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so there's a COVID-19 outbreak simulator on Steam now
- Thread starter awake4ages
- Start date
GOG.COM on Twitter
“As the leader of the Global Health Organization (GHO) your task is to contain the spread of a coronavirus. COVID: The Outbreak –10% | https://t.co/FayeZkjBcL 20% of @JujubeeGames's game sales (May-June) will be donated towards vaccine development.”
twitter.com
We've been turning horrible world events into gristle for the entertainment mill for decades now. WW2, WW1, the Gulf Wars. Is it especially surprising that the same would happen with Covid-19?
OP
OP
That's pretty cool they're donating toward vaccine development though
Of course there is. People always try to capitalize on a pandemic through crappy entertainment.
Just look up the Corona Zombies movies. Yes, movies. There's two of them now, with a third planned.
Just look up the Corona Zombies movies. Yes, movies. There's two of them now, with a third planned.
According to the description you're trying to stop the virus you aren't the virus.
It seems to be based, UI wise at least, on another game they made.
As long as it's treated respectfully and reinforcing basic awareness of how the virus works, i don't really see an issue.
developer livestream of gameplay:
steamcommunity.com
i dunno, seems okay so far
looks to be a pretty standard simulation type game
Steam Community :: Ana :: Broadcast
i dunno, seems okay so far
looks to be a pretty standard simulation type game
I saw that, but it could be just their engine.
And there's plenty of games basing on Afghanistan war too.
And I don't play this games. I think in the current climate it's disgusting nothing else. Could have been named any virus (I don't think it was based on Covid at first) and it would have been fine. Now the bank on the name and the situation and I don't like this. But to each their own.
developer livestream of gameplay:
Steam Community :: Ana :: Broadcast
i dunno, seems okay so far
looks to be a pretty standard simulation type game
That...looks pretty damn good.
I haven't watched any gameplay, but if done respectfully, it could be a tool for education. So many people in many countries think that the virus is just a hoax, so this could be benefitial.
4 months ago Changed store name Zombie World Apocalypse › Zombie World Coronavirus Apocalypse
Guess they changed name and release date to profit from this.
um, this is in really poor taste tbh. Educational??
As for part of it going to research, I mean you can just donate directly and the developers could have chosen any other theme (zombies?) if they HAD to ship the game to stay afloat.
um, this is in really poor taste tbh. Educational??
How is that poor taste?
It's simulating real-world propaganda circling around COVID and forcing the player to integrate that into their treatment plan.
Much like with anti-vaxxers, governments and health organizations have to deal with misinformation making some populations unwilling to practice safe measures (masks, social distancing, etc.).
Like in this screen with the choice to go on with Carnival or not, it's up to the player to play it smart or face the consequences of poor choices.
Isn't plague inc the direct opposite of what you're trying to do here.
This actually looks like a real game and not some quick, shitty asset flip or low effort flash game.
They're adding a "fight the disease" mode to Plague Inc but ultimately wasn't Plague Inc just the opposite of Pandemic, the board game?
There should be a COVID version of The Last of Us where you crab-walk in stealth everywhere, but due to social distancing requirements you can't get close enough to stab anyone. No guns either. So you must find other creative ways to subdue your enemies and scavenge their toilet paper rolls.
Yeah, the game description page seems really thoughtful as well.
The world we live in is currently enveloped by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. This lingering disease is a formidable opponent and we all have to be aware that it is going to stay with us for a little while before a vaccine is developed. This brings us to the topic at hand as Jujubee would like to declare its participation in fighting this coronavirus head-on. We've decided that 20% of all our net Steam sales throughout the month of May and June will be donated to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and other charitable foundations supporting the fight against the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
Here at Jujubee, we've always thought that games should address current and serious topics. In the case of our historical-documentary game KURSK we touched on the subject of the Russian submarine tragedy and to what end an arms race could lead to, in Deep Diving Simulator we focused on issues related to the ecology and protection of our underwater world, and Realpolitiks tackles the problem of terrorism and migrations. In COVID: The Outbreak we allow the players to face the most current and touching topic of all - a pandemic of a dangerous virus.
As the leader of the Global Health Organization (GHO) your task is to contain the spread of a coronavirus and save humanity before it is too late.
In addition to crisis management, the game provides the players with information on how to behave in the event of an epidemic, what actions to take, and how to protect themselves and their loved ones in the most effective way. The game is based on the data published by WHO and on the information acquired from experts and consultants.
Through your actions, you will be able to see how difficult it is to manage during a crisis, what impact various decisions can have on an effective fight against a global epidemic, which can be caused by listening to charlatans or the lack of appropriate medical equipment.
The virus will adapt to your actions by means of mutation so you must predict and take into account its transmission abilities, time of incubation, drug resistance, and a whole lot more. Decide whether a country should close its borders and quarantine citizens to reduce the number of new infections, or construct new hospitals and emergency tents to speed up the recovery of the already infected. Choose wisely.
