CNN has a story on Silicon Valley bigwigs moving into the political arena. They are tracking former eBay chief Meg Whitman in her race with Steve Poizner for the Republican nomination for California governor in 2010. Poizner also has a few high-ranking, high tech jobs on his resume, including selling his company SnapTrak to QualComm before becoming the state's insurance commissioner.
The CNN story looks at other tech-savvy politicos and their success. The story concludes:
In the end, there is no real proof that wrestling fans helped get (Jesse) Ventura into Minnesota's state house or that space enthusiasts helped elect John Glenn to Congress. But, as (Republican strategist) Allan Hoffenblum notes, women and techies are two powerful voting blocs in California.
Since game developers also tend to be an opinionated lot, with a lot of interest in government because of the money involved in their industry, it begs the question: What game developers would make the best politicians? It would be interesting to see how John Carmack or Warren Spector stand on various issues.
Who do you think would make an interesting political candidate?
Comments
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk of Bioware, sure I would vote for these guys in a political arena.
Derek Smart or Brad McQuaid.... not so much.
Edit: Oh and "Dude Huge" for President!
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
Politicians are the lowest form of human life. Given the choice, I would rescue a crack-addicted prostitute over ANY politician.
When the hell did politics become a career anyway?
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
nah they would be terrible politicians they dont lie or cheat nearly enough *sarcasme*
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
I've long thought that marketing 'spin' and interviews where words are carefully chosen yet persuasive - that sort of nonsense - draws parallels to politicians.
Look at some of the promises devs make to those that actually fulfil them!
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
You might be thinking more of publishers than developers.
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
See anything said by Peter Molyneux in the last 15 years. I think he's highly talented, but the claims he makes of his games often turn out to be hyperbole, much like a politician making promises.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
Highly talented? On what grounds?
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
On the grounds of successful games, however you look at them. His Bullfrog-era games were amazing, they didn't need lavish interviews stating the intricacies of how they were going to revolutionise everything.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
So "formerly talented" might be more applicable. Successful games != talented designers every time, just good marketing. These days.
The Bullfrog games WERE amazing, but what about since then? Bullfrogs been dead for what, 10, 12 years now? Since then, he's been all hype no substance.
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
David Jaffe, obviously. ;)
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
How about what video game characters would make good politicians?
Duke Nukem for president!
http://www.eliteownage.com/nice
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
What about John Romero? "Making you his bitch in 2012!"
Seriously, though, I think Warren Spector would be a good choice. And Wil Wright (all those Sim games should at least give him the know-how for urban planning), or Peter Molyneux. Sid Meier should also know a thing or two about running a country come to think of it. Maybe even Tim Schaefer, too. If you want to get the fringe vote, maybe even Richard Garriott or American McGee.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
If Todd Howard is any indication, game developers are able to lie VERY well.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
Considering how low the bar is set at this point, I'd say yes. All they would really have to do is not act like a fucking tool 100% of the time and it could be considered an improvement over what we have now. Seriously, with some of these ultra-right wing idiots, I'd be all for just picking someone at random.
--------------------------------------------------------
Believe in something! Even if it's wrong, believe in it!
GET OFF MY PHONE!
-Glenn Beck
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
There are plenty of extremes on the left side also...I'd say there are Libertarian/Populist extremes too, but these ones are much less vocal/well-known because the media/government/people doesn't recognize them.
-If an apple a day keeps the doctor away....what happens when a doctor eats an apple?-
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
You guys are missing the obvious.
I hereby nominate Derek Smart for the United States Senate!
This guy maintained a Usenet flamewar against his detractors for years on end! Nobody on the senate floor could hope to outfilibuster him! He has the skills!
It's time to end the War on Terror, and time to begin the War on Vending machines! Get Smart in 2012!
<ducks>
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
No becuse they lie ,cheat and steal as bad as the real polticaions....
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
---
http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
...says the incoherent douche who freely admits to pirating everybody's hard work.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
He's a damn sight more likeable and popular round these parts than you bucko.
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
Zippy for President in 2012.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
All I know is that Whitman's running on a promise to axe thousands of civil servants as a means of balancing the State's budget. In a State where unions make and break politicians, that ain't too smart.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
God knows there's nowhere else that California is willing to turn to balance the state's budget.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
It appears that Whitman may not have been too concerned with political matters before declaring her candidacy. She's got a history of never registering to vote or actually voting in elections. I'm sure her opponents will pound her over the head repeatedly with this history.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
Jaffe / Thompson 2012!
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
All I can comment on are the ones we tend to see quoted here. Hell NO they wouldn't. Most of them never seem to consider implications of what they say and act surprised when what they thought was an innocent comment/swipe/joke blows up in their face.
--------------------------------------------------
I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
Prime example, David Jaffe.
Re: Would Game Developers Make Good Politicians?
This, pretty much.
---
I'm not under the affluence of incohol as some thinkle peep I am. I'm not half as thunk as you might drink. I fool so feelish I don't know who is me, and the drunker I stand here, the longer I get.
---
I'm not under the affluence of incohol as some thinkle peep I am. I'm not half as thunk as you might drink. I fool so feelish I don't know who is me, and the drunker I stand here, the longer I get.