Immunowars
Text Saskia Bonger
Open, charming, enthusiastic and eager to learn about everything and everyone around them: in real life, Rafael Jezior (29) and Dennis de Beeld (24), Life Science & Technology students, are nothing like their alter egos, Mr Black and Mr White, hiding behind their gas masks. These two mysterious figures play a central role in ImmunoWars, the game created by both master’s students. Mr Black aims to destroy humanity, while Mr White tries to save it.
“ImmunoWars is a strategic card game that also helps players learn how the immune system works, which diseases are a threat, and what you can do to protect yourself,” explains Jezior while sitting on a sunny roof terrace in Leiden. Both master’s students have their workplace at PLNT, a collective shared building for start-ups. They first led me around the garden, an improvised escape room, and a chicken coop on the roof terrace. “The chickens are a hobby of the PLNT Director,” explains De Beeld. As for ImmunoWars, the idea for the game was born in Dennis’s student digs. “Over a few beers, we imagined playing a game in our own area of study, but soon discovered that no game existed that actually deals with the immune system, infectious diseases, and the scientific context.” Both students found that a bit strange. “After all, there are lots of games with monsters, orcs, dragons, and aliens. So why not one dealing with something closer to home like our cellular immune system and the real monsters threatening us?” says De Beeld. And both students are super enthusiastic about that immune system and their discipline. “Have you ever seen cells and infectious bacteria through a microscope? It’s really magical,” says Jezior.
The game is played with 108 cards. The players try to disable their opponents by attacking them with cards displaying viruses and bacteria, such as HIV or Ebola. Players defend themselves using cards with protective agents such as 3D printed medications or medical face masks. The masks add a recent touch of reality to the game, but in fact De Beeld and Jezior had already been developing ImmunoWars long before Covid-19 entered the scene. “We had already created a card with a mystery virus, funny right?” The pandemic inspired them to take on a new mission: combating disinformation and encouraging others to take up science. “If people don’t really understand what is happening, they become afraid, and that makes them very susceptible to disinformation,” explains De Beeld.
Satire
The card game is based on the knowledge they acquire in their master’s courses at TU Delft and Leiden University as well as scientific literature. They also publish all the research and articles used for the game on their website, aiming for optimum transparency. “But we did have to simplify some things here and there.” The graphics on the cards – such as those depicting the Meningococcus bacteria – are colourful, detailed and scientifically accurate. The texts in the game are playful and full of satire and black humour. Both game developers cannot yet earn a living from the game. Besides ImmunoWars and their Life Science & Technology courses, they also have side jobs. Working 80 hours a week is not unknown to them. “We have to work pretty hard and don’t get much sleep. Luckily, we get lots of energy from working on ImmunoWars. It’s great to come up with new cards as well as business plans for the near, middle, and long term.”
STD edition
They spend much of their time in their workspace at PLNT in Leiden amidst other start-ups. “It’s a very inspiring and stimulating environment; start-ups that have been around for a while know what’s going on.” During their bachelor’s studies, they spent much of their time at the TU Delft campus. Jezior says that “At TU Delft – unlike in Leiden University – all the faculties are near each other. That makes the campus a fantastic place where you can easily bump into people from other disciplines. The Mekelpark is just one example of that.” They hope to be able to make a living from ImmunoWars in the future. They’re full of ideas about new cards, variations, and additions. “We have already introduced an STD version to the market, and also aim to introduce a version with parasites and moulds.” They’ve noticed an increasing level of interest from potential clients, ranging from game enthusiasts to businesses and scientific institutions. “We hope scientific institutions will order large numbers to give away as promotional gifts or end-of-year gifts. Wouldn’t it be great if every TU Delft employee received the game as a gift?”
© Immunowars
In the card game, Rafael Jezior and Dennis de Beeld use the knowledge acquired in the master’s programme at TU Delft and Leiden University as well as scientific literature.
