Stardock released its new political strategy/simulation game today, The Political Machine 2020. The PC strategy game allows players to choose a candidate and run for President against either a computer opponent or a candidate controlled by another person over the Internet.
Candidates include current Democratic front-runners Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders, as well as internet favourites Andrew Yang and Tulsi Gabbard. Republican candidates include Donald Trump, George W. Bush and Mitt Romney. Players can also design their own candidates.
“This game takes politics and brings them to players in a way that is fun and interesting. We use current data to model the US and voters. The game emulates some of the unexpected things a candidate might have to deal with — natural disasters, national tragedies, economic crises — and immerses the player in it,” said Stardock CEO Brad Wardell.
The Political Machine 2020 features unique ideology trees for the candidates that allow each of them to play differently from one another.
“During the game, candidates will visit Town Halls and gain ideology points. These points will let them own certain issues. For instance, Bernie Sanders has ‘Medicare for All’, while Donald Trump can own the ‘Build the Wall’ issue,” said Wardell.
Each issue is modelled on a per-state basis with voter support based on polling data to allow for accurate simulations of how those issues will play out in different states.
“Since the object of the game is to win 270 electoral votes, players have to pay attention to what issues voters care about in swing states,” said Wardell. “The game relies heavily on simulating voter enthusiasm, minority turn-out, and what political issues are most important in a given state.”
The 2020 edition is a complete rewrite of the game with vastly improved graphics and a more sophisticated simulation that combines polling data, voter enthusiasm, and recent US census results to deliver a game that is fun to play for casual players, and realistic enough for political wonks.
