Here at Senshudo we often find that, as a natural side effect of what we do, there are some games that just hook us (I mean, look at myself and Evolve). Normally these games aren't neccessarily a universal addiction (I mean, look at myself and Evolve) but sometimes something comes along that makes our collective jaw drop. In this case, the phrases 'side effect' and 'addiction' are probably quite fitting.
Introducing Twice Circled's pharmaceutical themed strategy game, Big Pharma, a game that shares more than a little of inspiration with Theme Hospital. Big Pharma, however, shifts the focus from running the care side of medicine, but rather on the actual creation and selling of pharmaceuticals. In essence, you can break the game down into a simple cycle: Make drugs, sell drugs for profit, use profit to research new machinery and drugs, make more drugs, and so on. As the game's website states, though, "The uncomfortable truth (is there an ointment for that?) is that some remedies are more profitable than others and illness is good for business."
We managed to grab the game's sole developer, the passionate and enthusiastic Tim Wicksteed, to find out where the game is, and what's happening.
Oh yes, people! Big Pharma will be moving to open beta at the end of April with a hopeful release of May/June 2015.