Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis Overview

Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis is an online digital simulation designed for humanitarian health practitioners. In Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis, you take the role of a Health Program Manager leading the health response for a medium-sized, international NGO named READY. The NGO operates in Thisland, a fictitious, low-income country that has experienced recent civil conflict, mass displacement, and an influenza epidemic. The simulation is divided into three chapters that follow an evolving outbreak from the first detection to its spread throughout the population. As Health Program Manager, you will identify, assess, and interpret sources of data to plan and implement an integrated outbreak response that prioritizes communication and community engagement, protection principles, and staff safety and well-being.

IMPORTANT!

Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis builds upon but is independent from Outbreak READY!, READY’s first digital outbreak simulation, in which the learner takes the role of a Team Lead during the aforementioned influenza epidemic. While Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis takes place after the events of Outbreak READY!, it is not necessary to play Outbreak READY! before playing Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis.

The simulation is designed for national and international NGOs responding to humanitarian emergencies, particularly targeting NGO health staff, including health program managers and coordinators, RCCE focal points, and community health workers.

Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis provides learners an opportunity to test and apply the following skills:

  1. Applied epidemiology for clinical and public health response: Implementing and coordinating a data-driven health response to an evolving infectious disease outbreak.
  2. Effective communication and community engagement: Developing and implementing a Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) strategy using a data-driven approach.
  3. Humanitarian Leadership: Minimizing risks and vulnerabilities to crisis-affected people, staff, and partners throughout an outbreak response.

  • In December 2023, Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis won the bronze EdTech Excellence Award (category: “Best E-learning, Blended, Flipped Classroom Solution or Remote Solution”) from the Brandon Hall Group, which recognizes innovative and cutting-edge trailblazers in education technology.
  • In June 2024, Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis was nominated for the Best in Learning award at the 2024 Games for Change Festival, which honors the games industry’s capacity for innovation, creativity, and social impact leadership in critical areas related to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Fact Sheet

View/download fact sheet (592KB .pdf)

Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis Solo-Play

Before you begin Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis as a solo player, we recommend downloading the Solo-Play Simulation guide which provides learners with opportunities to reflect on key decisions made and lessons learned throughout the simulation. We also recommend reading the “Pre-Reading” background documents below. You may wish to print these items for quick reference, although they will also be available within the simulation.

Solo-Play Simulation Guide

View/download Solo-Play Guide (357KB .pdf).

Pre-Reading: Background Documents

Play Outbreak READY 2!:
Thisland in CrisisGo to Pre-Reading
for Outbreak READY 2!

Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis Facilitated Play

To play Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis as a facilitated group experience, either in-person or virtually, use this facilitation manual and accompanying event facilitation slide deck.

If you are interested in facilitating Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis for your organization, working group, or community of practice, and you have further questions after reviewing these materials, please reach out to READY at outbreakreadysim@savechildren.org for support.

Facilitation Manual

View/download Facilitation Manual
for Group Events (9.2MB .pdf)

Event Facilitation Slide Deck

View/download Event Facilitation Slide Deck
for Group Events (78MB .pptx)

Play Outbreak READY 2!:
Thisland in CrisisGo to Pre-Reading
for Outbreak READY 2!

Troubleshooting and Support

We are sorry to hear that you are having trouble opening the simulation. Please check the following:

  • Do you have the right URL? Make sure you are using www.outbreakready-thislandincrisis.com.
  • For optimal use of the simulation, use Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Safari. Please ensure your browser version is up-to-date. Close any additional tabs or windows so that only the browser window with the simulation is open.
  • If you have done the above and it is still not working, try opening the simulation in an “incognito” or “private” window. This is done differently depending on your computer type and browser, but a simple internet search (e.g., “how to open incognito window in Firefox”) can quickly provide instructions on how to do this.

The simulation is meant to be played using a laptop, desktop, or large tablet. The interface does not support playing on smaller mobile devices.

Yes, an internet connection is required throughout the entire simulation and was developed for low-bandwidth settings.

Yes, progress is saved throughout play. If you lose internet connection or choose to exit the browser window during a session, your progress will be saved at the end of each week.  

There is a recommended minimum bandwidth for optimal use of the game. Please find additional details below regarding the optimal bandwidth:

  • The simulation takes approximately 1 minute to load on 10mbps (megabits per second). 
  • The minimum bandwidth required to stream the videos is 1.7mbps. 

You can check your connection speed at https://www.speedtest.net/.

Are you still encountering issues? Please contact us at outbreakreadysim@savechildren.org, so we can assist you.  

Acknowledgments

The Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis digital simulation was developed by the READY initiative. We would like to thank the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health for its leadership, and all READY consortium partners and serious game consultant Rex Brynen for their time, input, and efforts throughout all stages of development. In addition, we would like to thank all the humanitarians from agencies and locations around the world who took the time to play each version and provide critical feedback to strengthen both the design and the content of Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis. Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis was created in collaboration with the game development studio &RANJ. The simulation would not be possible without their team’s innovative design and creative contributions.