A Dubai school boy has developed a video game focusing on raising awareness on the protection against the COVID-19 pandemic. 17-year-old Mohammed Yaseen Hafiz has released the game named The Outbreak Guardian on Steam - the largest online game releasing platform. He is a grade 12 student of Al Diyafah High School in Dubai. Notably, Mohammed Yaseen was also selected as a young innovator by Expo 2020 Dubai.

Speaking with the media, the young developer said that his game not only offers fun and adventure, but also distracts young gamers from violence while motivating them to be socially responsible.

“The game tries to give people a snapshot of how the pandemic is managed in the real world. Kids can understand the process, what efforts the authorities are taking to keep us all safe. Maybe it will help change their (players) perspective," the young boy added.

What is the game about?

As per reports, Outbreak Guardian is a third-person open-world 3D game in which the player is in-charge to ensure that COVID-19 cases in the imaginary city of Patriam remain under control. The player is also required to manage the city’s medical resources including delivering equipment. In addition, the player gets a sanitising beam that can be used while driving to target viruses in the environment.

Yaseen developed the game in only one-and-a-half years. According to Yaseen, it is a 3D racing, exploration and strategy game. It has different checkpoints to allow the player to replenish sanitisers, buy cars, car tools and other equipment. There are field hospitals, vaccine research centres and vaccine delivery services.

“The most successful pattern in managing the pandemic is the storyline of the game. The emergence of variants over time increases the difficulty as the game progresses,” explained Mohammed Yaseen.

He added that players can keep the pandemic under control by delivering necessary items such as ventilators, hygiene equipment, PPE kits, etc to hospitals.

Mohammed Yaseen said he had previously made another mobile game for fun. However, Outbreak Guardian is the first game that he released commercially.

Yassen started the process of developing the game when he got a micro-controller start kit that is used to develop circuits and write programmes.

“When I worked on it, I got interested. Then I learnt more about software development and coding from a book with the kit. I used YouTube videos also,” he added

Inspired by UAE's proactive response

Mohammed Yaseen started developing the game during the lockdown period in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic. He hailed UAE's proactive approach towards the management of the COVID-19 pandemic which facilitated the establishment of field hospitals and isolation centres. He further affirmed that UAE's aggressive efforts to administer COVID-19 vaccines and protect the health and wellbeing of community members inspired him throughout the process.

His experience in creating Smart Uniform Checker has also helped in receiving multiple cash prizes from government and educational entities.

“It (the checker) was a prototype that used AI-based image recognition. It was used for checking if workers wear safety gears prescribed as per their jobs and allow them entry to work sites only if they clear the checking," he said.

Moreover, Mohammed Yaseen won several accolades and prizes for leading robotic projects from various entities. At Expo 2020 Dubai, he created a search boat prototype that could prove helpful in events like the Thailand cave rescue in 2018.

He said that plans are underway to release the Outbreak Guardian gaem on iOS platform as well. Currently, it is on Steam for Windows. At the same time, he is working on updating the game’s Arabic and other local language versions.

Talented siblings

Earlier, his 12-year-old brother Omar Nabeel Hafiz also released a game named Brain Tilt Ball Maze on android. The brain exercise game serves as a stress reliever and improves concentration and fine motor skills among the young as well as the elderly. Omar is a Grade 7 student at Al Amana Private School in Sharjah.

Their 14-year-old sister Fidda Naureen Hafiz is managing the overall branding of the projects of both brothers. She is in Grade 9 at Al Amana Private School in Sharjah.

Their father Hafiz Mohammed, a chief consultant with a project management company, and mother Aneesha Abidabeevi, a nutritionist-turned-homemaker, also provide complete support to foster their dreams and innovations.