The Political Machine 2008

Lore & Background

The Political Machine 2008 includes a roster of Democratic and Republican candidates, both real and unlockable. Democratic candidates include Senator Barack Obama, and unlockable historical figures such as Jimmy Carter, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Jefferson, and Bill Clinton. Republican candidates include President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Senator John McCain, and unlockable presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Theodore Roosevelt, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln. Additional candidates were available as downloads, including Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Joe Biden, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, and Hillary Clinton. The game also features a fictional Republican candidate named Lord Kona.

Reader's Guide

The game received 'average' reviews according to Metacritic. IT Reviews noted that 'the gameplay is sufficiently engrossing and varied to keep your interest.' GameSpy called it 'a really solid beer & pretzels strategy game.' 1UP.com complained that 'with more focus on the real-world conflicts and unpredictable events that plague campaigns, running for office might be a bit less tiresome.' The developers planned to add new content before November 4 and update issues as they changed in importance, with new candidates planned after minor bugs were fixed. The game includes three additional scenarios: an election in the American Civil War, an election in an alternative European Union, and an election on an alien world. It is not possible to run as a third-party or independent candidate.

Did You Know?

• The game features three additional scenarios: an election in the American Civil War, an alternative European Union, and an alien world.
• Unlockable candidates include former U.S. presidents such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson.
• The game allows players to run as third-party or independent candidates, such as Ralph Nader and Bob Barr.