23-08-2004 08:52									#1
	Stardock's: The Political Machine Get a bigger avatar today!

I bought it Friday. So far it's fun. I've never particularly enjoyed these political games, but since I liked Stardock's work with GalCiv I figured I'd try this one. Apparently they have available an "Issues" creator for $10 USD via electronic download or included on-disk for $29.99. I only saw the $19.99 version at BestBuy.

At the easier levels it's predictably simple to hand George W. Bush his ass on Election Night 2004, but at the harder levels the AI cheats by having a significant financial advantage. Your opponent will fight very nasty at Masochistic difficulty level. The default candidates are Kerry vs. Bush, but you can choose from about 2 dozen different politicians from either party or create your own. There's even already been discovered a way to modify the candidates. Simply rename the .Candidate file extention to .txt and make your alterations, then switch it back. In-game, you'll have to select a different candidate then reselect your choice.

On the PM boards people are discussing various expansion pack ideas. Expanding Election Night, incorporating weather to help/hinder campaigning, Third Parties inclusion and so on.

	23-08-2004 10:49									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

I must drink too much coffee. I swore it said, "Starbucks".

	23-08-2004 11:16									#3
	Inflate your Upload Space

Sounds interesting, but not $20 interesting.

	23-08-2004 12:56									#4
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

You couldn't pay me to play this game.

	23-08-2004 13:48									#5
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Having "loaned" it from "an acquaintance", I lost interest after the first game I had with a self-made candidate against Condi Rice. I suppose I could try playing a Republican.

What we really need are 3rd parties in the game. You shouldn't need an expansion pack for that.

	23-08-2004 17:06									#6
	Got spare money?

I think there was a thread about this some months ago, where someone claimed that "Political machine" was basically same game as "Corporative machine", other game of Stardock, with slightly different graphics.

	23-08-2004 17:08									#7
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

I saw the screenshots for that game. The resemblence is noticeable...

	23-08-2004 17:19									#8
	Support Apolyton

I haven't played the Political Machine yet, but I don't think you could say that anymore than you could saying Rollercoaster Tycoon is the same game as Transportation Tycoon.

	23-08-2004 19:01									#9
	Re: Stardock's: The Political Machine Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by DRoseDARs At the easier levels it's predictably simple to hand George W. Bush his ass on Election Night 2004, but at the harder levels the AI cheats by having a significant financial advantage.

On normal difficulty level, I found it very easy to win as Bush. I focused on Florida, the south and the midwest. Then, I pick Arnold as Veep and do everything I can to get California, I put a HQ, tv ad, and as many operatives as possible. I actually won California, swept the South, Florida and the entire midwest, so won the election.

	23-08-2004 23:52									#10
	Support Apolyton

I just got it. It's even more democrat/republican centered than I expected.


And it doesn't even include Kucinich.

	24-08-2004 00:02									#11
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

anyone remember this?

"Mr. President
Year: 1962
Designer: Jack Cavanaugh
Publisher name: 3M
Series: Bookshelf Games
Type: Board
No. of players: 2-4
English reviews: EGP
Rules: DBAR-RULE
Comment: 2 or 4 players "


http://www.gamepile.com/3m24.html

	24-08-2004 01:02									#12
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

quote: Originally posted by VJ I think there was a thread about this some months ago, where someone claimed that "Political machine" was basically same game as "Corporative machine", other game of Stardock, with slightly different graphics.

It is, and the "Corporate Machine" itself is based on an earlier version called "Entrepreneur". Ironically CM was simplified, apart from some code improvements, because Entrepeneur was too detailed at some points.

	24-08-2004 05:52									#13
	Put an end to popups!

I had CM. Good game. Ran very easily.

PM will probably be interesting once the price becomes acceptable.

	24-08-2004 07:15									#14
	Put an end to popups!

It's out already? I didn't know that. I thought it was still in Beta stage.

	24-08-2004 07:21									#15
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

The game is a snore.


Maybe if it had a more dynamic political scene and up to 5 or 7 parties running it would be more interesting.

	24-08-2004 07:55									#16
	Increase Your PM Length

Well, it being a Stardock game helps in that regard. Makes it more likely they'll put in more later. Should have done that in the first place, but that's capitalism for you.

	26-08-2004 20:48									#17
	Full PM-box? Change here!

I tried out a fantasy game and "duck herding" was the primary issue.

	27-08-2004 03:44									#18
	Tired of ads?

Um, 'kay. Were your settings at easy, domestic peace, global peace? Also, were you campaigning in the South?

Those Southerners get some wacky ideas into their heads at to what's important and what's not. At least the game's behaviour we can explain...

	02-09-2004 14:07									#19
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

I have a funny feeling that because I work in politics, I'd find this game horribly stupid.

I want someone to go make a game like the good old "President Elect" series. I still have some of those old disks around from the Atari ST game "President Elect: 1988". I know the Atari 800 "President Elect: 1984" is around here somewhere as well. GREAT game series. A pity they didn't keep it up.