Ian Bogost - Water Cooler Games - Drive Like a Kennedy

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Water Cooler Games

Water Cooler Games served as the web's primary forum for "videogames with an agenda" — coverage of the uses of video games in advertising, politics, education, and other everyday activities, outside the sphere of entertainment.

The site was maintained at watercoolergames.org from 2003-2009, where it was edited by myself and Gonzalo Frasca. It is now archived here in full.

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Drive Like a Kennedy

by Ian Bogost May 16, 2006

categories: Casual Games , Political Games

Frequent WCG ire target Blockdot has just released Drive Like A Kennedy. The game challenges players to avoid guardrails and traffic to reach the Capitol while under the influence. From the press release:

A new online political parody pokes fun at Congressman Patrick Kennedy, who took a mysterious spin around the block and ended up totaling his car last week. The “Drive Like a Kennedy” game features father and son, Senator Ted Kennedy and Congressman Patrick Kennedy, as they veer and steer through the streets of D.C., picking up Lobbyist Coins for points. Nabbing pharmaceutical pills or pink elephants along the way are worth bonus points but will cause you to lose control of your vehicle. The game is quite entertaining and has a subtle 1980’s After School Special message: Don’t drive like a Kennedy! Dramatic theme music included.

Quite entertaining might be an overstatement, but the game does have a decent little intoxication mechanic. All in all, a better effort than Blockdot's previous quasi-political game, White House Joust, but perhaps only because the driving theme was appropriate.

Comments (4)

I found this game to be a mildly entertaining casual game.

Mr Hand on May 19, 2006 1:31 AM

After playing the game I can say the name is justified.

Bobby on May 19, 2006 2:41 PM

This game reminded me of the old arcade games. The alcohol in trafic simulation was ok, however a better simulation would be to drink a few beers while playing ;-)

Pretty good on May 25, 2006 3:16 PM

Geme is cool, ths for link

Jim on October 24, 2006 6:35 PM