While presidential candidates may not be actively courting the gamer vote, that doesn’t mean some fun can’t be had with presidential politics and video games. Below each candidate has been matched up with the video game that best represents them. Disagree with a selection? Comment below with your own choice.
Barack Obama – Final Fantasy VII
In 1997 Square released the seventh installment of its acclaimed RPG series and it became a worldwide sensation. Contrary to all past experience, American gamers ate up a Japanese-style RPG en masse. Its slick graphics and presentation have led many to accuse it of being more style than substance. In fact, while Final Fantasy VII is often cited as one of the best games ever made, you are likely to find just as many who decry it as the most over hyped ever. These vocal gamers often note that while Final Fantasy VII got all the headlines, much better RPGs were being released on the PlayStation-such as Suikoden.
Hillary Clinton – Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!
No, this title selection is nothing as defamatory as labeling Hillary Clinton a monkey. The Donkey Kong Country series of games were huge blockbusters at the time of their releases. In fact, many viewed them as the best games ever with their slick pre-rendered graphics and not-too-extreme patforming gameplay. Still, as the series progressed gamers grew weary of the titles. By the third title’s release gamers were no longer sure they wanted more Donkey Kong Country. Worse still, hindsight had caught up with the first two titles and they no longer seemed quite so perfect or revolutionary. By the third title’s release gamers were seeking change, and some mild gameplay gimmicks were not enough. Still, many consider it the best of the series.
Mike Huckabee – Bible Adventures
Yes, Mike Huckabee is a former Baptist minister. Yes, Bible Adventures is one of the most famous (perhaps infamous) religious themed games ever made. However, that connection alone isn’t the only link between these two. Huckabee, like Bible Adventures publisher Wisdom Tree, is a fighter. Wisdom Tree was one of those rare companies to release unlicensed titles for the original NES (another, Tengen, was more the Ralph Nader of games). Wisdom Tree was really born out of the ashes of Color Dreams (the religious right movement?) and was successful in large part due to the rise of Christian book stores. The actual game may not impress you much upon first play, but there is a certain fun, winning charm to its weirdness. Again, much like Mike Huckabee.
John McCain – Desert Bus: Penn & Teller’s Smoke and Mirrors
While John McCain and illusionists Penn & Teller might not normally mingle in your mind’s eye, they do in video game land. Penn & Teller’s Smoke and Mirrors is a game of legend. A collection of weird minigames that never fully got released, the highlight was certainly Desert Bus. A bus driving simulator, Desert Bus tasked you with driving a bus from Tucson, Arizona to Las Vegas, Nevada in eight hours of real time. The game could not be paused, and the bus occasionally would veer to the right. So, like the Arizona senator you set out on a grueling long journey (to your party’s nomination) and occasionally veer off to the right (frightening potential independent voters). Uncanny.
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February 13th, 2008 at 4:48 am
[...] Candidates Were Old School Video Games February 13th, 2008 | Category: Gaming News Game With a Brain has a bit of fun picking old school vido games to suit its view of the top four presidential [...]
February 13th, 2008 at 7:56 am
[...] Candidates game alter egos Presidential candidates and their video game alter-egos | Game With A Brain lawlz [...]
February 13th, 2008 at 10:46 am
[...] Click over to see what other games the candidates line up with. [...]
February 13th, 2008 at 11:22 am
LOL @ Huckabee! Classic.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Where’s Ron Paul? He’s not out yet, and he’s different enough (for better or worse) to warrant a slot here.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
For Ron Paul I’d say something like Earthbound, dedicated fans, but never gets the proper “air time” in the US.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
[...] Check Out The Rest HERE [...]
February 13th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
this is just too good, i like it.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Ron Paul is Pong for Playstation. A game based on an outdated system that proved to be the staple of video games (politics) at the time. While by today’s standards seems outdated and impractical for the average gamer. The new scenarios and tricks created better gameplay, but it’s still the same ol’ BS for PS.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
lol @ John McCain! “will occasionally veer off to the right” xD
February 13th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I think that the Earthbound bit for Ron Paul is better. That pong thing is just a weak smear, the same way this article seems to be a quiet plug for Obama. It is all subjective, but I think if there were ever a vote for which video game to make president, nobody would argue that FF7 wins this election, no contest.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Yeah, Jake, shame on the author making a “a quiet plug for Obama”. Heaven forbid he should have an opinion. Are you sure Ron Paul is Earthbound (a popular SNES game) and he’s not Out of This World (a much less popular, and much more annoying SNES game).
February 13th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
WHERE IS RON PAUL?
February 13th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Ron Paul is not listed because he cannot win. Seriously, more than half of the delegates are decided, and he has 16 delegates – what a movement!
Anyway, I think you hit the nail on the head with this one, although I don’t know DKC well enough to judge that pick. The FF7 choice in particular is a great example for Obama – big support calling it the second coming in digital form, others saying it’s all fluff and no substance.
February 13th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Needs more Ron Paul. Even if he can’t win, he should still be a video game.
February 13th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Earthbound can’t be Ron Paul… maybe Secret of Evermore?
A game that looked good, did a lot of things right, but just couldn’t quite break into the mainstream?
February 14th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I don’t like how you’re implying that Obama is all show and no substance.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
[...] candidates’ stand on videogame legislation. But what if the candidates themselves were games? Game With a Brain provides the voting guide for [...]
February 14th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
[...] Game With a Brain has a bit of fun picking old school vido games to suit its view of the top four presidential candidates. Barack Obama is Final Fantasy VII, the site says: …[FFVII’s] slick graphics and presentation have led many to accuse it of being more style than substance. In fact, while Final Fantasy VII is often cited as one of the best games ever made, you are likely to find just as many who decry it as the most by hyped ever. [...]
February 15th, 2008 at 8:27 am
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February 18th, 2008 at 6:53 am
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May 16th, 2008 at 11:21 am
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