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."

Comments

FIRST TROUT!

[Anonymous Coward]

I AM A FISH!

78

[Anonymous Coward]

63

Do as I say, not as I do

[Anonymous Coward]

So, Barack Obama doesn't think it's "fair" if some people make more money than others, so he wants to redistribute your wealth. But his campaign has brought in significantly more donations than any other campaign. Did he consider that fair? Did he redistribute it to Hillary Clinton in the primary? Did he redistribute it to John McCain in the general election?

Meanwhile, his definition of "rich" has gone from $250k to $150k and will undoubtably drop again, while his timeline for troop withdrawal (didn't Nancy Pelosi promise it in 2006?) has gone from 1 year to 5+ years.

Re:Do as I say, not as I do

[Anonymous Coward]

Looks like you struck a nerve. I would also add that Obama's view of the role of government in the average person's daily life is terrifying. So is his view of the source of government power. Obama was caught on tape lamenting the fact that the Constitution is a document of negative liberties, a problem indeed for a man who believes that the government is the ultimate authority, and that only by it's benevolence does the government allow its citizens a minimum level of freedom and a minimum percentage of the fruits of their own labor.

When I see election video games on CNN...

[syousef]

...then they'll matter. That and I'll stop playing video games. I mean can you imagine a video game based on the US election? You can play Palin with her bimbo stupidity blast....or Macaine who's old age ray bores the enemy to death....or you can play token black man Obama who confuses his enemy by sounding like Osama. Yeah that's a game I'd play...after a lobotomy.

Re:Oh no, not again

[Aladrin]

Wow, you seem really, really disturbed over this. Have you ever considered that maybe your attitude is the problem, not theirs?