Thanks to the [email protected] group and Professor Susanne Lohmann for a heads up about Howard Dean's new videogame. For those not in the know, Dean is a candidate for President of the United States of America, the country's most important office (though there are others with more prestige). Dean is the front-runner for the Democratic Party nomination, and he got to the front of the pack using the internet and social software.
For more on the Dean campaign and the internet, read elsewhere.
What about the game? You wave signs, hand out literature, and knock on doors to build support in various counties of the great state of Iowa, where the nomination contest begins in a few weeks. Supporters breed supporters, and as the clock ticks down, Dean marches to victory! Game experts have not been kind to political games in the past; one wonders how this one will be received.
Well, at least Dean shows he's not afraid of the technology. We now await the response of the anti-game candidate, Joe Lieberman. Most likely: more TV ads.
[Edit: From the It's A Small World After All Department: The Howard Dean game was developed by Ian Bogost of Water Cooler Games. Also on staff: Gonzalo Frasca, author of September 12, the game that caught Greg Costikyan's ire.]
As flash games go, it's ok. The games that Blue's News links to almost every day are generally better, although the artwork in the Dean game is first rate. Sadly, the mini-games don't really get harder as the game goes on, so once you've played the three of them once, you've sort of seen it all. The little info tidbits about the Iowa Caucus was interesting.
As for Senator Lieberman, he's my buddy. The National Institute on Media and the Family singled out RR64 in 1999 as an example of how the ESRB isn't tough enough and gives out too many Teen ratings. From their site:
Road Rash 64
Description: A racing game where the objective is to punch and kick other drivers and pedestrians off the road.
Summary: Due to excessive amounts of violence, illegal/harmful behavior which may cause fear, and some offensive language this game is not recommended for children of any age.
No mention of the fact that there is no blood, injury or death in RR64 (your rider always gets back up and rides away, unless your bike is broken) and that we had a big pro-helmet law statement as the first page of our manual.
Oh well, wait 'till someone notices that female avatars can take their shirts off in SL.
Cory
Posted by: Cory Ondrejka | Dec 30, 2003 at 00:35