

Source: NRSC

August recess seems to have infiltrated the National Republican Senatorial Committee, because the committee just released a 2014 midterm election-themed video game. It stars an elephant named Giopi. The game is called "Mission Majority."

The NRSC's aim is clear: You can't play the game until you give them your e-mail, Google or Facebook information. This is all about getting the info of what they hope will be young people who click on the link and could potentially vote for Republicans down the line and/or volunteer, donate, etc. Given the changing demographics of Facebook, however (why does your great-aunt keep sending you game requests, anyways!?), they might just end up exciting the base in a very unexpected way.

After you willingly add yourself to the NRSC e-mail list, the game begins. Your goal? Helping the GOP get the Senate majority! (This is not a subtle game.)



Source: NRSC

Regardless of whether the 80s nostalgia inherent in borrowing Mario's sartorial sense for your 2014 campaign ploy was accidental or not, it is oddly fitting. In 2012, President Obama's reelection team tried to use video games as a campaign tool too -- although their method didn't involve building an entire game. The Obama team bought ads in existing video games. Cars on Need for Speed would pass billboards that said things like, "Early Voting Has Begun."