Libraries

ZomBool

ZomBool is a game in which you try to survive the zombie apocalypse by learning about search strategies and by using Boolean operators. The choices you make will have an impact on the overall story.

Special features:

  • Bilingual – play in English or in French.
  • Play with or without a mouse.
  • Play with or without ever looking at the screen (self-voiced mode enhanced with alt text).

Contains 3 different paths and up to 4 possible endings.

WARNING: ZomBool contains graphic depictions of blood and body parts. If you would like to know about alternate ways to learn about Boolean operators, please contact your subject librarian.

Getting started (PC or Linux)

Download

Download the PC zipped file (PC or Linux) to your desktop by right-clicking and selecting "Download as" – the exact wording might change depending on your web browser.

Unzip

Right click on the file on your desktop and select "Extract all" (Windows), or choose your favorite method for unzipping files.

Extract All menu option after right clicking in Windows on the PC zipped file

Play

Open the ZomBool-1.x folder (you may have to click twice). Double-click on "ZomBool.exe".

ZomBool executable file for Windows

Security Warnings

Depending on your computer's security settings, you could get a security warning when trying to open ZomBool.

To add an exception for ZomBool (only needs to be done once):

  • After the warning message pops up (when launching "ZomBool.exe", click on "More info".

Initial Windows security warning

  • A similar warning pops up, but with a new option. Click on "Run anyway".

Run anyway option appears after clicking on "More info"

IMPORTANT: never allow exceptions for software or games that you don't trust.

Getting started (Mac)

Download

Download the Mac zipped file to your desktop by right-clicking and selecting "Download as" – the exact wording might change depending on your web browser.

Saving ZomBool to your desktop.

Play

Open the ZomBool-1.x folder (you may have to click twice). Double-click on "ZomBool.app".

ZomBool app file for Mac

Security Warnings

Depending on your computer's security settings, you could get the following security warning when trying to open ZomBool:

Initial Mac security warning

To add an exception for ZomBool (only needs to be done once):

  • Locate ZomBool in Finder.
  • Ctrl-Click on "ZomBool.app" and select "Open".

Opening ZomBool with a workaround to allow adding an exception

  • A similar warning pops up, but with a new option. Click on "Open". The game will open.

Open option appears after opening with a right click

IMPORTANT: never allow exceptions for software or games that you don't trust.

How to play

Controls

Left click, hit the spacebar, or hit "enter" to advance the dialogue. You will be occasionally presented with choices or with a screen with selectable options. Left click on the desired option with the mouse, or use the "up" or "down" arrow to navigate your options, and hit "enter" to select.

To skip lines of dialogue you have already seen when replaying the game, hold down the "Ctrl" button. You can use "mousewheel-Up" or "PageUp" to rollback the game.

You can find a list of all of ZomBool's controls by clicking on "Help" in the main menu.

Self-voiced mode

Hit "v" on your keyboard to toggle self-voiced mode, which will read text aloud using a speech synthesizer (if supplied by your operating system in English or French).

Self-voiced mode includes extra flavour text, spelling out Boolean search expressions for cases where speech synthesizers can miss nuances (such as the use of brackets and quotation marks), and signals whenever the game requires you to make a choice.

Consult the online self-voicing documentation to learn more about self-voicing.

FAQ

I can't get ZomBool to work on my computer?

Contact Julie.Marcoux@dal.ca for help (current as of 2019). ZomBool can also be accessed on Dal Libraries' computers (Halifax campuses only). In Windows, click on the Windows key and search for ZomBool. On the Mac, use the Finder to locate ZomBool.

I can't get ZomBool to work on my mobile device?

Unfortunately, ZomBool is only compatible with PC, Apple, and Linux computers.

Can I get the source code to ZomBool?

Sure, it's available in Dal Libraries' GitHub.

I'm not from Dal but I would like to install ZomBool in a computer lab?

Sure! You can email Julie.Marcoux@dal.ca for some tips on putting ZomBool on an image or installing ZomBool in a computer lab.