Pharm Simulator 1918

Pharm Simulator 1918, designed by Maurice Grela and Lisa Smedman, was inspired by newspaper and magazine advertising of 1918, when the “Spanish Flu” arrived in North America. It casts the player as the owner of a small pharmacy that sells legitimate medicine, unproven “preventatives” and “cures,” plus basic medical and cleaning supplies. It’s an exploration of safety vs. profit in a time of deadly disease and conflicting information.

As we designed Pharm Simulator 1918, we were struck by how much the newspaper stories mirrored those of today, and Covid-19. There were stories of public gatherings and sporting events being banned, churches and taverns being closed, of families who had lost loved ones to disease. Then, as now, there was conflicting information, pushback from the owners of businesses that were forced to close, and anti-mask rallies.

The core loop of Pharm Simulator 1918 is to restock the store and then create an advertising flyer to promote products you think will best sell, given the newspaper articles that week. The more people you let into the store, the more profits – but also the more danger. There’s always a chance – albeit a slim one – that you’ll die before you get to spend those profits.

Given more time, we would have loved to implement a system where customers come in, one by one, and ask for products. But we’re happy with what we were able to create in so short a time. We hope you enjoy our game.

For more information on advertising during the Spanish Flu, and how it compares to today, visit: https://time.com/5810695/spanish-flu-pandemic-coronavirus-ads/.