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Developer Simon Roth (Maia) decided instead of worry about the Covid-19 outbreak, they would channel some energy into creating a new semi-educational strategy game named 'rZero. Virus Outbreak Simulation'.

Speaking on their Patreon, Roth mentioned how the outbreak has been on their mind and so they "decided to channel some of my research into outbreaks, spread and containment into a little semi educational strategy game". Recently, a second build went live with multiple levels and so Roth is now looking for some more feedback on it. If people decide it's interesting enough, they said they would polish it more and do a full release.

The idea is simple enough but still challenging. Each little dot represents a certain amount of the population, with red dots being infected and you get a few options at the bottom of the screen to try and deal with it. These options to confine people, or quarantine a while city (and more) trickle in slowly so you have to try and anticipate what's going to happen and plan a little. It's quite interesting, especially watching it all unfold and how things escalate quite quickly as people move around. A bit like a streamlined reverse Plague Inc: Evolved.

Roth mentioned on Twitter to us they're keen to see "what Linuxy people think of it". So give it a go, and let them know your thoughts.

You can find the download link in this Patreon post.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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5 comments

Dunc Apr 14, 2020
There's a germ of a good game in this. (See what I did there? :D )

Limiting the number of quarantines and travel bans seems a little unrealistic, although the opposite is obviously the case for treatments and vaccinations. Maybe they could be unlimited, but with a stat for citizen dissatisfaction or economic damage that forces you to limit the length of confinement, or something.

Unfortunately, it goes fullscreen here on my 5:4 monitor, so I can't see the score. Although given the number of little red circles flying around the screen, that's probably a blessing in disguise. :S:
Salvatos Apr 14, 2020
Quoting: DuncLimiting the number of quarantines and travel bans seems a little unrealistic, although the opposite is obviously the case for treatments and vaccinations. Maybe they could be unlimited, but with a stat for citizen dissatisfaction or economic damage that forces you to limit the length of confinement, or something.
There could also be a rate of compliance, and it would decrease over time.
Koopacabras Apr 14, 2020
Since this is about education...for anyone that's into maths and numbers, I highly recommend this article


Last edited by Koopacabras on 14 April 2020 at 3:15 pm UTC
Purple Library Guy Apr 14, 2020
Quoting: Salvatos
Quoting: DuncLimiting the number of quarantines and travel bans seems a little unrealistic, although the opposite is obviously the case for treatments and vaccinations. Maybe they could be unlimited, but with a stat for citizen dissatisfaction or economic damage that forces you to limit the length of confinement, or something.
There could also be a rate of compliance, and it would decrease over time.
Hmmm, yeah, and the rate of decrease could depend on what supports you gave to the public.

So does it have stuff related to testing? Really, the most successful responses have involved testing the shit out of everyone, following up the contacts of positive tests, and quaranting all your positives. That has allowed some countries, notably South Korea, to keep the virus down without too much widespread lockdown.

You could have a special high-difficulty mode where your country's health system does stupid stuff like make people pay to get tested and treated.
Eike Apr 14, 2020
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Quoting: Purple Library GuyYou could have a special high-difficulty mode where your country's health system does stupid stuff like make people pay to get tested and treated.

You're surely aware everything else is COMMUNISM!
How could sane people build a society where the sick are helped without being financially punished for being sick?!?

I really wonder if this crisis will make some people rethink some stuff. (If this won't, nothing will.)
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