Leveraging the Contested Nature of Virology and Immunology
Viruses and immune systems have evolved together over millions of years of battle. Human immunology systems have learned to detect and destroy viruses in countless ways, and viruses have learned to mimic healthy cells or to even attack the immune system itself, as in the case with HIV. Replicate! allows students to take part in this life or death struggle, experiencing the attack and defense mechanisms employed by viruses and the body alike.

Surrealist Nature of the Human Body
Viruses, blood cells, and cellular structures are fantastic structures, equal to anything that could be dreamt up by a science fiction writer. Replicate! capitalizes on the outlandish, awe-inspiring quality of these structures to create an immersive enviornment.

Fast-paced, simple-to-learn action game.
Replicate! is a fast-paced action game. The player typically spends 15-60 seconds in migration phase, before entering cellular attack mode. Gameplay outside the cell is much like a racing and dodging game, as the player avoids red blood cells, antibodies and phagocytes. Once within the cell, the gameplay becomes more like a flying game, as the player has more freedom of movement, needs to collect proteins, and has strategic decisions about how to infect the cell. Replicate! draws on such genres to ensure action-packed, fast-paced gameplay. Typical games last 3-9 minutes in length, and players can use the in between times for reflecting on their gaming experiences and developing new strategies.

Copyright 2002, MIT.