What does an Obama presidency mean for video games? 1UP asks the question in a lengthy analysis of Obama's relationship to gaming culture.
Obama first entered our scene in December 2007 with comments presented to Common Sense Media on the topic of game violence legislation on his way to being dubbed the most "gamer-friendly" Democratic candidate. But the President-elect is better known for targeting youth voters with a $44.5K in-game ad campaign during the election season. (And apparently, it worked.)
Obama did urge us to "stop playing Game Boy" and put down the Wiimote (see screencap above -- from his Election Day ad), but the sentiments were geared toward encouragement rather than scorn. 66 percent of voters ages 18-29 (you know, gamers) supported Obama yesterday, according to CNN. Forget a puppy, the next US President can show some love back by bringing Wii to the White House.
Reader Comments (73)
Posted: Nov 5th 2008 3:50PM baby sea tuna said
From what I've "seen" the past 8 years, it can only go up from here.
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Posted: Nov 5th 2008 3:55PM (Unverified) said
Agrees with baby sea tuna, it's been a long 8 years.
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Posted: Nov 5th 2008 4:09PM hey buddy said
Oh, ok, Fuzz. "We'll see." Yes, we will. NOTHING can be worse than the last 8 years. No need to carry that anger any longer, "my friend," come reach across the aisle, that's what "The Mac" suggested. Let's rework things so more people are happy. Not just corporations.
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Posted: Nov 5th 2008 8:32PM Walt said
I voted McCain and raised 16k for him over his campaign. Republicans need to stop complaining about their loss. Democrats need to learn how to stop blaming Bush, and lead. Liberals will control the executive and legislative branches, and will likely appoint the next several Supremes. This pendulum swings back and forth as it always has. Let's move forward in good faith with our new leaders and make America everything is can be, as maybe these leaders have a few answers that we haven't considered.
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Posted: Nov 6th 2008 4:19PM Jude said
Yeah, John. We know very well. It took 8 years of Bush to get us an Obama!
And you're lying again about Clinton doing "nothing" about terrorism.
Law enforcement officials tracked down four men responsible, then prosecuted and convicted them for the bombing and sentenced them to 240 years in prison in March 1994. Then they captured the prime suspect Ramzi Ahmed Yousef in 1995. A court convicted him in November 1997 and sentenced him to 240 years in prison as well.
When Clinton ordered airstrikes to kill Bin Laden, all the Republicans cared about was Monica Lewinski and what she did or didn't do with a cigar. They were so caught up in it that they truly only thought that Clinton was trying to distract him from the sex scandal and failed to catch on to the seriousness of the situation until it was far too late... on 9/11/01.
Bush ignored all of the warnings that the Clinton team tried to provide regarding terrorism. His answer was to change it from an effective law-enforcement issue to a full-on War on Terror that has only sparked 400 times the amount of terror attacks and led to countless more terror recruits across the globe making our world infinitely more dangerous. Mission Accomplished.
You're a liar. Get informed or keep your fantasy world to yourself. It's really getting old having to come correct your misinformation on all of these posts, but I will keep doing it when I am able. There is nothing more I hate than flat out lies.
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And you're lying again about Clinton doing "nothing" about terrorism.
Law enforcement officials tracked down four men responsible, then prosecuted and convicted them for the bombing and sentenced them to 240 years in prison in March 1994. Then they captured the prime suspect Ramzi Ahmed Yousef in 1995. A court convicted him in November 1997 and sentenced him to 240 years in prison as well.
When Clinton ordered airstrikes to kill Bin Laden, all the Republicans cared about was Monica Lewinski and what she did or didn't do with a cigar. They were so caught up in it that they truly only thought that Clinton was trying to distract him from the sex scandal and failed to catch on to the seriousness of the situation until it was far too late... on 9/11/01.
Bush ignored all of the warnings that the Clinton team tried to provide regarding terrorism. His answer was to change it from an effective law-enforcement issue to a full-on War on Terror that has only sparked 400 times the amount of terror attacks and led to countless more terror recruits across the globe making our world infinitely more dangerous. Mission Accomplished.
You're a liar. Get informed or keep your fantasy world to yourself. It's really getting old having to come correct your misinformation on all of these posts, but I will keep doing it when I am able. There is nothing more I hate than flat out lies.
