Any word on an update?

Has there been any talk of post-election updates coming up? Particularly of an election-night revamp (or at least an end to the east-to-west decision process...)

I remember there being a discussion on this, but we have not heard from the developer for some time. We were told there would be another update in 2005, but there has been nothing since 1.2.

To refresh everyone on some things on the wish-list:

(And please understand, my comments are intended as constructive criticism on a superb concept and outstanding model. Please regard them as such...)

1. A more realistic election night: Much longer (at least a time-option), more statistical detail, poll close times (come on, folks, that one should have been basic...), and a delayed call for those states initially "too close to call".

2. Potential candidates for 2008. We have Hillary; where's McCain? He should have been on the list from 2000's possibilities. For crying out loud, he was the runner-up in the GOP primary. Yet, we see Democratic candidates galore. I doubt that Barbara or Laura Bush are legitimate contenders... we should see McCain, Giuliani, and Frist in any update. I could also see Pataki, Jeb Bush (strong possibility that he gets the Veep pick in '08, IMHO...), and maybe K.B. Hutchinson as worthy of representation. For the Dems, Dean obviously (how the heck did you leave him out??? No offense, but that does merit an explanation... at least I never heard it.) Besides him, we should see Joe Biden and maybe Al Sharpton.

I know we can create our own candidates, but it's still nice to have an official one. Plus, the picture helps. Though Dean with a bag over his head is pretty fitting...

3. Are we going to see a change in demographic make-up? And I mean retroactively. Some changes need to be made (Vermont just ain't Democratic by only +3... and there's more.) to 2004's setup. I know where you got those numbers - from the 2000 exit polls that asks the question: "No matter how you voted today, do you usually think of yourself as a: Democrat, Republican, or Independent?) That's a really great source, to be honest. I figure that you'll use 2004's for 2008. It's just that 4 years changes these numbers. Have you considered modifying these percentages by adding the question: "No matter how you voted today, do you usually think of yourself as a: Liberal, Moderate, or Conservative?" Maybe weight the questions differently. I think the second question is important to factor into the mix, at any rate.

I would like to see (in an expansion, more than likely, as opposed to a mere update) an option to edit the existing demographics. Far as I know you can't do it now.

4. Debates. Debates. Debates. Notice I mentioned it three times...

That's how many I'd like to see... maybe the first one should matter more or something, but give us more than one. I know that this probably on your list already, but it needs to be. Too important to leave out. For my two cents' worth, I believe that the candidates should be forced to fly into the state (prolly MO, like usual...) and should cost maybe 3 stamina on the week's total, simulating prep time and the actual energy expended on the event.

Vice presidential debates: Probably not necessary. Does anyone watch them besides me?

5. Maybe some external factors / random events?

6. This may sound dumb, and may be totally impractical... I personally would like to see three polls available. (Call them America Today, Newsmonth, & Callip or something like that, keeping with your line of parodies

) This could give you a better take on what's happening in the state/nation. If it's really close, then you should see a 2-1 split in the polls.

7. I have seen mention of adding primary races. I don't see the need for it, but I'll include it here in case others see otherwise.

There are probably more, but I'll cut it off here. I hope an update will address some of these issues soon. We'll probably have to wait for an expansion for some of the more complex ones, but I think asking for an update as a sign of good faith isn't too much to ask.

I appreciate your attention and thank you for an outstanding simulation.

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I, too would like to know what's happening with the updates.

The ideas I like the most are new candidates (Biden, Jeb Bush, DEAN, Feingold, Frist, Gingrich [yes, he's in NH], Giuliani, Lieberman [maybe], MCCAIN, Pataki) and the primaries. I'd like all of the updates mentioned above, but those two are my favorites.

Also, if you add primaries, it might be a good idea to add even a few more candidates (Dole(s), Dukakis, Hatch, Hart, Kemp, Quayle, Tsongus), but those are not high priority, even if you add primaries.

(And, yeah, why were Vilsack and Richardson in there, but not Dean or McCain???)

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Seriously folks!

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Draginol

Join Date 03/2001

+137

Well here's where we're at on this.. And it's not necessarily good news..

Our agreement with Ubi Soft states that any updates have to go through their quality assurance testing. But they don't have any budget really left to do QA on updates.

So in order to provide new versions of the game, we will need to make a "sequel" or something.

Needless to say, it's pretty frustrating (and it's safe to say we will avoid making agreements where we're limited in our ability to put up updates).

So what we're looking to do is create a Political Machine: Midterms or something for release this year that is technically a "sequel". We'll put in the changes we want to put in, put in more candidates, more other goodies and release it. It will be free for owners of The Political Machine.

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Draginol, thanks for the response. I appreciate your work to try to get your update and your new effort to make the sequal. Thanks!

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How about Ann Coulter and Howard Stern

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