The global fight against infectious diseases has a new tactic called “genetic surveillance.” Dr. Bronwyn MacInnis leads a team of researchers that uses genetic surveillance to halt the spread of deadly microbes. To do it, she and her colleagues openly share information. That kind of collaboration is required of players in Pandemic, in which each player takes on the role of a professional in the field. The game’s designer, Matt Leacock, tells us how the game came together. Removing cubes from a board isn’t a matter of life and death, but combating global contagions is.

Read a full transcript of this episode.

Immersed is produced by Cardboard Edison.

Special thanks to Dr. Bronwyn MacInnis, Matt Leacock, Sandy Bondarowicz, and James Griffin.

Editing assistance by Eric Booth.

Music:

Ambient Bongos by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com). Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Endeavour by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License. Based on a work at betterwithmusic.com

Pamgaea by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Balkan Gypsy Party by John Bartmann is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

A List of Ways to Die by Lee Rosevere is licensed under a Attribution License.

And the Pendulum Swings by Little Glass Men is licensed under a Attribution License.

Cheap Suit by Jason Staczek is licensed under a Attribution License.

Friction by Nctrnm is licensed under a Attribution License.

Under Suspicion by Lee Rosevere is licensed under a Attribution License.

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Cylinder Nine by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Attribution License.

Quizitive by Lee Rosevere is licensed under a Attribution License.

And So Then by Lee Rosevere is licensed under a Attribution License.

Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Life Is A Game (Instrumental) by Mise Darling is licensed under a Attribution License. Based on a work at http://misenation.com

Sponsors:

Fireside Games, FiresideGames.com

Smirk and Dagger Games, SmirkAndDagger.com

HABA USA Games, HABAusa.com

Van Ryder Games, VanRyderGames.com

Formal Ferret Games, FormalFerretGames.com

Indie Boards and Cards, IndieBoardsAndCards.com

Brotherwise Games, BrotherwiseGames.com

For sponsorship opportunities, or to send a game to be considered for a future episode, email suzanne@cardboardedison.com.

Cardboard Edison is supported by our patrons on Patreon.

ADVISERS: Rob Greanias, Peter C. Hayward, Justin Gibbs, Robin Kay

SENIOR INVENTORS: Steven Cole (Escape Velocity Games), Calvin Johns, Chris and Kathy Keane (The Drs. Keane), Joshua J. Mills, Marcel Perro, Behrooz "Bez" Shahriari, Shoot Again Games, Nick Thacker

JUNIOR INVENTORS: Ryan Abrams, Luis Lara, Neil Roberts, Jay Treat

ASSOCIATES: Dark Forest Project, Stephen B. Davies, Thiago Jabuonski, Doug Levandowski, Nathan Miller, Matt Wolfe