Lack of TV interview shows...

First off, I would like to say I really enjoyed the first Political Machine a whole lot, and I love this one too. Thank you so much for making such a unique game!


Now to my post. I think my most favorite thing from the first Political Machine was the ability to go on news programs and get interviewed. It might have something to do with me always watching the news and currently working on a degree in mass communications; I want to be a news broadcaster. Anyway, I loved the parodies you had in the first Political Machine and how real the shows/questions felt (despite that you only got asked 2 questions). I actually was figuring you would have some more programs to go on, even though I don't think you ever said such a thing. It was just wishful thinking on my part.

I figured even if you did not have any new shows to go on, it would be fine. I was excited to see Bill O'Reilly, Dianne Sawyer/Barbara Walters (I think you named her Barbara Sawyer in the first one), Larry King, etc. in bobble-head form, as well as their new sets. But you've seemed to have removed most of the old ones and just opted for one new one (Colbert) and keep two old one (Bill and Larry King). I'm a little puzzled why you would do this.

At first I figured I was just getting unlucky. I thought there was more shows to go on when I was playing the game. The O'Malley Scenario's description is still the same from the last Political Machine and mentions the show "NightTime", once again, from the last Political Machine. Also, the Coldcut show mentions a parody of The Daily Show in it's description (I figured another new show you added) but alas, they are not in the game.

What's more, after digging through the game files, apparently you were planning to have 60 Seconds return again. I've played the game several times and never ran into an invite onto the show, plus there seems to be no question file for 60 Seconds, so I guess it is not just bad luck on my part. The show really is not in the game.

But it's in the game folder, like I mentioned. You have a new logo for the show, as well as set textures. You even have a bobble-head model for the host named "60seconds". I imported the model into the game and it sort of looks like Morley Safer (then again, everyone on 60 Minutes is old and hard to tell apart).

So, my question is: Will there be more venues to go on? Made possible by a patch? If not, can you at least implement 60 Seconds? You seem to have all the stuff there.

Not that this question is important to answer, but I'm just curious to why you would have everything and not use it? Was it time constrants?



For everyone else playing the game, I see many people on the forum talking about how they can't really set all the positions they want because of limited points (leading to maybe one or two strong positions or many slight positions).

Just like the first Political Machine, you can EDIT your canadate's information through it's info file. Just go into My Documents > My Games > The Political Machine 2008 > Canadates... and it's right there. Just open the file with notepad, like the last game, and change the stuff from there.

Be aware that the positions only show up if it's NOT set at 0 (ZERO). If you just create a canadate and set none of their positions, none will show up for edit in the file. What I did was just set all positions to 1 (don't worry, you have ample amount of points to do so) and then change it to whatever from the notepad.

The issues show up in notepad in their code form. Some are a little confusing, like CRACKDOWN, which is Crackdown On Paparazzi, and FIXINGOBES, which is Fixing the Obesity Crisis. However, I'm sure you'll figure it all out, even if you have to cross reference it with the game itself (like I had to a few times).

If you never edited a canadate before, it's very simple. For example, if you want to have a very strong stance for the violent video game issue, just edit it like this:

<VIDEOGAMEV>100</VIDEOGAMEV>

Now you have 100 points FOR this issue.

<VIDEOGAMEV>-100</VIDEOGAMEV>

Putting the negative there means you have 100 points AGAINST this issue. Meaning, in other words, you don't approve of it.


But still, even though I did put all of them on 1, it seemed one issue, Withdrawing from Iraq, did NOT appear for edit on the notepad for some odd reason.

Either way, if it doesn't appear for you either, just stick <IRAQWAR>#</IRAQWAR> in the notepad. I put it in it's alphabetical order position. I don't know if you have to, but it's just to be safe.


NOTE: For some reason, when you really alter your stances on issues, and going past the points alloted if you were doing it from the game, it shows you as ZERO for all issues when you go to normally edit your character. Do not worry. Once when you start your game, the stances you took on the issues from your editing in notepad will be applied to your canadate and show up in game.

I really hope this helped! And I really hope I get some answers for my questions from a developer or whoever would know.


For the curious, this is what I was referencing to with the 60 Seconds stuff being in the game:


New 60 Seconds logo.


The 60 Seconds studio textures. "The Road to the White House. As the race to the White House draws to it's end, 60 Seconds sits down with the Top contenders."


Morely Safer?
This is the model for the 60 Seconds host.
It might be Mike Wallace (if sticking to the host from the previous game).


Thanks for reading, and post back! I'd love to hear your opinions on the matter of the TV shows and the lack thereof.