14 DAY TRIAL // Stardock has clearly understood that marketing to the niches is a smart way to make money. Both its latest game successes, Galactic Civilization II with its two expansion packs, and Sins of a Solar Empire have been created and marketed to satisfy the needs of two rather small gaming communities. And their next project, The Political Machine 2008, seems to be similarly niched, which means it might turn out similarly successful.
The game will rely on the same core mechanics of the 2004 Political Machine title, but with everything taken to a whole new level. As Brad Wardell, Chief Executive Officer and president of Stardock, told Gamespot, there will be "spin doctors, smear merchants, media consultants, fixers, and more [...] We've created a custom candidate maker, scenarios, better multiplayer, more operatives."
The player will fill in the position of campaign manager for one of the available political figures and then take them campaigning across America, trying to win the election and become President of the United States. After the goal is reached at least once, a slew of new political figures are unlocked, including Al Gore or Bob Kerry. There is also the possibility to create a candidate in your own image, selecting his capabilities, setting his stance on several issues and his political affiliation.
The game is surprisingly accurate in the way it portrays the political process America, as it accurately predicted the results of the 2004 Presidential election. Seeing how it is coming out sometime during summer, the player will get the chance to try and predict the results of this year's electoral contest.
This time around, Stardock has taken one step forward and has also introduced other scenarios in the game. You can opt to play the 1860 American presidential election, the election just before the Civil War and you can also try more weird scenarios, like "Political Europe as seen by an American tourist." And, in a very tongue-in-cheek reference to Galactic Civilization II, you can even contest the election for the position of Emperor of the Drengin Empire, an election where the main issue will be slavery vs. extermination.
If you like your simulations political and your elections close, keep an eye out for The Political Machine 2008.