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Playing Obama or McCain’s Campaign

Posted by Hsing Wei on 09-30-08

Stardock has released a free download version of The Political Machine. Potential fun and informative therapy for those anxious about the race, in Political Machine Express players create a custom Obama, Biden, Palin or McCain bobble-head and try to get their favorite candidate into the White House.

Paired down from the original version (no re-creating past or imaginary political races pitting Lincoln against Huckabee), the free version still challenges players to master the campaign trail and outmaneuver political foes within a scant 21 weeks. While giving speeches, launching attack ads, taking stands on issues, juggling costs, and securing endorsements, players get a window into the the U.S. political process. More opinions about the game here.

Less agnostic about preferred candidate Powerful Robot Games recently released Debate Night in support of Obama. Players pick the issue/argument that Obama should use to win the debate. Issue icons flow across a debate scene. Shooting at the issues swaps their order and makes some disappear. While not much is learned about the issues themselves, the play focuses on repositioning the issues and moving the ones you believe Obama should use on top. Timely before the remaining debates, some more critique here.

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