The Political Machine 2008 is a government simulation game from Stardock and the second game in The Political Machine series, in which the player leads a campaign to elect the President of the United States. The player accomplishes this goal by traveling from state to state and engaging in a variety of activities to either raise money or raise poll numbers. It is the sequel to The Political Machine released in 2004. The Political Machine 2008 features new candidates such as Barack Obama and John McCain. The game focuses on much more current issues and the constant need for money.
The game features three more scenarios, election in the American Civil War, an election taking place in an alternative European Union, and an alien world.
The developers said that they would add new content into the game before November 4 (the election) and update the issues as they changed in importance. New candidates were also planned once minor bugs were ironed out.
Presidential candidates
Democrats
Fmr. President Bill Clinton (D-AR) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (D-TN) Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) Fmr. President Jimmy Carter (D-GA) - unlock Fmr. President John F Kennedy (D-MA) - unlock Fmr. President Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX) - unlock Fmr. President Woodrow Wilson (D-NJ) - unlock Fmr. President Thomas Jefferson (DR-VA) - unlock Fmr. Senator Mike Gravel (D-AK) - download Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) - download Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) - download
Republicans
Lord Kona (fictional) President George W. Bush (R-TX) Vice President Dick Cheney (R-WY) Fmr. New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) Fmr. Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) Fmr. President Ulysses S. Grant (R-OH) - unlock Fmr. President Richard Nixon (R-CA) - unlock Fmr. President Ronald Reagan (R-CA) - unlock Fmr. President Theodore Roosevelt (R-NY) - unlock Fmr. President George Washington (VA) -unlock Fmr. President Abraham Lincoln (R-IL) - unlock Fmr. Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR) - download Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) - download
It is not possible to run as a third-party or independent candidate.
Reception
The game received "average" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. IT Reviews said 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".