How to Play Infection Tag

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Infection Tag, also known as Virus Tag and Zombie Tag, is a fun game to play with a large group of people! There is no special equipment. All that is needed are players and space! [1] While tag is best played outdoors, you can also play an indoors Hide-and-Go-Seek variation of this fun game. Watch out for the Infected. Try to win and be the Last Survivor!

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Playing Infection Tag

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    The more, the better. You'll usually need a group of at least four, but ten or more is preferred. The more the merrier!
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    You don't want your game spilling across the street and through the neighborhood. Set clear boundaries about how far players can run and hide. You'll want to give players room to run, but not too much space that the game gets boring.
    • Be careful to avoid trespassing on other people's property.
    • You may want to make certain potentially dangerous areas off-limits.
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    This person will be your first Infected. You can either randomly select a person to be "It", or a fast and skilled player can volunteer or be nominated. Don't force a slow or unskilled player to be "It". This can be mean and wouldn't be fun for anyone.
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    While closing their eyes, the person who is "It" will count to 30 and give the rest of the players time to run and hide. [2]
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    The person who is it will tag and infect other players. When another player is tagged, they are also infected. Once this occurs, they switch sides and begin to try to tag others. Uninfected players can ask if any other player is infected. If a player is infected, they must declare that they are.
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    Keep playing until everyone is infected. The last person tagged is declared the winner. Then the game starts over, usually with the last person being the new Infected.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Trying Variations

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    This variation works especially well if you need to play inside and can't run or risk damaging anything. Rather than chasing people, the person who is "It" merely needs to find them. Once found, a player assists the Infected person in finding other players. Last player found wins!
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    In this variation, the original Infected is allowed to run as they normally would, but tagged players can only walk like a zombie, and must make zombie noises and moans when chasing other players.
    • This variation removes the need to ask other players if they are also infected - they'll be moaning and shuffling like a zombie!
    • This can also add an interesting element of strategy. Since zombie players can't move quickly, they need to work together to trap other players.
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    This works well in really big houses and buildings as well, where running would be frowned upon. Since you shouldn't be running indoors, players are limited to walking when chasing and attempting to escape each other.
    • When walking, at least one foot must always be on the ground.
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    This variation is more complicated in that it requires everyone to have a stopwatch or phone with a stopwatch app, but it can be a lot of fun. When tagged, players are infected for a set amount of time (usually 3 or 5 minutes). If this time elapses without everyone being caught, players are "cured" once their timer is up, and need to be tagged once more!
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  • Question
    Who is the infected after the first game is over?
    Community Answer
    The person who gets infected first is usually the person who starts as infected in the next game.
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  • Question
    Can the infected individuals split up?
    Community Answer
    Yes, they can go anywhere in the boundaries. They do not have to stay together unless you want to make up your own version and play it like that.
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  • Question
    When was this game invented?
    Community Answer
    I am pretty sure infection tag was invented when the Diary of a Wimpy Kid idea Cheese Touch came out.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-135337/How-play-tag-chase-games.html
      2. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-135337/How-play-tag-chase-games.html

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