Admit it -- you've spent many a night glued to your Xbox, playing Dead Rising and fantasizing about saving the city from a zombie apocalypse. Who hasn't?
Sadly, real life is rarely as exciting as Zombieland (although, with our resident face-eaters, Miami is about as close as it gets).
But buckle your seatbelts, Miami, because you're about to experience zombie combat firsthand. No TV screens or computer monitors involved, just epic live-action role-playing. Like standing on the Holodeck of the Starship Enterprise, you'll be able to step into your favorite videogame when The Undercover Unit opens its doors.
See also:
- Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide
- How to Survive Miami's Zombie Apocalypse, According to Zombie Expert Jonathan Maberry
The project of actor/writer/producer/director/ex-law-enforcement officer and all-around renaissance dude Tony Slade, the 19,500-foot interactive experience is designed to bring your fantasies to life.
Every six to eight months they'll roll out a new adventure, and Slade already has eight ideas in the works. First on the agenda: Zombie Outbreak extraordinaire.
"A terrorist organization has uploaded a video to social sites, and if you've watched it, you turn into a zombie. Our customers are the survivors, and their mission is that there's a computer programmer who's trapped inside a building. They have to go save him and escort him to the mainframe to upload a file and save the world," Slade describes.
The experience comes complete with actors, lights, sounds, music, zip lines, trip wires, explosions, airsoft weapons, grenades, and even hidden clues, Resident Evil-style. Critical thinking is key, Slade says, so participants need to stay alert.
"We've hired a composer, and they've created an entire score for the adventure. When you're going through it, the music will be timed to the actions that you're doing," Slade says. "We've set it up now where it's exactly like living a videogame. You can even save your progress at certain spots in game zone."
They're still finalizing details, but the game's likely locale is at the corner of Flagler Street and First Street -- the 777 International Mall. They're looking to take over the whole top floor and an old-school former restaurant in the basement.
"It's a 1.5-hour adventure, and we're offering a lot of accessories to enhance the game. Claymore mines, air grenades, valet parking, and all those kinds of things. We'll have a souvenir DVD they can purchase as well," Slade adds.
In addition, they'll offer the space for use in law enforcement training exercises and corporate bonding.
So get your zombie-killing game face on (before an undead brains-muncher chews it off). The epic adventures are (tentatively) set to kick off in April. Tickets for May are already on sale, and they cost $72.95.
Check out the Undercover Unit's website and Facebook page for more details.
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