- The Political Machine
Infobox VG
title = The Political Machine
developer =Stardock
publisher =Ubisoft
designer =
engine =
released = vgrelease|NA=2004-08-10
genre = Strategy
modes =Single player ,multiplayer
ratings = vgratings|ESRB=Teen
platforms = PC
media =CD-ROM
requirements =
input ="The Political Machine" is a strategic-political
computer game fromStardock , in which the player lead a campaign to elect thePresident 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.Each game starts with the selection of a pre-created candidate or creation of a fictional candidate from one of the two major American political parties, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.
Headquarters and fundraisers are possible, the effectiveness of which depends on various factors.
When enough money is accumulated the player can "invest" it in advertisements (either through newspapers, radio, or TV mediums). The effectiveness of these ads are determined by several factors. An ad supporting tax cuts will work better with Republican
Texas than with DemocraticMassachusetts .A key factor in the game is the concept of "Stamina" and "Turns." In each turn (representing one week), a candidate has a set amount of stamina to engage in activities. For example, establishing or upgrading a campaign HQ costs more stamina than creating a newspaper ad.
The sequel, "
The Political Machine 2008 ", was released June 16, 2008, with new characters introduced, such asBarack Obama andJohn McCain . [http://www.stardock.com/newsitem.asp?id=1022]Candidates
Basic candidates
Democrats
*
Bill Clinton
*Hillary Clinton
*John Edwards
*Al Gore
*Jeffory Jackson (fictitious character based on politician and1984 and1988 presidential candidateJesse Jackson )
*John Kerry
*Chloe Sullivan
*Tom Vilsack Republican
*Barbara Bush
*George H. W. Bush
*George W. Bush
*Laura Bush
*Dick Cheney
*Mike Forbes (fictitious character based on1996 and2000 presidential candidateSteve Forbes )
*Bill Mason (although there is aBill Mason , he is not related to politics. The computer game character is based on the 1996 Republican presidential NomineeBob Dole )
*Condoleezza Rice
*Arnold Schwarzenegger Unlockable candidates
These candidates have to be defeated by a member of the opposite party in Campaign Mode in order to unlock them.
Democrat
*
Wesley Clark
*Jimmy Carter
*Bill Richardson
*Dick Gephardt
*Lyndon B. Johnson
*Woodrow Wilson
*Franklin D. Roosevelt
*Thomas Jefferson (member of the Democrat-Republicans, predecesors to the Democrats)Republican
*
William Taft
*Gerald Ford
*Ulysses S. Grant
*Richard Nixon
*Theodore Roosevelt
*Ronald Reagan
*Abraham Lincoln
*George Washington (sympathetic to the Federalists, predecesors to the Republicans)Criticism
It is not possible to run as a third-party or independent candidate. However, one can do so by going into the game's internal files and changing the number next to the candidate's political party
External links
* [http://www.politicalmachine.com/ "The Political Machine" official website]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/political-machine The Political Machine MobyGames]
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