Viruscape: A Microscopic Adventure Game to Guide Conceptual Learning of SARS-CoV-2 Mechanisms

This paper presents the pilot version of Viruscape, a novel adventure PC and console game designed to facilitate the conceptual learning of Coronavirus mechanisms and expand the civic science education toolkit. Medical illustration using 3D modeling and motion graphics software has long been a niche practice to help advance education, research, and practice in healthcare-related fields. In Viruscape, we leverage the unexploited potential of such software to create interactive virtual worlds and gameplay experience to promote a more systematic learning of human health concepts and advance medical literacy for the general public. Viruscape immerses players in a microscopic world through the “eyes” of viruses whose goal is to defeat the human immune system. We translate the relevant immunology mechanisms into game play mechanisms that players learn to master, while providing a unique and interactive gaming experience. Future development of the game could focus on involving diverse users and health experts in co-design or consultation sessions and customizing the game world to represent players’ real-world health condition. The concept of Viruscape can be used to further develop parallel episodes of the game that feature other human health mechanisms such as other types of infection, heart disease or cancer.