an area that is unsafe.
