Barack, Paper, Scissors: New Online Game

Barack, Paper, Scissors: New Online Game

March 11, 2008
First of all, who even knew that Rock, Paper, Scissors had an "official governing body?"

Not me, certainly.

But the USARPS, which lays claim to that title, has jumped into the ever-widening pool of presidential campaign-themed, quickie online games with Barack, Paper, Scissors. A press release from the USARPS describes the game thusly:
The interactive Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) application pits Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama against five opponents on his way to the Oval Office. 

Players control the actions of Barack Obama as he competes against President George W. Bush, Senator Hillary Clinton, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (let’s see how his foreign policy holds up…) and of course, Senator John McCain.

USARPS league commissioner Matti Leshem perhaps overstates the case a bit when she says:
No sport in the world is as closely linked to democracy as Rock Paper Scissors. Every game of RPS is like its own mini election where players assert their freedom by choosing the throw that’s right for them.  And there’s never a need for a recount… though it is possible to tie!

Although Barack Obama's name is used in the game's title, Leshem said that shouldn't be considered an endorsement:
For us, it’s about finding the best way to promote democracy. Mr. and Mrs. Obama were kind enough to incorporate one of our throws in their son’s name. Frankly if ‘John McScissors’ or ‘Papery Clinton’ were running, we could easily have chosen them as the protagonist of the game.

GP: No favoritism in official Rock, Paper, Scissors play - that's reassuring...

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This NOT from WorldRPS. This is America's offical league, the USARPS league. WorldRPS is for losers.
The name reminds me of another pun: Can't stop Barack, can't stop Barack....

I was surprised to know that the RPS is a real organization.
Rock Paper Scissors promotes democracy? o__O

This guy seems quite delusional about the importance of this game.
Bush only gave me rocks, and Ahmadinejad only paper. The challenge is pretty slim in that gaem...
No even mildly amusing :(
Many a great decision has rested with the rock, the paper, and the scissors. From who the President will be to who leaves the tip. Never underestimate the monumental importance of this game.
Well, at least it's not another arcade fighter.
Not a bad way to get traffic to their website, even if the game does not offer much in the way of entertainment.

I did like the ‘John McScissors’ or ‘Papery Clinton’ part, seems rather fitting.
Excuse my ignorance, Whats Obamas son called ? Rock Obama?
Or did i just miss a bit of humour there?

I like Papery Clinton. Can we fold her into an aeroplane and lob her across the room?
"This guy seems quite delusional about the importance of this game."

From what I understand, the World RPS Championship (yes) is an intentionally hilarious event. It has referees and disputed calls and everything.
Bob:

As I read it, "Mr. and Mrs. Obama" refer to the parents of Barack (ba-rock).
Cute.

WAY more fun than all those stupid "whack a mole" games that have come before...
I made it to Arrnold. Then he said "You will go baack to de start of de game."

I thought it was fun. :)
LOL, thanks Diane.

Could be an interesting idea to stop all that money being spent on advertising the politicians.
Sit Papery and Ba-Rock down and play 3 rounds for the win. Then Mcscissors can fight the winner for presidency.
I'd watch that.
I always saw Rock, Paper, Scissors as a representation of Checks and Balances. Each group can override another group, but in turn can be overridden by the third. Maybe the reason Bush kept throwing paper is because his policy is that the Executive branch shouldn't be able to be beaten by either the Judicial or Congress branches?
@ Mogbert

Great analogy. Fits perfectly.

I remember watching "That 70's Show" There was one episode where Hide and Fez were play RPS through the show. Fez would always choose Rock "Because nothing can beat rock." His complete lack of understanding of RPS resulted in him continuosly losing the game.

Fez = GW
@ E. Zach
Was that episode where they changed it to cockroach / nuclear holocaust / shoe.
Funny stuff.
shoe squashes cockroach / nuke destroys shoe / cockroach survives nuke
I'll be NUKE, nothing can survive that..... oh cockroach.. you win.... I'll be NUKE, nothing can survive that..... oh...

