How many still actively play?

from PolMach Forums
I've seen a great cutback in the number of posts on the political machine game forum and not much talk about the game anymore. That is to be expected somewhat with the election over. Is everyone bored of the game? Is there a challenge on multiplayer? To make the game a bit different, I offered the 19th century campaign rules but had no takers. It seems that every campaign is run pretty much the same as the same issues take over. We really need an update that will make the game new again by being able to manipulate the issues. What are some other thoughts about the current state of the game.
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Reply #1 from PolMach Forums Top
Personally, I just bought the game a few days ago. I've played maybe half a dozen games. Yeah, it's a little dull that you always get the same issues. Even "randomizing the issues" still gives you the same set, just in a slightly different order, and with the loopy ones thrown in. Personally I would have preferred issues that were not quite that odd, I mean like "welcome alien visitors". Surely it wouldn't be tough to come up with some plausible issues for future elections. Actually many issues are pretty much the same for decades -- like social security, abortion, affirmative action -- it's kind of too bad that the game gave so much emphasis to issues that will surley be short-lived, like the war in Iraq. (Whatever you think about the war, it will surely be over within a few years, either because the US has won or because we gave cut and ran.)
Reply #2 from PolMach Forums Top
I still play, but haven't been on a lot recently, and would like to have a 19th century challenge against you. So maybe sometime tomorrow or something...
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Reply #3 from PolMach Forums Top
I don't play the game online, but I have something that might keep you busy.

We've all played around with various candidate statistics, but see if you can create a candidate that is able to win every last vote while getting every last voter out. I think there's approx. 200+ million elligible voters in the game...

Hint: I couldn't seem to create an opponent with no stamina...it seems the game's creators anticipated that move.

Good luck! Let me know how you made out... [email protected]

Delegate
Reply #4 from PolMach Forums Top
Hint: I couldn't seem to create an opponent with no stamina...it seems the game's creators anticipated that move.


I did (name: Dumbass Potatoe, pic of Dan Quayle), and when I played as him, Adlai Stevenson beat me with 97.2 percent of the vote. I only won my home state of Alaska, and Adlai got 100% in like 44 states, even though he picked Fidel Castro as a running mate. The only states he didn't get 100% were Alaska, Indiana and it's bordering states, because I picked Quayle (from Indiana) as as a running mate. However, when the computer played as him, on Masochistic, not only did he get out of Alaska on week 3 (something I couldn't do the whole game), he built HQ's in Texas and Illinois.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I play at least 2-4 games per week of Political Machine, and that hasn't changed since its release. For some reason, its very addictive for me - but I love politics.. Also, the games "Style" is really great - I love the look and feel of it.

However, I must confess, I seldom play Multiplayer, as the lobby never has anyone in it. Too bad, i'd like to play online more.

PM is on my shortlist of games that have been installed on my PC for more than 3 months.
Reply #6 from PolMach Forums Top
Yeah, I've been playing for one week now. I think the game is really fun, but it seems that you just have to become like a machine yourself to be able to play at the high levels without cheating or anything. I haven't got the exact routine yet, I'm still trying different things, but once you get locked into a strategy, you have to go full bore on it or else. So, really, the game takes less than an hour to play through, with the real game being the analysis and strategy formation in between. If anyone wants to set a time for an online game, email me at: [email protected]
Reply #7 from PolMach Forums Top
I play online a lot, recently i've seen more, hope this is a good sign. THanks to whoman starting a lot of threads. I know latour wants to play online and I do.

what's your aim or msn? we've been trading a couple recently and the past couple of days like 5-6 are in the room at a time!

P.S. Whoman:
1)i've been considering modding the issues to create modded time capsule issues for your historical candidates. Any suggestions on how to do this?
2)is Whoman your name, cause I had a friend when I was young who had that name?
Reply #8 from PolMach Forums Top
The only way to mod the issues is the no longer used issues mod. I think it was a mistake for stardock to take that away. My feeling is they thought only political nerds would want to play historical issues. This comes from a response from frogboy to a thread when it was suggested they change the map to historical EC counts. He stated in essense that historical characters would need to prove themselves in the modern political arena. IMO its a mistake to dissallow players to mod the issues. Playing with the same issues all the time makes the game stale. The strategy changes little from game to game. Randomizing only makes the game more unrealistic in the beginning, but in the end the game always comes back to the important issues.

Stolenrays, my last name is not Whoman. I came up with the name in deference to being a fan of the longtime Brit SF show Dr. Who, and the 69 is for the '69 Chiefs, their only Super Bowl championship.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
We didn't want to take away the issue editor, Ubi Soft forced us to.
Reply #10 from PolMach Forums Top
We didn't want to take away the issue editor, Ubi Soft forced us to.


Tell them to give it back. This would certainly bring a renewed interest in the game by making each game different.
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I agree with whoman.  We either need an updated version/patch or the ability to change more for ourselves.