User Reviews (1 - 11 of 39)

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Give it a chance

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 29
Date: August 02, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Its not nice to trash a game before its release just because you don't like the subject.

Past games in this genre have been very interesting, though none of the CD era games rivals the old Campaign '88 I played for hours on my old Commodore 64.

This game has glitzy graphics and is pretty dumbed down, but it looks like it could be fun. For $20 it seems like a worthwhile ride.

JEC

Political Genius!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 26 / 27
Date: August 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is one awesome strategy game that I've been hooked on. Mostly I'm a fan of FPS games and console games, but this is truly a gem of the genre.

The single player is fun and original, and fighting for former presidents in Campaign mode is a quest I'm still working on. The AI for this game seems to act and follow the real life politicans which the game mimics. The TV interviews are also hilarious, and somewhat informative.

If you're worried about the graphics content, don't be. This game looks and feels like a comic book, except that you're playing on one in a Risk-like atmosphere. The pictures of some of the TV Interviewers and our former President can get smirks and at least a smile from anyone. (Check out the screenshots too!)

The kicker however is the multiplayer option. This game is free from the lag and problems of many online games since it only connects to a server to find a game, and once a player finds a game, the host of the game takes over for the connection. This may be a new way for me to settle an argument, since defeating another real person not only requires skill but also brains.

Some of the fun options included are the Fantasy mode, which allows you to randomize settings, and of course developer Stardock's trademark customizable options. One can create his or her own character and play online with it! Also it's possible to include new candidate pictures and add new questions for the TV interviews.

I've been playing the Political Machine since its beta version, and I still can't get enough of it. If I haven't persuaded you, please check out the demo at PoliticalMachine.com. Thanks for reading, and if you're buying it...ENJOY! (I know you will :D )

President Forever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 58
Date: August 13, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I havent played this game, however it seems similar to the game president forever which is a very good game.

Awesome value for the price

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 13
Date: August 19, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I've had this game for a few days and have really enjoyed it. I love playing the campaign mode and at higher levels it can become almost impossible to win. It has enormous replayability by using different cantidates and different strategies.

There are a few things that could be better. It doesn't cost more to advertise in large states so your strategy usually won't include taking a large number of the smaller states. Also election night isn't as good as it could be. It goes from state to state showing how won but it could provide more information and also more suspense by having close states being undecided instead of called right away. Supposedly they are making up update to deal with these issues though.

The bottom line is that the game is really fun AND really cheap. You can't really go wrong for this price. You'll have hours of fun.

zero compatibility!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 5 / 16
Date: August 22, 2004
Author: Amazon User

watch out for this game. it is only compatible with a thin minority of computers (as far as I have experienced). It only works on certain brands of video cards. So even if you have a great video card, if its not on their list, the thing won't even start. As far as programming goes, that is just terrible. I don't know what they were thinking. So be warned- read the sys req list CAREFULLY and be sure you have one of their listed video cards. otherwise you will be disappointed.

Who'da Thunk It???

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 27 / 33
Date: August 25, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Ubisoft??? The same company that brought you Planet of the Apes, Myst and Prince of Persia??? Yup, it's them. And they knocked my socks off with this one! What a suprise and a good one at that. You don't shoot anyone, there's no fancy 3-D graphics, no dungeons or dragons or spells, nothing blows up...all hail the DOS-yuppie god!

Until yesterday I wasn't aware that gaming companies were still in the business of making PC games for people who had IQ's of over 80. In fact, I haven't seen a strategy game this thoughtful and educational since Civ II. The game's premise is simple enough. You are running for president of the United States and you have to win over each state during a 10 month campaign. You must make a special effort to get the "swing states".

You can play as Bush or Kerry, or even create a character and play through a campaign mode. The game is thoughtful and contemporary; tackling hot current issues. It is realistic as well as you WILL be tempted to lie in certain states on heated topics (ie: war in Iraq) to get the vote. But you WILL be taken to task by the media if you cross up your lies. No bull, you must be clever to win this game.

