Belly Rumble - Microbiota Tactics

As my final Masters project and out of passion, I have designed a boardgame set in the fascinating world of the human gut flora. I have combined my interest in the microbiota interactions with human health with my prior research and interest in game design, to design a boardgame.

The Belly Rumble is currently a fully playable game for 2-4 players. It is designed to play up to 90 minutes from a set-up and has met with a favourable feedback from the playtesters. Each player takes a role of a bacteria. First, they secretly draw Directives, which they have to meet and sustain in accordance with the tenets of population ecology. Then, like the microbes, they lay out the gut and pick an evolutionary Adaptation to help them meet their goals. The game then begins in earnest, where the bacteria colonise and compete over the gut. The players evolve strategise and connive their way to victory. The ultimate result of the game may affect the future health of the gut and the environment the next game will be played in to account for conditions such as depression, autism and weakened immune response.

The game has been tested with casual gamers and hobbyist. It has taken gaming feedback from both the research scientists and the laymen. With the gameplay delivered and codified, the works are underway on expanding the science communication content of the game.