Articles

What We're Playing

Pandemic

Designed By: Matt Leacock

Published By: Z-Man Games

Two years ago if people had been asked what they would be worried about globally at the beginning of 2009 it would more likely have been a bird flu pandemic than an international banking meltdown.

Businesses and government organisations were running simulations and emergency co-ordination workshops to plan for the worst case pandemic situation.  That seems a long time ago as those organisations now seek to understand, cope with and plan for the effects of a worldwide financial crisis.

Running simulations, planning and thinking about one crisis situation that doesn’t occur does however offer benefits when other, unexpected crises happen.  Whilst it’s a truism that you can’t expect the unexpected, you can prepare for it.

Pandemic isn’t a full blown simulation, but it is a neat one hour experiment in how to cope with a fast unfolding crisis.  Players have to work together to stop the spread of disease throughout the world, with different strains hitting different parts of the globe, and the risk level increasing.

Neat mechanic such as reshuffling only the most recently used deck of cards and adding them back into the game increase the threat level as players try to make the most of each others specific skills.

Pandemic also works well as a small team exercise, as it does reveal how well people work together, who is willing to take a positive lead, who wants to stick to a personal agenda and who is thinking ahead to what threats could be around the corner.

If you've got a view on this or any other article which we've published why not comment through our blog: Prospero's World or contact:

Claudine McClean
T: 01789 734333
E: claudinem@predaptive.com