FEATURES:
Pandemic Management - advise the world what needs to be done in order to survive the dreadful disease; manage funds, staff, medicine, and research priorities.
Issue Emergency Decrees - declare national emergency and close borders, enforce obligatory vaccination, close schools and airports. Do whatever it takes to stop the coronavirus.
Research New Projects - developing new ways to fight off the disease is a sound strategy. Remember to be cautious as your enemy may mutate, rendering your newly acquired ability completely useless.
Unpredictable Events - how you handle the ongoing fake news, mass stockpiling of supplies, or people ignoring the incoming threat will go a long way towards deciding whether you will prevail against the disease, or succumb to it.
Construct Vital Buildings - build hospitals, emergency tents, research institutions, checkpoints, police stations, and a whole lot more. Every building you enact may become the decisive factor in stopping the outbreak.
Games Beyond™ - educate yourself on how a coronavirus operates, what can you do if you become infected, and why quarantines are issued. Understand why a pandemic is a threat to humanity.
Here at Jujubee, we've always thought that games should address current and serious topics. In the case of our historical-documentary game KURSK we touched on the subject of the Russian submarine tragedy and to what end an arms race could lead to, in Deep Diving Simulator we focused on issues related to the ecology and protection of our underwater world, and Realpolitiks tackles the problem of terrorism and migrations. In COVID: The Outbreak we allow the players to face the most current and touching topic of all - a pandemic of a dangerous virus.
As the leader of the Global Health Organization (GHO) your task is to contain the spread of a coronavirus and save humanity before it is too late.
In addition to crisis management, the game provides the players with information on how to behave in the event of an epidemic, what actions to take, and how to protect themselves and their loved ones in the most effective way. The game is based on the data published by WHO and on the information acquired from experts and consultants.
Through your actions, you will be able to see how difficult it is to manage during a crisis, what impact various decisions can have on an effective fight against a global epidemic, which can be caused by listening to charlatans or the lack of appropriate medical equipment.
The virus will adapt to your actions by means of mutation so you must predict and take into account its transmission abilities, time of incubation, drug resistance, and a whole lot more. Decide whether a country should close its borders and quarantine citizens to reduce the number of new infections, or construct new hospitals and emergency tents to speed up the recovery of the already infected. Choose wisely.
FEATURES:
Pandemic Management - advise the world what needs to be done in order to survive the dreadful disease; manage funds, staff, medicine, and research priorities.
Issue Emergency Decrees - declare national emergency and close borders, enforce obligatory vaccination, close schools and airports. Do whatever it takes to stop the coronavirus.
Research New Projects - developing new ways to fight off the disease is a sound strategy. Remember to be cautious as your enemy may mutate, rendering your newly acquired ability completely useless.
Unpredictable Events - how you handle the ongoing fake news, mass stockpiling of supplies, or people ignoring the incoming threat will go a long way towards deciding whether you will prevail against the disease, or succumb to it.
Construct Vital Buildings - build hospitals, emergency tents, research institutions, checkpoints, police stations, and a whole lot more. Every building you enact may become the decisive factor in stopping the outbreak.
Games Beyond™ - educate yourself on how a coronavirus operates, what can you do if you become infected, and why quarantines are issued. Understand why a pandemic is a threat to humanity.
I'm half tempted to check it out too.
I don't see the problem.
Entertainment now reflects the topical news of today. My friend is trying to make a music video about the coronavirus right now to capitalize on what's going on.
Entertainment now reflects the topical news of today. My friend is trying to make a music video about the coronavirus right now to capitalize on what's going on.
OP
OP
Read the games description and it doesn't sound half bad, gameplay looks fun. Plus they're donating some of the profits to vaccine research.
The fact they seem to have an educational section is something I wouldn't even have expected.
You try to stop it, says right there in the OP
The fact they seem to have an educational section is something I wouldn't even have expected.
You try to stop it, says right there in the OP
I'm going to add my voice to disagree with those thinking it is bad timing or taste. Anything to improve the understanding of the pandemic, even in entertainment form, is not a bad thing. People have died from this, sure, but a large part of the reason so many have died is the lack of understanding in the first place.
This game is one of many forms of media - news, movies, theatre - that address Covid-19 and I find it very strange to see the kneejerk reaction to this particular one.
Edit: To add to my argument - have a look at how viewership for Contagion spiked. Entertainment is necessary for catharsis. Denying it is just simple-minded.
This game is one of many forms of media - news, movies, theatre - that address Covid-19 and I find it very strange to see the kneejerk reaction to this particular one.
Edit: To add to my argument - have a look at how viewership for Contagion spiked. Entertainment is necessary for catharsis. Denying it is just simple-minded.
Real-time strategy game Virus: The Outbreak hitting Switch next week - Nintendo Everything
Now coming to Switch via Forever Entertainment under a new name (Virus: The Outbreak).
Not sure how to feel about this. What was the verdict on the game?
Now coming to Switch via Forever Entertainment under a new name (Virus: The Outbreak).
Not sure how to feel about this. What was the verdict on the game?