The popular survival horror genre, known for its chilling atmosphere and intense gameplay, traces its roots back to a real-life pandemic. In 1976, a deadly virus, caused by a rare type of filovirus dubbed Marburg virus, emerged in π©πͺ Germany and the πΊπΈ United States. This outbreak terrified people as the virus spread rapidly and caused severe hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates.
The Marburg virus outbreak served as a stark reminder of humanity’s vulnerability to infectious diseases and the primal fear they evoke. Game developers, drawing inspiration from this unsettling event, incorporated themes of isolation, vulnerability, and the struggle for survival in their creations. It gave rise to iconic survival horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, forever linking the genre to the real-life horrors of infectious disease outbreaks.
Prompt:
Name a widely popular video game genre and reveal an unusual historical inspiration behind its development.