November 7, 2007
Although this is GamePolitics, we rarely discuss games about politics.One reason, perhaps, is that there aren't very many. We note that Democracy ($19.99 for PC) has been re-released this week under the Tri-Synergy label. The game's P.R. verbiage on the GameSpot website reads in part:
It is up to you as elected leader of a nation to solve everyone's problem, and do it in such a way they'll consider re-electing you next term. Every decision you make affects someone, for better, or for worse. Manage the economy, the environment, and a rather large body of very angry voters...
As president, Democracy places you in control of one of ten nations... You must maintain the budget, levy the taxes, pass new laws, change existing laws, manage important policy decisions...
Voters are divided into groups consisting of a wide variety of people you will have to please. These include Socialists, Capitalists, Parents, State Employees, Environmentalists, Motorists, Smokers, Drinkers, and many more. You can track your popularity amongst these groups with each policy change.
Not every gamer's cup of tea, to be sure, but it sounds like fun for political junkies... like GP.
Comments
There is a new version in the works too, will be in beta before the end of the year.
I am under what obligation to answer that question?
instead of just the president, have others be senators and congressmen. just think of the late-night fillibustering raids!
I am actually going to pick this up, because I am a sucker for originality and games featuring micro-management. I believe addiction started back in the days of SimCity and SimAnt. I'm surprised (since it is a re-release) that I never heard of it before.
@Conejo - For that comment, you win the award of "made-coffee-spew-onto-keyboard" on grounds of hilarity and originality.
Kudos =)
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
Seriously, i'm a bit of a politics fan, and it'd be interesting to play this game, could there possibly be any political bias in the game involved? I.E. play the game left wing style and the country falls apart from the inside?
http://www.positech.co.uk/democracy/
I wonder why Jack's not all over this.
(yes, I went there)
awesome.
Curses, no Mac or Linux version. Come on guys, get with the program!
He hasn't established the connection.
Democracy doesn't work. you need approval to pass laws, and to keep you in power.
If you are honestly out to serve a greater good - very rare in politicans - then you simply cannot do it in a Capitalist country as it will weaken the economy.
Actually there is a mac version of the game, but not a demo methinks, if you click buy you get the option of windows or apple. not a bad price either for £13
Oh, I see what you did there.
That's not even funny.
Yes it is, I guess we don't share some areas of the massive thing known as "sence of humor".
It may have something to do with my "name", which implies differences between me and the average person in terms of humor.
No, Democracy as an idea works just fine. I think the problems we see today (at least those I see, I don't know your nationality or views on how effective different democracies are) are because leaders, as you say, are often more concerned about what is best for them or for a small group rather than what is best for the population as a whole.
Do you honestly believe mainstream political parties have the people at their hearts?
No it wasn't. But then, I am a Communist.
A direct democracy, at least in my opinion, would have the people act as the puppeteers of the government, and not the other way around. Or better yet use a computer analogy. The government would be the computer, mighty powerful, but useless without anyone telling it what to do. The citizens are the end users, using the government as their tool and leaving it alone when they no longer need it. And the government, effectively isn't "self-conscious".
This is how a direct democracy works, and it's why no governing body would subject itself to this kind of system. After all, why would anyone try to hold a high position in government if their job is just to be the errand boy for ordinary citizens? Politicians need some sort of an ego, and a direct democracy won't help them retain it.
I believe that democracy would work incredibly well if the mainstream parties DID have the best interests of the people at heart, but I'm aware that the current White House administration, most of Congress, and most of the candidates for President in '08 care less about the people than they do about either their own well being or the furtherment of their narrow-minded idealogies.
But, as an old saying goes, if men were angels there would be no need for a government. Apparently the temptation of power, the ability to force your ideas on others, and the general cushiness of the job (paid something around $120K a year, nice benefits, and you only work half the year at most) led to where we are now in the US.
How old are you though? Seriously.
@others..
Heres what would be really cool for it though..
Combine this, simcity, and the sims online together.
You play as a character who can progress through political stuggles, your goal is to become mayor of your town, then eventually become govener then president or what not.
Oohohoh.. and put in cilivizations.
that way you can battle it out with other nations and eventually rule the world. (thats your main goal of the game.) other players then will try to nock you out of office and ect, creating a sort of cut throat nature of politics.
Go to war too much with wrong people, and the npc's will begin to revolt. Create a peaceful eden, and the players will have trouble taking you over. ect. ect..
None really..
Just the russians have a saying. IF by 17 you dont belive in communism, you have no heart. But by 30, if you still belive in communism, you have no brain.
Do you really believe that the communist party has the people at their heart?
Even if they do someone who doesn't will take over.
Yes... considering that 'government' has killed far, far more people than any street thug...
Indeed.
but here is a better version of the quote.
"Any man who is not a communist at the age of twenty is a fool. Any man who is still a communist at the age of thirty is an even bigger fool."
George Bernard Shaw
The party? No. The ideals? Possibly.
It's closer than anything else I know of.
@Picho, misin teh post
It seems I still have a heart. I am not Russian, so I don't think that applies to me anyway.
Besides, the only people over 30 who care about politics are the politicans themselves.
@ BlackIce
I think it was Lenin who said, "To fulfil our dreams we had to get into power. To retain that power we had to destroy our dreams."
The problem with communism is that people are greedy by nature. And like most bad ideas, it sounds good when you don't think it through.
@ the honoured Anonymous
I've always wondered why you link to Economist mag. Nothing wrong with it, just random curiosity.
I've chosen my camp. I probably won't stay in it, but i'm here for a little while yet.
Dude, you still playing that game? You've been at it for three days now!
"I keep trying to win this scenario, but this one Senator keeps interjecting...Where the hell is Cheney? I warmed up his orange vest."
I wonder if once you pass a certain milestone, the people revolt from impatience and lack of confidence.
You'll probally come over to my side of the perverable fence.
Which would be..?
Anarchy i would guess, if you want to classify it into someting. But not like the, lets all get together and destroy the goverment anarchy, more of like the secret hide in the shadows and laugh at everyone else anarchy.
Or rather the cowboy style anarchy... Hunt down bounty heads, but affilitate myself with no goverment, party, religion anything.
My side of the fence is simply where there is no fence. The grass is always green here.
"I wonder if once you pass a certain milestone, the people revolt from impatience and lack of confidence."
well apparently i didn't bolster security enough.
i was hit by a terrorist attack and then radical militant groups threatened my life right before the demo ended.
Still left wing, i'll remember to give you a call some day.