VirusMania

VirusMania is a game developed with Unity for the Transformation Game Jam 2025 (TF25).
The game explores the theme of Transformation through the creation, mutation, and analysis of viruses inside a laboratory.

You play as Professor Fourmi, a scientist working in a government-contracted lab.
Your objective: produce the requested viruses on time by following the official briefs.

The game takes place in a small, caricatured laboratory: outdated equipment, suspicious machines, chemical fumes, and a conveyor belt used to ship viruses… all accompanied by rhythmic music that increases time pressure.

The atmosphere aims for a light, humorous tone, playing with the absurd idea of a virus-production industry.

The gameplay loop is simple, fast, and repetitive — intentionally designed to keep the player under tension:

1. Receive a brief (government order)
   Each brief requests a specific virus within a time limit, in exchange for money.

2. Order bacteria
   Use the computer to purchase the necessary bacteria.

3. Heat (or don’t) the vials
   Boil the bacteria or keep them unheated to alter their properties.

4. Mix the bacteria
   Combine them to generate a unique virus.

5. Analyze the virus under the microscope

   • Identify its characteristics
   • Check if it matches the brief

6. Handle mistakes
   If the virus is incorrect → straight to the trash.

7. Send the order
   Place the virus on the conveyor belt, activate it, and ship it.

8. New brief
   The cycle immediately restarts.

• Movement: AWSD
• Main Interaction: Left Click
• Grab / Drop: E
• Use Machines: E
• Pause: Escape

• Visual style: Toon, simple, and readable, ideal for a game jam.
• Ambiance: a compact lab filled with scientific props.
• Sound: rhythmic and stressful music, reinforcing the pressure of government deadlines.

• Illustrate the theme Transformation through viral mutations.
• Provide a fast-paced, stressful, and fun game loop.
• Offer a short experience with simple but satisfying interactions.
• Build a lively and expressive laboratory environment despite limited time.

Development

• Ethan Carollo — Lead Developer & Project Manager — GitHub
• Nak0_x — Developer — GitHub

Art Direction & Design

• Médéric Chapiseau — Visual Art Direction, main 3D models, game UI — Portfolio
• Danielle Levinzon — Main menu design & itch.io page — Portfolio

3D Modeling

• Nak0_x — 3D Modeling — GitHub
• math-pixel — 3D Modeling — GitHub
• Ugo Mollier-Billet - 3D Modeling — Portfolio

Sound Design

• P-A — Sound production & full sound design — SoundCloud

Testing & Ideas

• Emmanuel Moulin — Testing, idea proposals & README writing 😎 — GitHub