good political simulations?

[Ned Kelly]

Whether online, or able to be torrented, I'd really like some suggestions.
Thanks!

[Vendetta]

http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/138/Hidden+Agenda.html

One of the best I've played, you need DOSBox to play it, though.

[Wanted Man]

I always think it's a bit of a shame that there are not that many. Tropico is good, but I would consider it more of a construction building game with political aspects. Other games tend to be very old and flawed (Crisis in the Kremlin, for instance). A while ago, Republic: the Revolution was hyped up quite a bit, but it turned out very disappointing in the end.

I also once tried out a couple of games by the same company called "President Forever" (US) and "Prime Minister Forever" (UK) which were all about political campaigns, but they were both pretty boring. If only because I only played the demo, in which you can't even finish the campaign. And of course you're not suddenly going to become president with the WWP or prime minister with George Galloway... :(

[Chris]

Geo-Political Simulator is fun, although it is impossible to go against capitalist economics in it (in an earlier version, nationalisation was possibly at least, but it was removed). It also suffers from being pretty much a Beta, with a lot of cut features (like nationalisation) and some mechanics (like HDI change/new sectors in a country) not being implemented yet.

Democracy 2 is simple, relatively cheap and fun. I suggest buying this one, as it is an indie game made by a single guy. It's also relatively easy to mod, so one could make the game more marxist.

President Forever/Prime Minister Forever/Chancellor Forever are very fun election simulators, but very difficult to pirate (bought the british & german version). Free demos are available.

[Q]

Cybernations (http://www.cybernations.net/).

The game itself is not that interesting, the politics happens in the community around it. It has around 20k players and The International (http://theinternational-cn.com/index.php) is the biggest left alliance.

[Wanted Man]

CN is good simply by virtue of being multiplayer. It basically combines the role-playing element of NationStates with some basic game mechanics (of which people don't have too high expectations, because it's just a browser game) and it works out great because they simply let people get totally committed and addicted to the entire alliance system.

That CN is good is no big news, but what I think is really sad is that the amount of video games based on politics tend to be very flawed. I wonder if we'll ever see a good game like that.

[Tomhet]

Hearts of Iron 2 let's you play as any country mostly from 36-41 or so.. You can be anything from 'facist', to 'stalinist', 'market liberal', Last game I played I had Germany as a Comniterm member..

[Q]

CN is good simply by virtue of being multiplayer. It basically combines the role-playing element of NationStates with some basic game mechanics (of which people don't have too high expectations, because it's just a browser game) and it works out great because they simply let people get totally committed and addicted to the entire alliance system.

Wait, you play it? Who are you? Where are you? :blink:

[Q]

Hearts of Iron 2 let's you play as any country mostly from 36-41 or so.. You can be anything from 'facist', to 'stalinist', 'market liberal', Last game I played I had Germany as a Comniterm member..

The game runs from 1936 to 1953 and to 1963 if you have the extension installed (I think it was Armageddon that added that decade?).

[bcbm]

just cause 2

[Red Commissar]

The game runs from 1936 to 1953 and to 1963 if you have the extension installed (I think it was Armageddon that added that decade?).

The whole Hearts of Iron series covers the WW II series, usually starting at 1936 and going through World War II. Armageddon in HoI 2 bumped it up to 1963. HoI 3 I think goes until 1953 as of the current expansion.

These dates can easily be changed though. The problem is that those end dates generally represent to where they've actually made events and techs for, so anything beyond would be empty.

HoI series are more geared towards warfare. There is a political aspect in that it can cause differences in what ministers control your country, what benefits and disadvantages that brings, and the diplomatic possibilities that open up. Ultimately its all to the end of the War though.

In terms of a more "political" simulator from the same developers, I'd say that the Victoria series do better with politics. There are classes and occupation in your country that depending on conditions, reforms, work conditions, taxes, and a whole host of factors, affects the popularity of parties. Some segments of society might be more inclined to a political viewpoint than others. Etc. It's pretty intensive on that end, and there's also the factor of some taking more direct action to affect change. What ever political group you have in power has a change on citizenship policy, religious stance, economic policy (a big one), what options you can do with military, etc...

It's just a really, really, really, really time consuming game and got a learning curve that you'll have to get over to even get into it.

[mosfeld]

Try out Civilization. I just finished taking over the world which is pretty awesome.

[Lenina Rosenweg]

Try out Civilization. I just finished taking over the world which is pretty awesome.

I think I can guess who you played as:)

My civilizations seldom get beyond 1900.

[Wanted Man]

Wait, you play it? Who are you? Where are you? :blink:

I used to play it. I was not a player of great importance, though. :)

I would not consider either HoI or Civ a political simulator. Both are strategy games with some kind of political element.

[mosfeld]

I think I can guess who you played as:)

My civilizations seldom get beyond 1900.

Huayna Capac usually. I like the early super warriors -- good for aggression.

[MarxSchmarx]

Cybernations (http://www.cybernations.net/).

The game itself is not that interesting, the politics happens in the community around it. It has around 20k players and The International (http://theinternational-cn.com/index.php) is the biggest left alliance.

how do they make their money?

[Q]

how do they make their money?

CN? They have a donation system and ads in place.

[Comrade J]

The whole Hearts of Iron series covers the WW II series, usually starting at 1936 and going through World War II. Armageddon in HoI 2 bumped it up to 1963. HoI 3 I think goes until 1953 as of the current expansion.

These dates can easily be changed though. The problem is that those end dates generally represent to where they've actually made events and techs for, so anything beyond would be empty.

HoI series are more geared towards warfare. There is a political aspect in that it can cause differences in what ministers control your country, what benefits and disadvantages that brings, and the diplomatic possibilities that open up. Ultimately its all to the end of the War though.

Yeah I have Hearts of Iron III, it's an immensely time-consuming game! I started in 1936 as Republican Spain and used a cheat to make my neutrality 0, so I could invade Portugal. I had just finished my assault on Portugal when the insurrection occurred. I managed to defeat Franco but had a really weak army, but loads of my ships had survived the war so I began seizing Portuguese colonies in Africa. By 1940 I had a decent army and sent an Expeditionary Force to France, which got annihilated by the Germans, and I'm now at war with them. Last time I played (about a month or two ago) I had been having loads of problems with partisan fighters in Portugal, and I wish I'd never bothered conquering it.

Yeah I'm imperialist scum. :(

I have never heard of Victoria before, but I looked it up and the only torrent I can find has 2 seeders, so doubt I'll be able to get it.

[Lord Testicles]

I used to play it. I was not a player of great importance, though. :)


That's because you never joined the LSF. :p

I think I remember who you were though.



I have never heard of Victoria before, but I looked it up and the only torrent I can find has 2 seeders, so doubt I'll be able to get it.

http://thepiratebay.org/search/Victoria/0/7/400

[Tablo]

Just joined Cyber Nations. Wish people didn't pick such stupid names for the countries and alliances..