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Examining the Role of Video Games In the US Election
Gamasutra is running an article discussing the influence of games and gamers on the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections. The connection, while minor, is continuing to strengthen, from allowing people to register to vote through their consoles, to in-game advertising, to games about and involving the candidates. However, it may still be an uphill climb as media-sharing becomes easier. From Gamasutra:
"There are reasons games have grown slowly compared to other technologies for political outreach. The most important one is also the most obvious: since 2004, online video and social networks have become the big thing, as blogs were four years ago. Instead of urging voters to 'play my game,' as Loftus and I surmised, candidates urged their constituents to 'watch my video.' Online video became the political totem of 2008, from James Kotecki's dorm room interviews to CNN's YouTube debates."
Awesome turn based strategy game, it used to let you pick any of the Candidates running in either primary, I dont know when they changed it, or what else they changed.
http://www.kongregate.com/games/thup/campaign-game
I'm voting for a Cyberdemon to be president!
This joke fails on so many levels. Firstly, I'm English so I can't vote. Secondly, there aren't any cyberdemons standing. Thirdly, even if a cyberdemon were to stand they'd probably be an independent standing for a niche Military/Satanic party so it'd be a bit of a waste. I can't imagine cyberdemons are very interested in environmental or economic policy. And lastly, and perhaps most importantly, cyberdemons aren't real so you can't vote for them anyway. Mind you, nor is Sarah Palin. I don't know who thought her up but that joke has gone way too far already...
http://twitter.com/onion2k
Politics be damned, just vote for the coolest dude and get him representin' the people.
No sig today...
The thought of people registering to vote through an XBox is frightening.
But the thought that most such voters will be too caught up in GTA to actually leave the house makes me feel much better!
I can see it now: "The Secret Black Negro Muslim Socialist Brigade from Planet Marx vs. The Moose-Shooting Rogue Hottie and the Grizzled War Hero in: DEBATE DEATHMATCH!"
"What we need... is change!"
"You're a terrorist!"
"What?"
"Don't make me pull out my Moosekiller 2012 BFG!"
"No, what I'm trying to say is..."
"Maverick!"
Obama reels from the blow
"If that's not Marxism, then I'm not a soccerbull pitmom!"
Obama staggers, his shields are failing
"Hockey!!"
he drops to his knees, his HUD awash in alarms
"And now I'd like to tell you about..."
"NOOOOOOOOOO!"
"JOE SIXPACK, DON'TCHA KNOW!"
the Red Team has captured the base. Respawn in four years.
Why oh why must the online media trot out these "gamers change the world" stories. Gamers are not special.
My mom says I'm special.....*sniff*
Just wait for next election's ramp up, when the Tron Paul video game is released. Then we'll all find out whether these people were right. http://www.xkcd.com/497/