A small gaming firm primarily based in St. Catharines, Ont., has created a online game to assist in the struggle towards COVID-19.
Satan’s Cider Video games was fashioned in 2018 by 4 ex-schoolmates. On Feb. 9, they launched Cat Colony Disaster — designed to advertise pro-science ideas within the struggle towards COVID-19.
“The sport idea is that you’re overseeing a spaceship filled with cats travelling from one location to a different. Throughout their travels a pandemic occurs,” lead programmer Paul Boyko instructed CBC Hamilton.
“It’s a must to observe the cats as they’re going about their each day actions. They eat, they use the litter field, they sleep, they speak to one another, they fall in love, they struggle with one another.
“So it’s important to observe them and see which of them are exhibiting signs and whether or not or not these signs are associated to the illness or if they’ve a fur allergy,” Boyko mentioned.
When you come to a conclusion which cats could also be contaminated, Boyko mentioned the individual taking part in the sport can use testing to confirm whether or not or not they’re sick.
If a cat is discovered to be sick, contact tracing is finished to see which different cats they’ve been involved with. These cats are then additionally examined, he mentioned.
“You need to isolate the sick cats to keep away from them spreading the virus any additional,” Boyko mentioned.
“There’s additionally a masks mandate you possibly can enforce, which makes it tougher for the virus to unfold amongst the group.”
Cat Colony Disaster was developed with assist from LabX, a division of the Nationwide Academy of Science and in session with members of the US Facilities for Illness Management.
Cat Colony Disaster was the winner of the Jamming the Curve Sport Jam occasion, which came about in the course of the IndieCade occasion in September 2020, and likewise gained a $20,000 U.S.growth grant from LabX to enhance upon and then launch the sport.
“The entire idea is to bolster the significance of ideas like social distancing, PPE, testing, contact tracing and to essentially kind of convey to the forefront how vital it’s personally to participate in doing these issues,” Boyko mentioned.
“Because the overseer you get to see how private duty is crucial a part of controlling a pandemic, as a result of all the foundations and all of the laws do not do something until folks really comply with them. You get to see that from these cats as a result of they’re doing what they need and it’s important to kind of step in and attempt to cease the unfold.”
Meant to be a enjoyable recreation
Boyko mentioned Cat Colony Disaster is a enjoyable recreation, which might be performed by anybody.
“It is appropriate for any age group,” he mentioned. “Our goal market is within the late teenagers to early 30s however anybody can play it.”
Cat Colony Disaster is on the market on PC, MAC, Linux, Google Play and the Apple App retailer at no cost.
“We determined to make the sport free as a result of we actually need to get it out into as many arms as attainable,” Boyko mentioned.
“We really feel that it’s a constructive instrument within the struggle towards COVID.”
Enjoyable approach to clarify how illness might unfold inside group
Thomas Brown, a venture coordinator at Brock College, mentioned Cat Colony Disaster is a enjoyable approach to clarify how the unfold of a illness occurs inside a group, particularly to a youthful viewers.
“While you play on laborious [level], it may be troublesome to maintain your eye on each cat. Particularly, the cats who come aboard your ship might must be examined shortly to ensure no new infections unfold,” Brown instructed CBC Information.
“It may possibly simply go from one cat to 4 cats to all the ship in a brief time period.
“After taking part in this recreation I am undoubtedly going to provide it to my niece to play to hopefully perceive somewhat extra about why she must preserve clear and socially distant,” Brown added.
