'The Political Machine 2008' Gains
Momentum
The PC
game developer Stardock has given a new look to its strategy game, "The
Political Machine 2008." Now it includes vice presidential candidates. The
game puts players in the role of a Presidential candidate on the campaign
trail making speeches, buying ads, hiring spin doctors and consultants,
raising money, and going on cable news shows.
The
updated version of the title includes enhanced multiplayer features
including supporting match-making via Stardock's Impulse, allowing for
better online play. It also includes features allowing players to print
out bumper stickers and campaign pins from within the game.
Players
can create their own candidates, controlling everything about them in how
they look, and then export them as an avatar for on-line use or use the
new print shop to create a variety of physical media with their creations
including campaign pins, bumper stickers, and more. The update adds the
new vice presidential candidates, Joe Biden and Sarah Palin to be
incorporated into campaigns as well.
"This is
the ultimate game for political junkies and a really fun way for anyone to
learn about the election process," said Brad Wardell, lead designer of the
game. "Once you put yourself in the campaign manager's shoes, you really
get to see how each campaign tactic ultimately affects the outcome of the
vote. The whole point is to be fun but part of that means being reasonably
accurate."
Real-world scenarios are mixed in with fantastical scenarios. Players can
choose the U.S. 2008 election, an election in history, or play in fun and
humorous fantasy campaigns including one that takes place on an alien
world and one that takes place in "Europa". Players can also choose what
television shows to be a guest on and will face tough questions from the
hosts of shows like "The Colvert Report" and "The O'Malley Factor."
"Political junkies will appreciate many of the political consultants and
strategies employed in the game such as the use of smear merchants, spin
doctors, intimidators, cheer leaders, movie stars, etc.," continued
Wardell. "Strategy gamers will appreciate the balanced game mechanics that
allow players to research new campaign tactics that even novice political
observers can see from the current election."
The
Political Machine is both a single and multiplayer game. Players can
either compete against the computer or against others online on
www.politicalmachine.com .
The
website also provides an ideologically neutral location for users to
discuss the current election. The game is available at most retail outlets
as well as directly from www.politicalmachine.com or www.impulsedriven.com
for $19.95.
It
requires Windows XP or Windows Vista to play and will play on most modern
PCs.
Photo courtesy:
Stardock
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