![BGG.CON 2015 Announcements: Stronghold Games Picks Up Villages; Split Second Welcomes Patient Zero](https://cf.geekdo-images.com/MoA4w4a1IkNakuLwY5fPCA__medium/img/raAAGoOoabeyMGMV2ZFde6qKsOo=/fit-in/500x500/filters:no_upscale():strip_icc()/pic2760576.png)
Stronghold Games plans to release Village and the first expansion, Village Inn, in March 2016 for the GAMA Trade Show, with My Village and the second expansion, Village Port, in May/June 2016 in time for the Origins Game Fair.
• In December 2013, I wrote about Jay Little's Patient Zero, which was unusual for this space as I don't normally cover prototypes that haven't been picked up, but the game sounded interesting and Little has a strong track record.
Now Split Second Games has picked up Patient Zero and will preview the game at BGG.CON 2015 ahead of a Kickstarter funding project in the first half of 2016. Here's a rundown of what the game's about:
In the cooperative zombie survival game Patient Zero, players undertake the search for the person responsible for the apocalyptic outbreak. Immune from the effects of the virus, characters band together and travel from city to city, scavenging for the clues and resources that will lead them to a final confrontation against this madman.
Each city in Patient Zero has multiple locations that require a specific combination of dice to be rolled in order to clear them. In some cases, you may have to roll a set of three 5s, others may require a straight, say 2-3-4-5-6. Some locations are actually hazardous and hurt you, but since you must play a die every turn, you may have to take the hit. Every location gives you resources in the form of ammo, food or fuel. Players must also be aware of time since taking too long forces the players into the next city at night, and the nighttime side for each city is more difficult than the daylight side as more afflicted are out and ready to prey on you! Be sure to manage your resources well because even though using ammo and fuel will kill zombies and move you faster, running out means the end of the game, and everyone loses.
The Patient Zero encounter adds a twist to the final location the players encounter, and it is a fight to the death. Who will be victorious?