The backyard game capture the flag now has a new twist thanks to the Urban Gaming Club.
On Friday, the Urban Gaming Club will sponsor a Nerf capture the flag event at Alumni Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m, as a part of LateNight activities put on by the Student Programming Association.
“The night will consist of several short games, the longest being 10 minutes,” Zack Smith (junior-physics), a member of the rules council with the Urban Gaming Club, said.
President of the Urban Gaming Club, Hetty Nie, said that people will trickle in and out as the night goes on and that the types of games played will depend on the amount of people present.
“We need 20 people to play team games such as Nerf capture the flag,” Nie said. If there are not enough people, other smaller Urban Gaming Club games will be played, Nie (senior-bioengineering) said.
These events can attract up to 100 people on a good night, Smith said, but he expects that there will be at least 20 to 40 people there at all times based on past Nerf capture the flag events held at the HUB-Robeson Center.
“We will probably play smaller games in the beginning, when people are just coming in, and toward the end when people are tired out,” Nie said.
The Urban Gaming Club began in 2007 mainly to play one of its other popular game, Human vs. Zombies, Smith said. Since then, the Club has evolved to incorporate numerous other games such as both Nerf and non-Nerf capture the flag.
But the Urban Gaming Club is not just another gaming club.
“When you hear gaming, the first thought is video games inside, but urban gaming is gaming outdoors, anywhere, not necessarily in buildings,” Smith said.
Nie said that the term Urban, when added to gaming, means that games are played in city areas, not just open fields.
“We are very active and by active, I mean running,” Nie said.
Isaiah Troche (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) has never played capture the flag before, but when he heard Nerf Guns were involved, his response was, “I mean, who doesn’t love Nerf guns?”
For the event on Friday, no experience is necessary to participate. The only requirement it that all participants must wear sneakers. Nerf blasters and extra darts will be available for loan from the Urban Gaming Club. A rolled up ball of socks can substitute for a nerf blaster, Smith said.
As serious as the competition might get in Alumni Hall on Friday, it's all friendly.
“We are here to have fun, stop by for five minutes, or stay the whole night,” Smith said. “It's a good time, you meet great people, and you use the excuse, ‘Hey, I'm exercising.’”