You can stage smear campaigns and make TV appearances. You must collect endorsement from interest groups based on your political stance. The game is incredibly realistic. However, the real clincher here is that it has tons of educational value as well. If you don't understand political concepts, such as the electoral college or swing-votes, you most certainly will after playing this game. You'll also understand why politicians lie so much!!! It's part of the game, baby!!!

I'd give this one five stars for realism alone. I'd also send it 5 stars for pure unadulterated educational value. The only 3 cons here are a poorly written manual, poor font and an built in element of planned obsolescence. On the first point, the manual really should be better - or the game should have a built in tutorial. With reagrd to the second, I don't know how many times I'll have to say this before I die so here I go again: HEY, SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS - STOP MAKIN THE DARN FONT THAT MAKES YOU GO BLIND!!! (There, I said it - now I feel better).

Finally, with regard to the element of obsolescence. I think whoever designed this game was clever enough to realise that there is a select few people who will want more from Policial Machine. A case in point is that even in fantasy mode, the only two parties allowed are democrat and republican. You can't create your own party. For instance, I know some people who want Michael Moore to run for Prez. Some of you lunkheads will also want to run Nixon again. Of course, JFK or FDR might even make a comeback if theres a Political Machine 2!!

Unfortunatly, I don't think that this will happen. As more and more companies continue to pound out action shooters for X-Box and Playstation 9-year old kids, thoughtful strategy games like the Political Machine are becoming increasingly rare. I can just see this game being discontinued and sold at an Amazon Z-shop 5 years from now at 50 bucks a pop. I think the band Badfinger said it best: "If you want it you better come and get it, but you better hurry cuz it's goin' fast"!!!

Great for news and political junkies.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 13
Date: August 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The Political Machine is great for those of us that follow the election and understand the nuances within. You hire operatives, choose what to give speeches on, run ads, etc. It is great fun. Also, the candidate combinations may vary. For instance, while playing last night George Bush chose Condi Rice for his V.P. and Wesley Clark ran with John Edwards.

The game keeps track of how well you are doing by assigning states the colors of red (Republican) or blue (Democrat).

Just a reminder, lest ye forget, the goal is to win the Electoral College. The popular vote means squat.

Enjoy.

Doesn't work and support is terrible

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 11
Date: August 28, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game only to find out that it apparently doesn't work with the ATI Radeon 320M which is supposedly one of the supported video cards. I found the problem listed a couple of times on the message board. To make matters worse when I contacted them about the problem they acted like they knew nothing about it. So I described the problem and they guided me through the same steps that the guided the other posters through which didn't work for them either. They then tried to convince me that it was a problem with my computer. The same tactic they tried with the others. When I explained my computer was 1 month old and that there were others they gave the same story to they told me they weren't getting enough info. Like it was my fault. Hello they are the tech support people. Either tech support isn't talking to each other to know that this is a repeated problem or they think that the blame the consumer approach is effective. Either way poor customer service, but hey they got you you paid your $20 and you can't take opened software back.

Would be lots of fun if it only had a brain

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 7 / 16
Date: August 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

In the 1980s, there were lots of really intelligent political games, like SSI's President Elect for the Apple II. This one adds some delightful board gamey features, but the creator clearly has more experience designing games than reading about how politics really works. Typos and misuses of terminology abound (candidates are called "president-elect"), and a goofily Bill O'Reilly-ish world view pervades, depicting the Democrats as out of touch with independent voters. When you go to campaign in California and are told that both Bush and Kerry are identically "pro-environment," you realize how much games have been dumbed down since the glory days of SSI's "President Elect" -- another game designed by a Republican (Reagan always won), but with way more smarts.

So far, so bad

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: September 01, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I can't get this game to work properly. The states don't show up on the map. The company has so far provided little assistance on this matter. Like so many games in recent years, it is heavy on graphics--which even here are cartoonish and silly--but weak on concept design and artificial intelligence. The candidate choices are strange. There have been better presidential election simulation games. Save your money.

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