Hi, I'm about 3 realtime days into a pair of VV1 games, my first time. Things are going well so far, but I think I'm confused about game speed.

At first I was playing on 2X speed during the day and 1/2 speed at night while I slept. I had thought that more would be accomplished on 2X speed, and less accomplished at night in case of calamity.

What surprised me was that just about the same amount of events and development occurred at either speed, but less food and resources were required at 1/2 speed.

Am I right in understanding that "Fast Town" and "Slow Town" get about the same accomplished, but Fast Town burns through villager lives and resources faster? If that's true, then 1/2 speed would be the way to go at the start, right?

Yes! You are absolutely right!
It's perilous to start the game at 2X speed because they eat very much, more than in normal or 1/2 speed. At the beginning, the food resources are very important.
But, when you have enough time to stay nursing your villagers, you may play in 2X for getting tech points faster (or another task) You just have, you and the kids of the village, to be on the look-out for mushrooms!!

Thanks for responding. I'm glad I'm on the right track then.