More on Political Message Video Games

elhaf writes "There is an article running in the Chronicle on Higher Education about the new trend of creating political-message video games for the next round of campaigns. TechNews has commentary on the situation as well. The article mentions that there are actually a few available already, but they mainly just allow opposition-bashing. This is not, I think, to be confused with Serious games, even though both groups seem interested in health care policy."

Comments

Why bother

[ShatteredDream]

Unless you get a really good team together you will probably end up with one of two things. Either you'll end up with a game that no one wants to play, or that no one plays for any political value. The majority of the people I've met who are into politics that hardcore, are not the most entertaining people I've met. I can't say that I'd be too eager to play a game that they come up with.

If no image is coming to mind, just think of any political science class you might have had in college. Now imagine the kids who took politics VERY seriously, ate it up and had very little to no life outside it. Those are the kind of people that will be pushing for these games most likely.

Not necessarily the Achille's Heel.

[khasim]

More like the whole idea behind the project.

As you noted the designer determines what actions "win" the game and what actions "lose" the game. It is pure propoganda.

Reading the article, I realized that I had never heard of any of the games or companies mentioned.

From the article:

Take, for example, a game Mr. Bogost, with advice from Mr. Frasca, recently designed for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Called Activism: The Public Policy Game, it lets players decide how to allocate 10,000 virtual campaigners among six interactive scenes that represent different policy areas: education, economy, corporate policy, security, the military, and international affairs. Players who neglect any one policy area end up losing the game. The game coincides with the committee's real-world efforts to recruit 10,000 canvassers for Democratic candidates.

Now that sounds like a fun, fascinating game to play (sarcasm).

It seems this type of propoganda has a very real problem. IT'S BORING! It's hard enough to make a decent game WITHOUT having the political agenda. It seems almost impossible for these people.

http://www.takebackillinoisgame.com/play.aspx

Try it and see if you aren't as bored as I was.

I think history videos are good enough.

[ubiquitin]

Seriously, if you listen to what the Vietnam Veterans have had to say about Kerry's actions in 1971, it's pretty powerful stuff. No need for a video game, just go ask the old guy in your neighborhood who came back from the war and had his uniform spit on. There's a film that gives some interesting details and background information.

Re:I think history videos are good enough.

[y86]

yah history videos are great, but ask a 10 year old whats more fun: watching a movie about car theft, or letting him play GTA3.

Obviously video games are more interactive than movies. People like interaction.

The Net Factor
Video games are better byte for byte than video to spread your views. You can relay that bush is a retard by making a war game thats a 400k shockwave animation and distribute that a whole lot easier than a 650 meg svcd or 5 gig DVD.

The best way to spread your views is to draw attention to them. Emailed shockwave games def do that.

Re:I think history videos are good enough.

[js7a]

So which is worse, some spit on a uniform, or the things described in this video game? If it weren't for that game, I wouldn't know that The portion of the Bush 2001-3 tax cuts benefiting the top 1% of U.S. income earners will rise from 29.8% in 2004 to 51.8% in 2010.

Is there anything similarly quantitative that you want me to know about Kerry's opposition to the war after having served in it, before I vote?

I played it to see what it was like.

[khasim]

#1. Click as fast as you can to get the malpractice cap down to $50,000 (the lowest it will go).

#2. Up research to "medium".

#3. Click as fast as you can to get the "sick" people to move near a hospital and click on "go to doctor".

Do that and you'll "win" every time.

If no image is coming to mind, just think of any political science class you might have had in college. Now imagine the kids who took politics VERY seriously, ate it up and had very little to no life outside it. Those are the kind of people that will be pushing for these games most likely.

Bingo. Their "games" are beyond boring and so easy to "win" once you understand the agenda the developer had.

Nothing bad happens if you choose the LOWEST cap. There aren't any choices. There isn't any thought involved. This games SUCKS!

What happens if I drop the cap to $1? Will I start to see "sick" people coming out of the hospital with surgical instruments left inside them? Will I see mutants because mothers were given the wrong drugs? What negative effects happen at the lower levels?

Serious game with John Kerry

[XxtraLarGe]

Kuma\War has a game featuring John Kerry. It's called "John Kerry's Silver Star," which is about one of his missions in Vietnam.