Political Fun and Games

Kaet plays Donkey John and New York Defender

Do you think the political simulation games you examined would have been "effective" in communicating with people via the Internet?

Donkey John: Although the game was very simple and i can see how one would get addicted to it. i think its message was quite effective. The rules that you have to read before playing the game give an outline of what the situation is, then it is coupled with the graphics which give a visual (kind of) how it is done.

New York Defender: I don't think this game was very effective, a lot of people would play the game (i definately spent more time playing it then donkey john), however i dont think that people will spend to long considering the issue, not only because so much time has passed, but also because we have seen the images of the planes crashing into the towers so many times i think we have become desensitised to the image.

Was the political message underpinning the political simulation games you examined immediately obvious? If not, were you driven or interested to find out what the game was trying to "say" (apart from the fact that you have to as part of the workshop)?

Donkey John: i think that the political message was immediatley obvious because of the little introduction and you are looking at it whilst playing the game. Also because of the election campaign focusing on this issue it has been getting a bit more awareness about it lately. I would be tempted to find out more about this issue because it plays to the side of me that wants to defend the little people. A nifty idea might be when you get out for a link to appear on the exit screen that would take you to the site, so those who are interested but couldnt be bothered looking can be taken straight to it.

New York Defender: Im not altogether sure what the message of this game was (was it written in french somewhere?) Does it have something to do with France opposing the coaliton of the willing from when all that was going on? or is that over analysing and it is really just about the fact that skyscrapers are very vunerable? Anywho i would not be driven to find out the message or cause behind this because I am over the whole event from too much media coverage.

If you had to write a political simulation game similar in size and structure to those you examined, (a) what would be the point you were trying to make and (b) how would the game be structured and operate in order to make that point? (Just give a very brief outline).

OK my game would be called the Political Fishbowl. It would be based on a real game that is slightly addictive called InsaneAquarium The way the normal game works is you have an aquarium in which you have to feed all the fish and keep them happy, when you feed them they poo money which you collect and once you have so much you go up a level, once every so often an alien comes and tries to kill your fish who you must protect, the levels get progressivley harder. In the political version you would be john howard and the fish you are looking after would be the minor parties and core community groups with vested intrests. You keep them happy by feeding them with your lies and they poo out political support and funding. The alien will be played by Mark Latham who will try to corrupt the minds of your fish by offering them better lies which you must protect them from. Once a certain amount of political support is gained the problem will be solved and you can progress to a harder problem such as the 25% hecs increase.