Plague Inc. picks up more players during Ebola outbreak
In Plague Inc, players simulate fast-moving, contagious diseases in a bid to infect the entire world. Players are able to name their own diseases and experiment with simulated human behavior, such as eliminating hand-washing in certain countries or adding sophisticated hospital systems in others. The ongoing outbreak of Ebola in West Africa has drawn extra attention to Plague Inc, driving sales up in recent weeks, creator James Vaughan told the Daily Mail.
"This hasn't been the biggest increase we've had in our downloads in 2014, but I think this is the first time a real-world situation has been the reason why people are getting the game," Vaughan said. On Twitter, he added, "Public concern about #Ebola has increased Plague Inc. downloads recently."
Last week, 430,000 people downloaded the Plague Inc app, a rise of 147,000 over the same stat two weeks prior. During that same time, 4 million people played the game, 923,000 more than player numbers two weeks prior. Plague Inc launched in 2012 and has a player base of 35 million across iOS and Android. Plague Inc: Evolved hit Steam in February and there's a version in development for Xbox One.
Plague Inc doesn't simulate Ebola in any real sense – the algorithms behind it assume that air transmission is possible, and Ebola is transmitted via direct contact with bodily fluids, not through the air, Vaughan clarifies to Polygon. "[The algorithms] also don't assume that it takes a number of days or weeks before people are able to spread the disease," he said.
Vaughan doesn't want Plague Inc to be seen as a cash grab taking advantage of a horrendous humanitarian situation, he told the Daily Mail. Ebola has killed more than 4,900 people in West Africa.
"It would be infinitely better if the Ebola outbreak had never happened at all, but I want to use the position that Plague Inc has to try and help in whatever way I can," he said. Plague Inc previously put Vaughan in contact with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he discussed ways to better educate the public about infectious diseases and real-world health issues. In 2013, Plague Inc partnered with the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation to provide an in-game news item about the disease on Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Day.
Vaughan is now looking into donating some of Plague Inc's profits to major charities working to stem the spread of Ebola, he told the British site.
[Image: Daily Mail]
