The Political Machine 2008
The Political Machine 2008 | |
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![]() Box art | |
Developer(s) | Stardock |
Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Government simulation |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
The Political Machine 2008 is a government simulation game from Stardock and the second game in The Political Machine series, in which the player leads a campaign to elect the President of the United States. The player accomplishes this goal by traveling from state to state and engaging in a variety of activities to either raise money or raise poll numbers. It is the sequel to The Political Machine released in 2004. The Political Machine 2008 features new candidates such as Barack Obama and John McCain. The game focuses on much more current issues and the constant need for money.[1]
The game features three more scenarios, election in the American Civil War, an election taking place in an alternative European Union, and an alien world.
The developers said that they would add new content into the game before November 4 (the election) and update the issues as they changed in importance. New candidates were also planned once minor bugs were ironed out.[2]
Presidential candidates
[edit]Democrats
[edit]- Fmr. President Bill Clinton (D-AR)
- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
- Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (D-NC)
- Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (D-TN)
- Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)
- Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)
- Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM)
- Fmr. President Jimmy Carter (D-GA) - unlock
- Fmr. President John F Kennedy (D-MA) - unlock
- Fmr. President Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX) - unlock
- Fmr. President Woodrow Wilson (D-NJ) - unlock
- Fmr. President Thomas Jefferson (DR-VA) - unlock
- Fmr. Senator Mike Gravel (D-AK) - download
- Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) - download
- Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) - download
Republicans
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Pol._machine_2008_screenshot.jpg/220px-Pol._machine_2008_screenshot.jpg)
- Lord Kona (fictional)
- President George W. Bush (R-TX)
- Vice President Dick Cheney (R-WY)
- Fmr. New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY)
- Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
- Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)
- Fmr. Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA)
- Fmr. President Ulysses S. Grant (R-OH) - unlock
- Fmr. President Richard Nixon (R-CA) - unlock
- Fmr. President Ronald Reagan (R-CA) - unlock
- Fmr. President Theodore Roosevelt (R-NY) - unlock
- Fmr. President George Washington (VA) -unlock[3]
- Fmr. President Abraham Lincoln (R-IL) - unlock
- Fmr. Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR) - download
- Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) - download
It is not possible to run as a third-party or independent candidate.
Reception
[edit]Aggregator | Score |
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Metacritic | 73/100[4] |
Publication | Score |
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1Up.com | C[5] |
GamePro | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
GameSpot | 7.5/10[7] |
GameSpy | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
IGN | 7.3/10[9] |
PC Format | 79%[10] |
PC Gamer (US) | 81%[11] |
PC Zone | 81%[12] |
Wired | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The game received "average" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[4] IT Reviews said that "the gameplay is sufficiently engrossing and varied to keep your interest".[14] GameSpy called it "a really solid 'beer & pretzels' strategy game".[8] 1UP.com complained that "with more focus on the real-world conflicts and unpredictable events that plague campaigns, running for office might be a bit less tiresome".[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Stardock. "The Political Machine 2008 lets gamers run for President" Archived 2021-11-09 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ The Political Machine forum post Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine (about halfway down the page)
- ^ George Washington was an independent, but the game only allows for a two-party system
- ^ a b "The Political Machine 2008 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b Manion, Rory (June 23, 2008). "The Political Machine 2008". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ Dagley, Andrew (June 30, 2008). "Review: The Political Machine 2008". GamePro. Archived from the original on July 1, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ Todd, Brett (June 20, 2008). "The Political Machine 2008 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ a b Rausch, Allen "Delsyn" (June 20, 2008). "GameSpy: The Political Machine 2008". GameSpy. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ Butts, Steve (June 18, 2008). "The Political Machine 2008 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ "The Political Machine 2008". PC Format (217): 112. September 2008.
- ^ "The Political Machine 2008". PC Gamer. September 2008. p. 75.
- ^ "PC Review: The Political Machine 2008". PC Zone: 64. October 2008.
- ^ Cavalli, Earnest (June 16, 2008). "Review: Political Machine 2008 Makes Politics Fun, Affordable". Wired. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ "Kalypso Media the Political Machine 2008 review - IT Reviews". Archived from the original on 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
External links
[edit]- Satirical video games
- Political satire video games
- 2008 video games
- Video games based on real people
- Cultural depictions of presidents of the United States
- Cultural depictions of politicians
- Cultural depictions of George Washington
- Cultural depictions of Abraham Lincoln
- Cultural depictions of Thomas Jefferson
- Cultural depictions of Ulysses S. Grant
- Cultural depictions of Bill Clinton
- Cultural depictions of Hillary Clinton
- Cultural depictions of Joe Biden
- Cultural depictions of John F. Kennedy
- Cultural depictions of Lyndon B. Johnson
- Cultural depictions of Jimmy Carter
- Cultural depictions of Theodore Roosevelt
- Cultural depictions of Al Gore
- Cultural depictions of Woodrow Wilson
- Cultural depictions of George W. Bush
- Cultural depictions of Richard Nixon
- Cultural depictions of Ronald Reagan
- Cultural depictions of Sarah Palin
- Government simulation video games
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- Stardock games
- Ubisoft games
- 2008 United States presidential election in popular culture
- Video games developed in the United States
- Windows games
- Windows-only games
- Video games set in the United States