In keeping with our fetish for zombie related material, I downloaded Zombie, Run from the Android Marketplace to do some “real-life” zombie hunting.
Zombie, Run is a trans-reality GPS enabled application for Android based mobile phones like the T-Mobile’s G1 and myTouch G3. Upon opening the app, you are prompted to choose several options:
Type of Outbreak (density) -
Controlled
Early Local Infestation
Late Local Infestation
Total Pandemic
Type of Zombie (speed) -
Night of the Living Dead (2 mph)
Resident Evil (5 mph)
28 Days Later (8 mph)
Brains, brains....
The app then queries Google Maps using the GPS radio in the phone to get your actual location. Next, you choose the location on the map where to want to try to get to before the zombies “find you”.
The ‘zombie hoard’ is over layed onto the map and, well, you better get booking. The idea get to the flagged area by avoiding the zombies. Zombies that are green on the map haven’t noticed you. Red zombies however have caught your scent and are actively chasing you down. As you move, the map updated in real time as the zombies zero in on your position. They aim to eat your brains and possibly your mobile minutes.
The game is pretty straight forward. No real strategies to imply. Just keep the zombies on the map from getting you. The game is better played with a group of people who are ready to buy into the fun of it all. Since the zombies really don’t exist except for on the mobile device’s map, the threat presented by the zombies is dependent on the willingness of the players to play up the scenario. I played it with my grandson and we got ate because we had to “look both ways before crossing the street”. In a real zombie outbreak, I doubt we would have stopped at a empty street just to look both ways ;0)
