All your political base are belong to us

Mother Jones, Sept-Oct, 2007 by Josh Harkinson

"Advergames" are an increasingly popular method of bringing commercial messages to the nation's 117 million or so video gamers. Interest groups are also getting into the action, hooking up with design shops such as Persuasive Games, which, for a mere $40,000, will design a custom game to get our your political message.

GAME / CREATOR          HOW TO PLAY               FEELS LIKE ...

Airport Security        Oversee a busy airport    If the ACLU
Persuasive Games        security checkpoint,      reissued the
                        relieving passengers      '80s arcade
                        of contraband such        game Topper
                        as water bottles,
                        toasters, and pants

Take Back Illinois      Lower medical             SimCity meets
Illinois Republicans    costs, boost civic        Milton Friedman
                        engagement, and
                        improve schools and
                        the economy

Darfur is Dying         Playa refugee trying      Sid Meier's
University of           to find water while       End of
Southern California     hiding from Jeeps         Civilization
students, winners       filled with rampaging
of the Darfur Digital   Janjaweed militiamen
Activist Contest

Border Patrol           Blow away Mexican         Duck Hunt
The Insurgent, a        drug smugglers and        for racists
white supremacist       "breeders" with
website                 children in tow as
                        they cross into the
                        United States

Bushgame                Guide Hulk Hogan          Old-school
Activist programmer     and Mr. T as they         Nintendo, as
Jason Oda               battle corporate pigs     imagined by
                        and mutant Bush           the South
                        Cabinet members in        Park guys
                        a surreal fight to save
                        the world

GAME / CREATOR          NICE TOUCH

Airport Security        Courtesy
Persuasive Games        announcement:
                        "Please be advised:
                        Security personnel
                        are authorized to
                        use groping."

Take Back Illinois      Rigged so that
Illinois Republicans    you can only win
                        if you freeze taxes
                        or cap malpractice
                        damages

Darfur is Dying         So you're sitting on
University of           your butt playing a
Southern California     video game about
students, winners       genocide
of the Darfur Digital
Activist Contest

Border Patrol           Score 88 points and
The Insurgent, a        win. The number is
white supremacist       a neo-Nazi code for
website                 "Heil Hitler" (H is
                        the 8th letter of the
                        alphabet).

Bushgame                Bridging a gaping
Activist programmer     chasm with a super-
Jason Oda               nerdy bar chart of
                        the federal deficit.
                        Don't fall into that
                        $500 billion hole!