Posted: Nov 5th 2008 3:45PM abhillz said
He's got little kids, He damn well better have a wii for them.
Posted: Nov 5th 2008 3:51PM (Unverified) said
Nah man Mr. Prez is getting them a pet.
But dude theyre gonna live in the White House, im sure they can get a Wii if they want
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But dude theyre gonna live in the White House, im sure they can get a Wii if they want
Posted: Nov 5th 2008 4:01PM The Albatross said
The "most game-friendly democrat," is like being awarded "the most Jew-friendly Islamist."
Posted: Nov 5th 2008 4:08PM (Unverified) said
or the "Most Tolerant Nazi" and my favourite "The Most T-Total Russian"...
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Posted: Nov 5th 2008 4:17PM AtomicPlayboy said
If the POTUS spends a millisecond of his administration thinking about video games, he's not doing his job. Also, if you think the president has any power to influence gaming, you're rather misinformed about the role of the executive branch. I pray that no one considered gamer-friendliness when casting his vote.
Posted: Nov 5th 2008 5:26PM (Unverified) said
Great little article, very fair, and hopefully this will presidency will be as great as last night's election
Posted: Nov 5th 2008 6:10PM SSG Monty said
How is Obama gamer friendly? Because he spent money on in-game advertising?
Both political parties have a history of blaming things they cannot explain on video games (violence, youth rebellion, declining education), just as they did on rock & roll. Gaming is just the latest scapegoat.
I don't think his voting ads about the Gameboy were condescending, but they definitely aren't enough to get me over his declared derision of the capitalist system that made the US great.
Both political parties have a history of blaming things they cannot explain on video games (violence, youth rebellion, declining education), just as they did on rock & roll. Gaming is just the latest scapegoat.
I don't think his voting ads about the Gameboy were condescending, but they definitely aren't enough to get me over his declared derision of the capitalist system that made the US great.
Posted: Nov 5th 2008 7:40PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Rubbish, you know damn well Obama went home after winning the election to kick ass in Gears of war. It's all a front people, don't believe what they say, because behind closed doors....
Posted: Nov 5th 2008 8:27PM Keithustus said
Who uses a wiimote and is old enough to vote? Anyone? They should have used a 360 controller.
Posted: Nov 5th 2008 8:34PM pasta SteamXBL pastapappie said
Most soccer moms are old enough to vote and own a Wii.
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Posted: Nov 5th 2008 9:03PM (Unverified) said
News of Obama winning sank the stock market by 500 points today.
Every financial analyst has called Obama's plans of raising taxes and increasing government spending something pejorative ranging from "ignorant" to "naive".
What we can expect from an Obama presidency is a long, dark nightmare of economic hell. All you cheering idiots who really think you accomplished something by 'making history' and putting a disastrously unqualified man into the office just because he's black - let's see what tune you're singing a year from now.
Every financial analyst has called Obama's plans of raising taxes and increasing government spending something pejorative ranging from "ignorant" to "naive".
What we can expect from an Obama presidency is a long, dark nightmare of economic hell. All you cheering idiots who really think you accomplished something by 'making history' and putting a disastrously unqualified man into the office just because he's black - let's see what tune you're singing a year from now.
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:09AM (Unverified) said
Actually, yes it can. The stock market is all about what traders think and feel. They react to things that are directly related to business and things that aren't, including Presidential elections. Corporations and their owners do not like Obama's ideas about governing (ie tax the rich, tighten regulations etc) and this caused them anxiety, causing them to sell off stock and therefore making the market dive (though the market has been doing that lately anyways, so its hard to say how much has to do with the election but certainly at least a part of it did).
Of course a lot of it is also that they thought everyone else would be selling their stock and no one wanted to be the last guy holding on to devalued shares. Yes, the stock market is that fickle.
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Of course a lot of it is also that they thought everyone else would be selling their stock and no one wanted to be the last guy holding on to devalued shares. Yes, the stock market is that fickle.
Posted: Nov 7th 2008 1:43AM (Unverified) said
The economy is in the crapper. No new president, be it Obama or McCain, would've kissed and made the boo boo go away. Heck, it's not even a week yet. Boy, people sure expect some magic pill for everything that ails them. There is no magic diet pill any more than there's a magic pill that will miraculously swing the economy in the black (no pun intended).
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