Schmeltz
10-15-2006, 10:27 PM
I thought some of the regulars down here might have fun with this. Some guy named Max Barry wrote a dystopian novel called Jennifer Government about a future world in which corporations have become virtual ethnic groups and two-thirds of the world has been conquered by the USA. I haven't read it, but it seems that as a kind of publicity drive he's created a web-based game where you can create your own nation state (http://www.nationstates.net/). All you do is fill out a basic form (kind of like those ubiquitous what's-your-political-orientation quizzes) to get you started, and then the game will start sending you "issues" that will decide the future course of your country based on your responses to them.
For instance, it might be brought to your attention that crime rates in your country are becoming problematic. To deal with this issue you might have two options: a) grant the police wide-ranging powers over the regular populace, like detention without charges, or b) broaden the scope of government-sponsored welfare programs to decrease poverty and, in theory, crime. You also always have the choice of simply dismissing any issue as unworthy of your consideration.
There's also an international dimension to the game - nations are grouped into "regions" and there's a United Nations that you can join, if you want, which holds votes on resolutions made by member nations (which are binding on your country if passed). Some people have apparently gotten pretty serious about this game (like some regions have their own forums where they debate over how to wield more influence over others or how to direct UN votes), but most seem to view it pretty frivolously.
You can check out my nation here ( http://www.nationstates.net/quetzelsacatenango). It's a fun game and doesn't take a lot of time to play (you only have to check it once a month to keep your nation from being deleted). Check it out, yo.
For instance, it might be brought to your attention that crime rates in your country are becoming problematic. To deal with this issue you might have two options: a) grant the police wide-ranging powers over the regular populace, like detention without charges, or b) broaden the scope of government-sponsored welfare programs to decrease poverty and, in theory, crime. You also always have the choice of simply dismissing any issue as unworthy of your consideration.
There's also an international dimension to the game - nations are grouped into "regions" and there's a United Nations that you can join, if you want, which holds votes on resolutions made by member nations (which are binding on your country if passed). Some people have apparently gotten pretty serious about this game (like some regions have their own forums where they debate over how to wield more influence over others or how to direct UN votes), but most seem to view it pretty frivolously.
You can check out my nation here ( http://www.nationstates.net/quetzelsacatenango). It's a fun game and doesn't take a lot of time to play (you only have to check it once a month to keep your nation from being deleted). Check it out, yo.