Redistricting Videogame Shows Problems in the System

An anonymous reader writes "This is a cool redistricting game that was launched out of the capitol building in Washington DC last week. It was created by the USC Game Innovation Lab and has been getting lots of press. It's about time someone took on a tough issue like redistricting reform using the power of the internet." It's crazy that gerrymandering is actually good fodder for a video game.

I thought there already was a redistricting game..

[DogDude]

... It's called Qix [wikipedia.org]!

Re:Sure it's a game

[Red Flayer]

So you're saying its more about the highest levels then?

Yeah. The grind sucks, and most of us never get out of it, but the content for people who've maxed out their level is fantastic.

Re:Sure it's a game

[Adambomb]

Plus, you get people contesting a raid schedule and it becomes all out war.

*sexy lady voice*

[starbuckr0x]

Reticulating splines... and demagogues.

Re:Sure it's a game

[Anonymous Coward]

How I mine for oil?

Re:Sure it's a game

[corbettw]

Gerrymandering, and indeed, much of politics, is a game.

Sweet! Got a link to the cheat codes?

Re:One has to ask...

[Opportunist]

What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

A Republican or a Democrat?

Re:Lessons taught through the difficult curve

[porcupine8]

That "final environment" is impossible to complete while keeping all the incumbents in their seats.

No it's not. When I did it, the original map had 3 republicans and 1 democrat, and I finally got a map approved (by 3 out of 5 members of the committee, then rejected by the R state legislature, then approved by courts) that resulted in 2 R and 2 D seats.

Re:Sure it's a game

[Red Flayer]

Here's one link [diebold.com]
and here's another. [essvote.com]

Of course, some people would say that gerrymandering is a cheat code as well.

I, for one...

[Anonymous Coward]

... welcome our gerrymandering overlords.

Re:Cool Little Intro...

[Aqua_boy17]

I also thought it was an aligator.

Then again, I'm from Florida where there is a real probability that in some precints you actually could be chased by a real gator while on your way to the polls.

Re:Sim City

[mooingyak]

Also quite similar to Pacman and Doom.

Re:Sure it's a game

[NeilTheStupidHead]

You're better off just ignoring this profession and buying the oil directly.

No, you're better off raiding to take the oil that belongs to others.