Political Game: A Kick in the Balls

April 11, 2008

It seems that American politics is not alone in its use of silly fighting games to attract eyeballs.

British political blog Three Line Whip has a bit of a rant today over A Kick in the Balls.

The web-based game pits Justice Secretary Jack Straw (last seen on GamePolitics bashing Sony over the Resistance & Manchester Cathedral flap) against Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls. Of the game, Three Line Whip blogger Iain Martin writes:

How juvenile. The Tories have made a computer game... in which Justice Secretary Jack Straw can be manipulated to assault Ed Balls. So much for David Cameron's talk of a responsible society and his plea for an end to the violence of the video-game culture. This is an outrage, why can't politicians focus on the issues?

Posted in

Comments

Submitted by Sean (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 09:34.

Best.Name.EVER!

Submitted by Werrick (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 09:35.

'Cause no one ever put together a satyrical skit about politicians acting like douchebags...

When I see politicians getting bent and slathered over Saturday Night Live, This Hour has 22 Minutes and the Daily Show then I might bother to listen when they whine and piss and moan about being made fun of in video games.

Submitted by Gift (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 09:41.

Why I Jack Justice Secretary but Ed isn't Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families? (How Orwellian do those titles sound btw?) Regardless, it was inevitable this game would make an appearance given the alleged near fisticuffs between these two.

Like most novelty "political" games this one is sadly short on politics... I wish people would be a bit more innovative.

Gift.

GP: oops - fixed that. Thx for pointing it out...

Submitted by Void Munashii (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 09:48.

Oh waaah! Why don't you just freakin' cry about it?

Since when is making fun of a politician a big deal in the UK? I've seen plenty of sketch comedy shows from there that make fun of politics in the same way American shows do.

Submitted by Ebonheart (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 09:50.

I'd care if politicians where decent, thats why I ask my fellow America GP readers to vote for me when I run for Congress. I'll do it eventually you'll see.

Submitted by Rhade (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 09:51.

"This is an outrage, why can’t politicians focus on the issues?"

Why can't political blogs? /shrug

Submitted by Ragnaar (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 10:31.

This is an outrage, why can’t politicians focus on the issues?

The issues like virtual violence, virtual currency, virtual beurocracy?

How about focusing on the real world before criticizing a small, virtual one?

And he's "outraged" by THAT?

Submitted by PeterWDawson (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 11:02.

If he's annoyed by this, wait until a sitting PM threatens to sue the leader of the opposition for doing his job.

Submitted by beemoh (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 11:48.

...I think TLW might be being a little sarcastic- the last comment in the blog post, which is "And see what score you can get", is a giveaway, IMO.

/b

Submitted by DarknessDeku (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 12:04.

That was the worst game I've ever played in my life.

Submitted by DarkSaber2k (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 14:20.

What, even worse than Microcosm?

Submitted by kyleJCrb (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 15:18.

A real game with this title would sell like hotcakes. Someone in some marketing division needs to get on that, pronto.

Submitted by DarknessDeku (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 16:16.

@ DarkSaber2K

Yes, worse than Microcosm.

Do you by chance go to spoonyexperiment.com?

Submitted by Haggard (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 16:56.

It's hard to tell what the TLW really thinks of this. They seem to be under the impression that the Tory front-bench got together and coded this game in their spare time as a political manuever.

Besides, you could hardly say that this is going against Cameron's stance against violent games.. they're just badly animated things flailing at each other.

Submitted by DarkSaber2k (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 17:03.

@ Deku

Sure do! The funny thing about that review was that I'd got that game about 2 weeks ago as part of my 'Just how bad WERE FMV games' thing I've been doing lately! At it certainly is by far the worst one I've played so far! And that's against some stiff competition (Night Trap anyone?). The really hilarious thing was after seeing that review I tried the 'don't look at the screen' thing and really did get further than I managed to when I was trying!

Submitted by Roxas (not verified) on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 17:12.

Best name I've ever seen! *ROFL*

Submitted by Kral oyun (not verified) on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 10:09.

thanks

Submitted by yemek tarifi (not verified) on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 10:59.

thanks so much

Submitted by emo resimleri (not verified) on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 11:09.

good articles thankx.

Poll

Shout box

DorthLous: I love how she plays the "I'm a parent, you're a gamer, you couldn't understand" card... I'm a parent and I find her position despicable...05/23/2013 - 4:16pm

E. Zachary Knight: She didn't address your questions because she doesn't have any answers.05/23/2013 - 3:38pm

Andrew Eisen: I replied to her comment. Maybe in a few weeks I'll get a reply.05/23/2013 - 3:24pm

Thomas Riordan: @Andrew Eisen To what bowling alley does she go that puts sexual images in the faces of 6 year olds?05/23/2013 - 3:17pm

Andrew Eisen: Well, it took a month but Linda Stender finally replied to me... and didn't address a single one of my questions. http://aswlindastender.com/2013/04/23/follow-up-video-games-and-their-effect-on-children/05/23/2013 - 3:13pm

Imautobot: Also, from a tech perspective the PS4 is apparently already winning. http://bgr.com/2013/05/22/xbox-one-vs-playstation-4-specs/05/23/2013 - 3:12pm

Imautobot: Sony's PS4 motto should be "We play games." Microsoft's should be "We play games, when we're not rewinding your tapes."05/23/2013 - 3:11pm

Andrew Eisen: Oh look, Dying Light was just announced For Everything But Wii U. That's 73.05/23/2013 - 2:06pm

james_fudge: Zippy: they said the same thing about Cell. How did that turn out.05/23/2013 - 1:28pm

Andrew Eisen: Need for Speed Rivals is coming out For Everything But Wii U - PS3, 360, PC, PS4 and Xbox One. That brings the grand total up to 72.05/23/2013 - 12:55pm

PHX Corp: http://wiiudaily.com/2013/05/microsoft-is-selling-the-wii-u-better-than-nintendo/ Wii U daily Opinion: Microsoft is selling the Wii U better than Nintendo05/23/2013 - 12:23pm

E. Zachary Knight: Zippy, they very well may be. But that will only last until they are released. At that time, they will be two generations behind.05/23/2013 - 11:14am

ZippyDSMlee: for a good luagh, http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/124288-EA-Exec-Xbox-One-and-PS4-Are-A-Generation-Ahead-Of-PC05/23/2013 - 10:55am

james_fudge: It's about time! I need W805/23/2013 - 10:49am

MaskedPixelante: Looks like Gamepot is more willing to play ball than Square Enix. Wizardry 6+7 and 8 are available on GOG.05/23/2013 - 10:36am

DorthLous: Anybody tried Hiversaire? Thoughts?05/22/2013 - 5:48pm

E. Zachary Knight: New Humble Bundle Weekly Sale. Alan Wake: https://www.humblebundle.com/weekly No Linux or Mac support. :(05/22/2013 - 1:46pm

E. Zachary Knight: Microsoft talks about the lack of backward compatability. You're backwards. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/192801/If_youre_backwards_compatible_youre_really_backwards.php05/22/2013 - 1:39pm

E. Zachary Knight: That is absolutely nuts there. As bad an experience XBox Indie Games was, the problems weren't with the self published side of things. Forcing a publisher onto independent studios is not going to help.05/22/2013 - 10:43am

MaskedPixelante: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-05-22-microsoft-wont-let-indies-self-publish-on-xbox-one And the hits just keep on coming.05/22/2013 - 9:20am

All shouts

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