The Political Machine 2008 gets free major update

Political Strategy Game updated to include Sarah Palin, Joe Biden, a bumper sticker maker, custom candidate printer, and much more!

PLYMOUTH, MI - September 10, 2008 - Stardock has updated its popular PC strategy game, The Political Machine to include the new Vice Presidential candidates along with adding a host of compelling new features.

The Political Machine puts players in the role of a Presidential candidate on the campaign trail making speeches, buying ads, hiring spin doctors and consultants, raising money, and going on cable news shows.

The Political Machine v1.5 includes vastly enhanced multiplayer features including supporting match-making via the digital distribution platform, Impulse. It also includes features allowing players to print out bumper stickers and campaign pins from within the game. Players can create their own candidates, controlling everything about them in how they look, and then export them as an avatar for on-line use or use the new print shop to create a variety of physical media with their creations including campaign pins, bumper stickers, and more. The update adds the new vice presidential candidates, Joe Biden and Sarah Palin to be played as.

"This is the ultimate game for political junkies and a really fun way for anyone to learn about the election process," said Brad Wardell, Designer of the game. "Once you put yourself in the campaign manager's shoes, you really get to see how each campaign tactic ultimately affects the outcome of the vote. The whole point is to be fun but part of that means being reasonably accurate."

Real-world scenarios are mixed in with fantastical scenarios. Players can choose the US 2008 election, US 1860 election or play in fun and humorous fantasy campaigns including one that takes place on an alien world and one that takes place in "Europa". Players can also choose what TV shows to be a guest on and will face tough questions from the hosts of shows like Colvert Report and the O'Malley Factor.

"Political junkies will appreciate many of the political consultants and strategies employed in the game such as the use of smear merchants, spin doctors, intimidators, cheer leaders, movie stars, etc.," continued Wardell."Strategy gamers will appreciate the balanced game mechanics that allow players to research new campaign tactics that even novice political observers can see from the current election."

The Political Machine is both a single- and multiplayer game - players can either compete against the computer or against others online on www.politicalmachine.com. The website also provides a ideologically neutral location for users to discuss the current election.

The game is available at most retail outlets as well as directly from www.politicalmachine.com for $19.95. It requires Windows XP or Windows Vista to play.

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For more information about The Political Machine or to obtain high-res images, please contact Stephanie Tinsley Schopp at Stephanie@Tinsley-PR.com.

About Stardock
Stardock is one of the world's leading developers and publisher of PC games and desktop software. Its PC games include Sins of a Solar Empire, the highest rated and best selling PC strategy game of 2008 as well as the critically acclaimed Galactic Civilizations series. Its desktop software includes Object Desktop, WindowBlinds, and a host of other programs for customizing the Windows experience.