Sorry, coughcough, off topic :p
I didn't know that GW, Arnold, and Ahmadinejad were in his way to becoming president, considering none of them can be president.
@ Bob

That's the one.

@ Billy

They put them in to fill slots. They were late to the party and were only left with 3 invitees. So they had to pad the game.

But it would be interesting to have a Hillayr, Obama, McCain game. Let's see, Obama Beats Hillary, Hillary beats McCain, McCain loses to Obama... wait that doesn't work.
@ EZK

Try that scenario again in JT world and I'm SURE it will work ;)
It is interesting to note that many a game developer will mention taking a "Rock, Paper, Scissors" approach to balancing weapons or classes in video games. WorldRPS is great, they take their silliness very seriously.

"Good ol' Rock. Nothin' beats Rock." -- Bart Simpson
I think that these sorts of "political" online games help candidates to attract more people to their websites in a most funny and inexpensive way.

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Posted 03/09/10 at 10:41pm
gellymatos: Vald: I responded to the DRM comment.
Posted 03/09/10 at 10:18pm
nightwng2000: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/03/the_single_best_reason_to_pass.html
Posted 03/09/10 at 10:16pm
nightwng2000: So, if the Health Care plan passes, Rush Limbaugh will go to Costa Rica for his health care? Which has scoialized medicine?
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ZippyDSMlee: bbwwaaiiinnsssss *shuffle shuffle*
Posted 03/09/10 at 04:35pm
Valdearg: Responded.
Posted 03/09/10 at 04:31pm
Valdearg: Indeed you did. I'll get to it in a moment.
Posted 03/09/10 at 04:27pm
gellymatos: Vald: Responded to your DRM comment.
Posted 03/09/10 at 03:36pm
Valdearg: @AE: Aww.. But I like Balloons.. @Pete: In all honesty, I missed it the first 2 times I read the sentence, so I'd probably be a poor editor, haha. I just happened to glance down and see it. :P
Posted 03/09/10 at 03:29pm
pete_gallagher: lol, owned
Posted 03/09/10 at 03:21pm
Andrew Eisen: Like hell that's going to happen. That unlimited supply of ECA balloons is mine. Mine, you hear? Mine!
Posted 03/09/10 at 03:17pm
pete_gallagher: thanks vald, i fixy. you trying to take AE's job? :P
Posted 03/09/10 at 02:59pm
Valdearg: @Pete: Typo in your update: "The HAIHONGCHANG is black and ->quiet<- realisitic looking... I assuming you meant quite?
Posted 03/09/10 at 11:44am
pete_gallagher: updated the original Wii-gun story, thanks guys
Posted 03/09/10 at 11:24am
Andrew Eisen: Also, no one has yet made a "Vidja Games!!" argument. The parents have only offered an explanation as to why the kid picked the gun up in the first place. Nothing I’ve read gives me the sense that the parents are shirking responsibility and blaming a toy.
Posted 03/09/10 at 11:21am
Andrew Eisen: From what I understand, there is a federal law that requires toy guns to have an orange tip in the barrel but a Wii remote shell might not be subject to it. Either way, this particular peripheral is manufactured by a Chinese third party company.
Posted 03/09/10 at 10:41am
Valdearg: Though, this revelation should shift the argument from "Vidja Games!!" to realistic gun toys, no matter what media they are used in. I won't hold my breath, though..
Posted 03/09/10 at 10:39am
Valdearg: I thought Nintendo designed all of it's accessories to be white and as unrealistic as possible..
Posted 03/09/10 at 10:39am
SimonBob: Yeah, isn't that why they had to change the original Zapper from grey to orange?
Posted 03/09/10 at 10:39am
Valdearg: ...Wow... That gives this whole Wii shooting thing a whole new view. I can't imagine that wii gun being legally sold, here.
Posted 03/09/10 at 10:36am
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: It was made on China. I understand that is illegal to make realistic gun toys on the USA, am I right?
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