This election season I decided to try my hand at politics, at least virtually via a game called Democracy 3, released by Positech Games.
Things didn”t go so well. Then again, I played the role of a brute.
Democracy 3 is a simulation game in which you are a prime minister of a country and have to manage the electorate.
The player hires and fires cabinet members, establishes policies and
Much like the real game of politics, there is no victory condition and cannot be won. Rather, you play until you either lose an election or, as has happened with me multiple times, are assassinated.
Not to say my numerous assassinations weren”t warranted, but I was in these scenarios set on successfully running an atheist country where every drug is allowed and prostitution completely legal and women have no rights. The game”s Catholic Church doesn”t care for the former two characteristics and inevitably kills me. Oddly enough, they don”t mind the latter at all.
That”s the beauty of a virtual polity (you know, people, voters, etc.) — one can play around with the dumbest policies.
The graphical interface of the game is nothing more than simple eye-catchers: graphs, icons and listings. It is not a game for everyone.
Some people need cutting edge graphics and more flashy gameplay.
What is most enjoyable about the game is the ability to create your own story, you are in charge of who you support, what policies you instate and, ultimately, how long you stay in office.
One thing is for sure, though. I would be doomed if I threw my hat in the real-world political arena. I don”t have the patience for it.
And, just like in the game, I would end up trying to pass ridiculous laws, just to get a rise out of people. The Burch Campaign would be an social experiment that would inevitably fail, but it would a beautiful crash to watch. Like a slow moving trainwreck you can”t look away from, but you know you will cringe.
But at least I have the game, so I can sit at home, chuckling maniacally as I commit political suicide, which you can watch on The Diverted”s Youtube channel, www.youtube.com/user/TheTrulyDiverted.
For those interested in the game, it is available for purchase directly from the publishers or Steam and GoG.com.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
