The Political Machine

by Ubisoft

Product Features

• Become a campaign manager to lead your candidate's race for the White House
• Take on all the hot issues of the 2004 elections, including tax cuts, the war, and abortion
• Choose from pre-existing candidates or design your own
• Give speeches, take out advertisements, solicit endorsements, and select your election staff
• For one player or online multiplayer options

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002LAUNE
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: August 10, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,918 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Lead the race for the Oval Office as campaign manager for a U.S. presidential nominee. Featuring today's most controversial issues, this game takes you inside the political process in your bid for the hearts and minds of American voters.

Game Features:

• Write your ticket to power: From Bush or Kerry to Schwarzenegger or Reagan, pick your candidate from today's leading political figures to influential presidents of the past.
• Tackle hot-button issues: Walk a political tightrope in all states on heated topics such as the war in Iraq, tax cuts, the fight against terror, and abortion rights.
• Survive the media frenzy: Launch smear campaigns or defend your credibility on TV news shows such as Barry King Live and The O'Maley Factor.
• Build your political warchest: Solicit endorsements from interest groups across the political spectrum.

Product Description

Political Machine is a different kind of a strategy game. You are the campaign manager for a American politician trying to become President. Help your candidate face the trials and tribulation of a politician running for office. The game makes use of real world demographic information to provide a complete playing field, while modeling real-life issues from the War On Terror to the economy. It's a must-have for political junkies, while being accessible and fun for casual players. Play in single or multiplayer mode, as the accurate model of the US political system and Census data educates and entertains players

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Political Genius!, August 11, 2004

By 

DoctorNick (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Political Machine (CD-ROM)

This is one awesome strategy game that I've been hooked on. Mostly I'm a fan of FPS games and console games, but this is truly a gem of the genre.

The single player is fun and original, and fighting for former presidents in Campaign mode is a quest I'm still working on. The AI for this game seems to act and follow the real life politicans which the game mimics. The TV interviews are also hilarious, and somewhat informative.

If you're worried about the graphics content, don't be. This game looks and feels like a comic book, except that you're playing on one in a Risk-like atmosphere. The pictures of some of the TV Interviewers and our former President can get smirks and at least a smile from anyone. (Check out the screenshots too!)

The kicker however is the multiplayer option. This game is free from the lag and problems of many online games since it only connects to a server to find a game, and once a player finds a game, the host of the game takes over for the connection. This may be a new way for me to settle an argument, since defeating another real person not only requires skill but also brains.

Some of the fun options included are the Fantasy mode, which allows you to randomize settings, and of course developer Stardock's trademark customizable options. One can create his or her own character and play online with it! Also it's possible to include new candidate pictures and add new questions for the TV interviews.

I've been playing the Political Machine since its beta version, and I still can't get enough of it. If I haven't persuaded you, please check out the demo at PoliticalMachine.com. Thanks for reading, and if you're buying it...ENJOY! (I know you will :D )

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun game - not a simulation, September 13, 2004

By 

Griswel (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Political Machine (CD-ROM)

Political Machine is a simple, easy to play game of running for President. Since there hasn't been a good one since I boxed up my old 286, this game was a welcome surprise.

Every candidate has strengths and weaknesses. All the usual suspects are here to run in the 2004 campaign. Every candidate has an equal shot at the Gun Lobby and every other special interest group, which is odd, but you get used to it.

The campaign process is simple to get into. Fund raising will take you longer to figure out (hint: fund raise in states nobody campaigns in if they're rich, like NY, CA, TX).

Be sure to check specific issue polling often. You may find that you're down 80-20 on More Jobs (turns out you were against it in your opponent's ads). Also, some issues are more important in some elections (one game abortion was a key, most games it was not). There's a good deal of replayability, though you can' call it realistic. This is not a simulation.

The Campaign mode, ten elections against increasingly strong opponents and AI, is a great way to get you into the game. You really see the ebb and flow of a campaign as you get used to the mechanics of the game.

This is a fun, inexpensive game. If you like politics, then this will keep you busy for quite a while.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars -Somewhat Educational, October 2, 2004

By 

SpiritChild "spiritchild" (Amherst, MA United States) - See all my reviews

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Political Machine (CD-ROM)

What an excellent idea for a game, but not as many bells and whistles as you might be wishing for.

The Politcal Machine is a game about running for president of the United States. At your disposal is a variety of options from hiring smear campaigners, spin doctors and Press Release people. Along the way you have to watch out for all those politcal Activist who can either help or ruin your campaign. You can raise your poll ratings if you do good on a variety of spin off news shows. There is a hardball show called Hardhitter, a 60 minutes program called 60 Seconds. Last, what good campaign would be complete without speeches, advertisements and winning endorsements from the Religous Right or The Gun association. It's all here in this game!

From what I just explained, any political and news fan would be excited, but when you actually play the game its bland. There is no voice interviews or speeches(everything is read). The questions on the TV shows are very limited. You get 2 or 3 questions and they can be repetitive. Some of the animated faces dont look like the candidates and when you pick a female character, the game refers to you as "HE", not "SHE". The game really isn't bad, but it's not up with todays standards and expectations of what should be in a game.

If you are a political fan like me and you must have the game, then go ahead and buy it. It might not have the bells and whistles that it should, but it's a fun little time waster and somewhat addictive because its challenging.

Graphics=3
Commentary and Music=2.5
Fun Factor=4
Replay value=4

Total=3.4 STARS