This is Crowdsourcing Mornings! This post takes place every weekday morning and highlights one crowdsourcing project I liked from Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or other crowdsourcing websites.
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We’re building POLITICAL ARENA: a video game that puts you in the center of American democracy. This is a first-of-its-kind political sandbox where no two playthroughs are alike, complete with high stakes campaign strategizing, backroom legislative dealing, special interests, and the ever-watchful press. Developed by acclaimed political journalist and humorist Eliot Nelson and a team of veteran game designers, developers and artists, Political Arena will be available — with your help! — on PCs and Macs in 2022 with more platforms to follow.
Choose your politician and navigate through a fully simulated political environment. This is an open political world where you can do almost anything: think of it like “Grand Theft Auto” … but with more crime.
Thanks to Political Arena’s rich AI and robust events system, no two playthroughs are alike. Be prepared to watch your best laid plans scrambled by unforeseen events. Wars, economic tumult, and natural disasters are just several of the developments that will keep you on your toes.
Of course, you’ll have to answer to the voters, but don’t worry: you’ll be able to improve your skills, make allies, grow your campaign warchest and accumulate fame and prestige. The path you take is up to you: legislative lion, party maverick, ladder climber — it’s your call.
Political Arena gives you so much control over your politicians, you’d swear you were a megadonor.
Have you ever wanted to change the world? Have you ever wanted to navigate the corridors of power? Have you ever wanted to take on corporate sellouts? Have you ever wanted to evade questions about your irregular tax returns? Well, here’s your chance.
Run a top-notch campaign by leveraging Political Arena’s real world data. Learn what issues drive your constituents to the ballot box, scrutinize the latest polls, and analyze the unique demographics of every congressional district.
Strategize with the data at your disposal: Do you fire up your base? Or do you win over undecided voters? Or do you sit back and hope your opponent says something really, really stupid? The choice is yours. But beware, news events and shifting demographics can drastically change what voters want from their leaders!
Political Arena isn’t just about getting up close and personal with politics; it’s about … well, getting up close and personal with politics. American democracy is in peril: special interests and anti-democratic forces are growing ever more sophisticated — leveraging the courts, fake grassroots organizations, arcane legislative maneuvers, academia, the media and more to achieve their goals.
The better you know how things work when the TV cameras are off, the better you’ll be able to bring about positive change. Plus, with POLITICAL ARENA, you’ll never have to personally endure the worst parts of elected office, like all the amorality or wearing a suit to a state fair.
And here’s the rub: things are only going to get worse until we better understand this stuff. Sure, you could get an internship, but there are only so many of those to go around. Besides, the pay is terrible and who wants to spend that much time dressed in business attire in a Washington, D.C. summer? It’s awful. Trust us.
Political Arena will enhance your understanding of democracy the more you play the game, just as all the best simulation games increase their players’ understanding of their subjects — whether it’s Kerbal Space Program or the NBA2K series. And thanks to POLITICAL ARENA’s engrossing simulation and infinite replay value, you’ll soon be the most impressive-sounding participant in your Thanksgiving table political arguments (and — y‘know — better equipped to ensure the survival of American democracy).
As of November 1st, this project has raised $87,000 of their $100,000 goal. This project has 4 days left to raise the $100,000 or it will not be funded. For a pledge of $20, you will get one digital game copy. For a pledge of $40, you will get one digital game copy plus merch. To learn more and to pledge money, go to: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/politicalarena/political-arena?
