I first heard of Humans vs. Zombies, or HvZ, my first semester of college. Someone mentioned the game, but I didn't hear too much about it or understand how it worked. I'm just glad that my RA remembered I had shown interest in it, and he was the one who told me that a friend told him the game was beginning soon.

As I am one who likes to try new things and get involved on campus, I signed up, bought an oversized Nerf blaster, and showed up for one of the orientations, and I consider it one of the best choices I made in college.

HvZ is a fun community game that can be a bit silly in its design, but I gained a lot from it. The game allowed me to meet a diverse grouping of people I now consider friends, from first-year students to alumni. The friendships found there solidify quickly because, in the mechanics of the game, you have to trust strangers with your life.

They are watching your back, defending you when you're down, and standing with you during ambushes and attacks. You plan rendezvous so that you don't walk alone, and you fall into roles, allowing natural or learned leaders to step forward and trusting in their judgments when they tell you to do something with little argument.

It also has effects on you. First off, the game involves a lot of physical activity. You are either running away from or running after people, so by the end of it, you are in better shape than you were when you began. I once sprinted across campus after Final Stand to make it back to my residence hall for Hall Council.

Secondly, the game demands a high level of attention and awareness from you. You have to stay focused and observant of your surroundings at all times of play, so you'll find yourself having improved situational awareness as the game goes on. The smaller effects are better marksmanship, reflexes and reaction time, split-second decision-making skills, strategizing, and improved motion perception.

Every semester, I look forward to playing the game because there are friends I don't see until it starts up again, gained skills I want to put to the test, and my weekly dose of adrenaline that's not due to academic stress. Sure, it makes it a bit more difficult to juggle my responsibilities, my work, and the game, but it is worth it. If you are ever interested, see if there is a game like this in your area. Quite a few universities and areas host their own, and if you play right, you will enjoy yourself.