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Show Signpost Friday, June 6, 1986 15 The Ultimate Game, more fun than worry for players by Robert Potts Staff Reporter Remember the childhood game of Steal the Flag? Capture the opponent's flag, make it back to your own side, and you win. If you get touched by a person on the opposite team, you're out. Well, as our world advances in technology, so have the games we played when we were children. Today, Steal the Flag (or the Ultimate Game, as it is called now) is played with combat pistols that shoot detergent pellets powered by Co2 cartridges, while players dress in the top line of camouflage wear. A game popularized by the movie Gotcha with the fantasy excitement of Rambo, the Ultimate Game draws and involves college students from around the state. One such place catering to students' Ultimate Game needs is located at Hobble Creek near Spr-ingville, Utah. Once you arrive at Hobble Creek, Ted Rose, director and owner of the Ultimate Game enterprise, conducts a 10-minute safety seminar and issues protective goggles. Rose explains the rules, which are quite simple: no fighting or abusive language; if you are shot in the arm or leg, return to your flag and you may continue to play; a fatal hit is between the collarbone and groin and will eliminate you from the game; once a player is hit, he must say he is hit and raise his hands so he isn't shot while returning to his base flag. Rose stressed the object of the game isn't to shoot people but to capture your opponent's flag. The Ultimate Game is filled with excitement, and in a half day, I was able to play five of the adventurous games as we tried to steal each other's flag. During the first game, I was learning the dos and don'ts. Believe me, it's not good to run into the open . . . trees and bushes start shooting at you from everywhere. Getting shot at gets the heart pumping, just as shooting at someone else does. But after the first shot hit me in the arm, the adrenalin really started to flow. A player knows when he is hit since the detergent pellets have a tendency to leave welts. But despite the sting, the pellets will not penetrate the skin. I learned quickly. It is to a player's advantage to hide in the trees; branches work wonders for protection. It is also important to remain still. Movement gives away a player's position more than anything. My team lost the first two games, and I wasn't doing so well either. I received two fatal shots one in the chest, the other in the shoulder blade, the best spot to be shot in since it hurts the least. Down 2-0, we changed locations for the next game which was a jungle-type area, mostly covered by scrub oak. My team fared a lot better this time. Unfortunately, I ended up sitting out this game because I got a little excited and wound up surrendering. After missing a great shot about 10 feet away from my target, the man turned around and pointed his gun toward me. Since I really didn't feel like getting shot point blank, I gave up. At the end of the game, the guy told me his gun wasn't loaded. That certainly made me feel good. However, my team captured the flag, and that is what was important. During the next .game, four . of us started out together for awhile. The number was reduced to three after I was hit in the knee. I ran back, touched the flag to re-enter the game, took three steps, and was shot on the collarbone. After sitting down for a couple of minutes wondering where the pellet came from, I went to the referee. The shot was ruled too high, and I was back in the game. This time, I was ready and looking at every twig and blade of grass before I moved. Having taken my share of lumps, I decided the object of the game was not to get shot grabbing the flag. I had a good position and was just in time to cover my teammate as he ran by with our opponents' flag. With both teams tied at 2-2, it was time for lunch, (see TEACHES on page 16) Lincoln national Life Proudly announces the appointment of I Todd Anderson to the management program of the Lincoln national Sales Corp. of Utah, Idaho, and Montana n LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE Lincoln national Life b a diversified rtnanclal Services Corporation. 3544 Lincoln Ave. 621-8121 n : , 'f ; - & v AY Staff reporter Robert Potts reloads his pellet gun as he participates in the Ultimate Game. mi, nini M m "' " I |