A Meowstic Voyage
Space is pretty rad, but have you ever wondered what could make it better? Simple, fill it with cats! Cat Colony Crisis does precisely that. But will the fluffy spacefarers reach their destination in this fuzzy-wuzzy management game?
Cat Colony Crisis tasks players with protecting a colony ship full of pioneering felines. A mysterious outbreak is loose on board. It’s the player’s job to contain and eliminate the pathogens. Players will need to observe their passengers and crew, staying alert for telltale signs of infection. Cats may experience a variety of symptoms such as sweating, coughing, sneezing and more. However, not every symptom is caused by the pathogen, as some cats may suffer from unrelated conditions. Players will need to keep this in mind, acting thoughtfully but decisively to stop the spread of infection.
The disease can spread as cats go about their business, interacting with other felines. Tracking their moments and finding who they’ve been in contact with is a major part of keeping everyone safe. The player’s ability to control cats is limited. Although that actually makes a lot of sense considering the species in question. However, you can always deploy your trusty spray bottle to keep them in line.
Cat Colony Crisis was the winner of the 2020 Jamming the Curve game jam. LabX, a public engagement program of the National Academy of Sciences, sponsored the competition. LabX’s goal is to encourage young adults to utilize scientific thinking in their everyday lives. Last October, they brought together a group of gamers, scientists and public health experts to create games to help combat COVID-19.
Over 500 people designed more than 50 games for the event. Described as “Among Us meets Pusheen,” Cat Colony Crisis came out on top and is available now on Google Play, Steam, and the App Store. Check it out, and keep your eyes peeled for its upcoming review on Hardcore Droid.
