Zombie Outbreak: The Survivors
We've all seen the movies and the TV programmes - everyone knows that the ONLY way to kill a zombie is a direct head-shot. Shoot an arm or a leg, then it may slow down an approaching zombie, but if it is hungry for human flesh then it will just keep coming and coming!
Of course - with zombie survival games - it's very different. As the zombies are being played by real people - it's a bit much to expect your cast to be shot in the head with airsoft pellets or paintballs all for the sake of realism, so most events will have a strict "body-shots only" policy. Well not any more! N2FX have created zombie head masks that provide full protection to the actors while giving us the satisfaction of being able to shoot a zombie in the head! Armed with that knowledge - we had to go and visit them....
Of course - with zombie survival games - it's very different. As the zombies are being played by real people - it's a bit much to expect your cast to be shot in the head with airsoft pellets or paintballs all for the sake of realism, so most events will have a strict "body-shots only" policy. Well not any more! N2FX have created zombie head masks that provide full protection to the actors while giving us the satisfaction of being able to shoot a zombie in the head! Armed with that knowledge - we had to go and visit them....
We're ready to fight!
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Smoke and mist help create atmosphere
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Our sense of unease and fear started long before we even got to the event - the joining instructions were quite graphic and forthright and so after getting a little lost on the way - we were were scared as to what would happen to us when we turned up late!
We finally found our way to the security gate where two armed men stood awaiting our arrival. At the time we weren't sure if this was real or pretend as we were searched and frisked and roughly directed where to go and what to do. Beginning to think we had turned up at a secret military venue by accident we did exactly as we were told and stayed in our cars until the action started.
After a while, the area around us exploded in a frenzy of noise and shouting and as we spied our first "zombie! we slightly relaxed knowing that we were in the right place after all! This opening scene really set the tone for the whole event and was a great unexpected start to a day's paint-ball. To say any more would spoil the surprise!
As with all survival events, it is important that everyone is fully briefed in the safe use of the equipment. Paintball by its very nature can be quite dangerous and the appropriate warnings and guidance were all given in an educational and formal manner while warning us of the dangers of the zombie infection. A full demonstration of the head-shot policy followed which looked possibly painful for the actor but we were reassured that it was perfectly safe. Armed with a massive gun and covered head to toe in safety wear - we were raring to go!
Once out in the main playing area, the day was divided into 5 or 6 mini games which each involved a different scenario (for example - collect the antidote or search for spare ammo). Each game gave us the chance to work in teams and put all of our skills into practise while running round a large area besieged by zombies. The play area itself is suitably massive and is filled with handy barriers, makeshift defences and trees to hide behind. The problem is, the zombies can hide behind them too!
So what about those zombies? The pictures in this article don't really do them justice as the masks are very impressive and when suddenly confronted by one of them coming towards you - you certainly feel intimidated. The masks plus all the extra padding makes the zombies look quite big and ominous, and with their cumbersome walk, they were like old school zombies from a 70's movie - exactly how zombies should be! And as for those helmets? they worked a treat as we all experienced a strange feeling of exhilaration every time we finished a creature off with a head shot. This was what we had come for and it never got boring!
The action throughout was fast and furious and we were all grateful for the breaks between games to give us a chance to grab a drink and top up our ammo supplies. By the time the event drew to a close, we were bruised and exhausted but also proud that we had kept the zombie apocalypse at bay - at least for another day.
We finally found our way to the security gate where two armed men stood awaiting our arrival. At the time we weren't sure if this was real or pretend as we were searched and frisked and roughly directed where to go and what to do. Beginning to think we had turned up at a secret military venue by accident we did exactly as we were told and stayed in our cars until the action started.
After a while, the area around us exploded in a frenzy of noise and shouting and as we spied our first "zombie! we slightly relaxed knowing that we were in the right place after all! This opening scene really set the tone for the whole event and was a great unexpected start to a day's paint-ball. To say any more would spoil the surprise!
As with all survival events, it is important that everyone is fully briefed in the safe use of the equipment. Paintball by its very nature can be quite dangerous and the appropriate warnings and guidance were all given in an educational and formal manner while warning us of the dangers of the zombie infection. A full demonstration of the head-shot policy followed which looked possibly painful for the actor but we were reassured that it was perfectly safe. Armed with a massive gun and covered head to toe in safety wear - we were raring to go!
Once out in the main playing area, the day was divided into 5 or 6 mini games which each involved a different scenario (for example - collect the antidote or search for spare ammo). Each game gave us the chance to work in teams and put all of our skills into practise while running round a large area besieged by zombies. The play area itself is suitably massive and is filled with handy barriers, makeshift defences and trees to hide behind. The problem is, the zombies can hide behind them too!
So what about those zombies? The pictures in this article don't really do them justice as the masks are very impressive and when suddenly confronted by one of them coming towards you - you certainly feel intimidated. The masks plus all the extra padding makes the zombies look quite big and ominous, and with their cumbersome walk, they were like old school zombies from a 70's movie - exactly how zombies should be! And as for those helmets? they worked a treat as we all experienced a strange feeling of exhilaration every time we finished a creature off with a head shot. This was what we had come for and it never got boring!
The action throughout was fast and furious and we were all grateful for the breaks between games to give us a chance to grab a drink and top up our ammo supplies. By the time the event drew to a close, we were bruised and exhausted but also proud that we had kept the zombie apocalypse at bay - at least for another day.
Prepare for a head shot!
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One of our team didn't run fast enough!
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Of course, events like this are just meant for fun but how scary and realistic was it? Certainly the realism was as close as you would expect to a real zombie attack, Played in the daylight, the experience lacked a few scares that we might have experienced at night time but fortunately the team have a plan for this. Their next event is called Zombie Outbreak: Fear the Dark and will start later in the day and continue as the evening gets darker.
So if you've always wanted to kill a zombie by shooting it directly in the head, you should definitely check out Zombie Outbreak.
So if you've always wanted to kill a zombie by shooting it directly in the head, you should definitely check out Zombie Outbreak.
Season 3 of the Walking Dead is rumoured to be set in Stafford!
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This zombie wants to eat our brains!
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The first Fear the Dark event will be held on Wednesday October 31st. Click here for more details
All pictures were taken with full permission from the team at Zombie Survival and Project Paintball
All pictures were taken with full permission from the team at Zombie Survival and Project Paintball
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