When we set out to make Political Arena, we knew there would be a lot of interest in the first truly comprehensive and authentic political sim, however we were blown away by just how much excitement there has been.
Most amazingly, we were highlighted on NPR’s national flagship program, All Things Considered. You can also listen to the segment that aired.
“How the game unfolds from there… is up to the player — and of course, the voters that make up the game's simulated political world. But … players don't need to be top-tier gamers — or political junkies — to dive right in. ‘Now, if you want to dive in and be a sort of Machiavellian operator and be a Nancy Pelosi or Mitch McConnell, you absolutely can,’[game creator Eliot Nelson] said. ‘But if you're not familiar with politics, if you're not familiar video games, the game will very much hold your hand.’”
Political Arena creator Eliot Nelson appeared on Cheddar to discuss the game.
MarketWatch called us a political version of ‘SimCity.’
“Having politicos help craft the process does have its advantages, though. There’s a knowledge of the playbook that is sometimes used to get out of scandals. And there are plenty of those. The game’s artificial intelligence forces the player to deal with unexpected road blocks. For example, a political ally has said something stupid; how do you react? …’ The game offers a realm of possibilities for someone wanting to forge a traditional path, re-run old campaigns or go completely outside-the-box.”
Political Arena earned the “something worthy of your attention” spot in Axios’ highly curated gaming newsletter (not bad considering we were listed above news about Animal Crossing!).
We also nabbed a small shoutout in Playbook, Washington's most read email tips sheet.