Persuasive takes gaming political
By Stephen Ryan
CNN Headline News
(CNN) -- With one of the most hotly contested presidential races now history, political junkies can stay sharp the next four years with persuasivegames.com.
It's a politically based gaming site set on proving that games don't always have to be rudimentary entertainment; they can also deliver educational messages, even to adults.
First up is "Take Back Illinois," a four-part game that originated from the Illinois state House GOP. It addresses four policy issues: medical malpractice, education, jobs and economic incentives. The idea is to get you involved in every issue. The game will force you to grapple with each one.
Ian Bogost, co-founder of Persuasive, says, "Take medical malpractice, for example. The doctors flee when you raise the prices." The better you do with each task, the more you can improve your performance with the other issues. However, Bogost says, " 'Illinois' is very much a game about the Illinois state GOP perspective. It's very much a biased view."
On the flip side, "Activism: The Public Policy Game," is sponsored by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "It's a public policy exploration device," says Bogost, also a Georgia Tech professor whose teachings focus on video game criticism and rhetoric.
The player decides what issues are important, then the game changes accordingly. When you're done, you can play from other people's views. The different perspectives give you the broader picture, so to speak.
"You may be in Georgia thinking, 'Gee, I wonder how soccer moms in Kansas feel about that issue,' " Bogost says.
"Activism" lets you find out. "It's not scientific polling," Bogost continues. "But I am planning to take the issues and work with social sciences experts at Georgia Tech."
While "Activism" is sponsored by a Democratic group, it seems less partisan than "Illinois." You can play it without engaging in a partisan viewpoint.
The most famous "screamer" of the presidential race has long dropped out, but Persuasive had a title based on his campaign, called "The Howard Dean for Iowa" game. A player's task is to travel to the Hawkeye State to help Dean win the Iowa caucuses. You can recruit friends to help you canvas neighborhoods, pass out pamphlets and wave Dean signs. A job well done will result in Iowans attending caucuses in support of Dean.
Bogost considers himself a theorist and a practitioner, combining his gaming research at Georgia Tech with practice.
"When I get data back from a polling experiment, I look at it as a legitimate experiment in public policy," Bogost explains. "The idea is to make games that have an agenda. I'm trying to advance people, not as an entertainment form but as a social commentary."
Bogost tries to make his games accessible. Everything a player needs is online and the games require just a basic computer. And the best part is, you don't have to pay to play.
"People don't have to pay right now anyway," Bogost said. "But, of course, I hope there is a future for my games where people would spend money."
