I recognize option #4 here from Parasite Infection's opening. I did think it was an interesting angle on the premise, but I think the thing I'd most like to see from you guys is probably #3 - I love the idea of making this a whole strategy game, with you making high level decisions about the infection's progression. I'd even still be excited if you made things easier on yourselves and segmented it, like a Fire Emblem type system where a visual novel/CYOA leads you between "encounters" set up.
I do think there's a lot to be gained by at least partially systemically modelling the growth of the infection, though - Making it something that the player can make choices about, choices that have consequences and even lead to different playstyles. It would be cool to see, say, one player sending out "sleeper seeds" and starting most encounters from an internal position, and working their way outwards slowly, where another player maybe just sends armies in from previously infected hives.
Ay, I'm getting myself worked up. Strategy game, please. I'd love to see that. Hell, I'd love to work on that, but I'm still an amateur, sadly
