the-political-machine-2008 posts

As the US presidential election goes into its final weeks, Stardock has announced that it has updated its recent strategy-sim game The Political Machine 2008 with a number of new features. The update is only available via Stardock's Impulse download client.

The update includes adding the promised matchmaking features in the game's multiplayer mode. According to the press release, "It also includes features allowing players to print out bumper stickers and campaign pins from within the game: Players can create their own candidates, controlling everything about them in how they look, and then export them as an avatar for on-line use or use the new print shop to create a variety of physical media with their creations including campaign pins, bumper stickers, and more. The update adds the new vice presidential candidates, Joe Biden and Sarah Palin to be incorporated into campaigns as well."

Stardock and its CEO Brad Wardell have always been champions of PC gaming and the belief that the platform is as viable as the console industry. Today the publisher released what their are calling the "Gamer's Bill of Rights". They are 10 statements that they believe PC gaming consumers should get for their purchases. Stardock intends to follow its own statements; it has announced that anyone that can't run their recent strategy game The Political Machine 2008 on their PC can get their money back from Stardock if they purchased the game in retail stores.

Here is the full list:
1) Gamers shall have the right to return games that don't work with their computers for a full refund.
2) Gamers shall have the right to demand that games be released in a finished state.
3) Gamers shall have the right to expect meaningful updates after a game's release.
4) Gamers shall have the right to demand that download managers and updaters not force themselves to run or be forced to load in order to play a game.
5) Gamers shall have the right to expect that the minimum requirements for a game will mean that the game will play adequately on that computer.
6) Gamers shall have the right to expect that games won't install hidden drivers or other potentially harmful software without their consent.
7) Gamers shall have the right to re-download the latest versions of the games they own at any time.
8) Gamers shall have the right to not be treated as potential criminals by developers or publishers.
9) Gamers shall have the right to demand that a single-player game not force them to be connected to the Internet every time they wish to play.
10) Gamers shall have the right that games which are installed to the hard drive shall not require a CD/DVD to remain in the drive to play.

One of the biggest problems currently with PC gaming is that many hardware rigs simply can't run modern PC game titles. Stardock, who has a better handle on this issue than most, still got surprised when people couldn't run their latest title, the strategy-sim game The Political Machine 2008. Why? Because the game requires video cards that can run pixel shader 2.0 features and that's something that many people who pick up the game discover they can't do on their PCs (the game is designed more for a mainstream audience).

So Stardock has announced on their official forums that they will offer full refunds on The Political Machine, even if folks bought the game from a brick-and-mortar store. Refund requests must be made within the first 10 days after the game is bought and must contain the box, the receipt and a note on what video card the person has installed n their PC.

[Via Blue's News]

You'd think with all the mania surrounding the race to the White House that a game like The Political Machine 2008 would fit right in. The game lets players pick from a list of bobbleheaded caricatures of prominent politicians from past and present, which brings a unique (albeit slightly creepy) sense of style. Each excels or falls short in critical areas like charisma, wealth, experience, comeliness (attractiveness), fund raising ability and total stamina for running the campaign marathon. Players then hit the campaign trail and rush from state to state to win recognition and votes. Yet, when everything is said and done, putting a lighthearted and simplified spin on the political race only makes fora mildly entertaining strategy game. More in-depth after the jump...

This week in new releases we grab a handful of PC-exclusives. The long-awaited release of the Spore Creator Creator comes to an end on June 18, strategy fans get their fix with Supreme Ruler 2020 set to his on June 17 (June 20 in Europe) and this week also marks the scheduled release of the free-to-play MMO, Requiem: Bloodymare on June 19.

Also hitting this week is The Political Machine 2008. From developer Stardock, the team that brought such PC-exclusive hits as Sins of a Solar Empire and Galactic Civilizations II, The Political Machine 2008 is a humorous look at the American political system and features caricatures of your favorite real-life Democrat and Republican figures. See kids, voting can be fun!

The full list of releases for the week ending June 21 after the jump.