Virtual Cell

Overview

Virtual Cell is a recreation of a prototypical plant cell that the player explores with a yellow (by default) submarine. Players are tasked by the Virchow Health Corporation with repairing biological processes that have mysteriously gone haywire. Each repair rewards the player with fuel for their submarine, paint colors, and another plant cell to investigate.

Gameplay

The player begins in a small syringe and is walked through a control tutorial before getting injected into the first plant cell. Once inside, the player identifies the major organelles by measuring signal molecules.

Afterwards, the player has a choice between the electron transport chain and photosynthesis modules; these modules are separated into their own plant cells but share portions of the design.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

This plant cell is full of mitochondria, but only one appears to be functional. The player watches a healthy ETC and is dispatched to determine what's gone wrong with the other mitochondria. In this case, one of the six proteins of the ETC is broken.

Photosynthesis

This plant cell is full of chloroplasts, but only one appears to be functional. The player watches healthy photosynthesis before heading out to discover what is wrong with the other chloroplasts. In this case, one of the substances necessary for photosynthesis to occur is missing.

Osmosis

After both ETC and photosynthesis, the osmosis module follows the same general template. The player is granted access to a brand new cell; this cell is dark and shriveled compared to previous cells. The cell's pores have been blocked and it is severely short of water.

System Requirements

• OS: Windows XP / OSX 10.5
• Processor: Core 2 Duo
• Memory: 1 GB RAM
• Graphics: GeForce 6600 / ATI X800
• Hard Drive: 1.5 GB
• Minimum Resolution: 1024x768 or 1280x720