The Political Game

Don't panic, this is not a thread about discussing everyone's political views.

Anyway, I was brainstorming today, when I had an idea: what if there was a game that attempts to emulate the American Political System? (Or any representative system, really, even a completely fictional one, but since I'm American, I'm using American politics).

I could see it as either some sort of Visual Novel with branching paths, or as an RPG where combat is replaced by debates, or something. The player would create a character, with a survey at the beginning determining what policies he follows and who his initial friends are. Then, the game is to politick your way into the Presidency, strategically choosing what you say to whom, and making sure you don't become unpopular with your voters, or piss off the powerful politicians. (Obviously, this game would require very good writing.)

This is all completely off the top of my head, but my question to the people who know about game design and/or political science is this: could this work as a game? And more importantly, would it be fun to play? Or has it been done before?

Here's a lets play of one I found a while ago

Unfortunately on your own it would be pretty boring.

Doing it like the let's play however would end up being hilarious.

edited 29th Aug '11 5:21:05 PM by TwilightFalchion

My Girl Friend Is The President -shot-

edited 29th Aug '11 7:30:36 PM by stevebat

Not quite what I had in mind.

...Definitely not what I had in mind.

The idea I had mainly involved not actually managing a country, but more just strategically befriending the right people, participating in debates, and basically making sure that both the people and your fellow politicians think what you want them to think. Think Phoenix Wright with factions, branching paths, and allowing the player to play anything from an upstanding guy who says what he means (which might make it harder to make friends with the politicians), to a Sleazy Politician (which might make it hard to get reelected).

edited 29th Aug '11 8:16:14 PM by IrishZombie