Anthony Burgoyne : « I am concerned for American democracy »
Nine years ago, in 2015, at the end of Barack Obama’s term and before the explosion of the Trump phenomenon, I interviewed, with great pleasure, a very talented video game developer with a passion for politics: Anthony Burgoyne, founder of studio 270Sims. The latest version of his technically enhanced US presidential simulation, President Infinity 2024, offers greater depth than ever, and a fun experience for anyone interested in US politics. Perhaps most importantly, its gameplay - because it really is one! - can be an invaluable asset for anyone wishing to better understand the American electoral system “from the inside”.
My warmest thanks to Mr. Burgoyne, who once again agreed to answer my questions for Paroles d’Actu (August 19, 2024, before Robert Kennedy Junior stepped down). Nine years ago, the catchphrase I put forward was “America has never been more democratic”. This year, against a backdrop of heightened political tensions, the mood is less optimistic... Don’t wait to be asked to exercise your role as a citizen. And, between now and November, give this game a chance: at worst you’ll learn something, at best you’ll love it. A Paroles d’Actu exclusive report. By Nicolas Roche.
En français :
(J’ai pris le parti de ne pas traduire l’article dans sa globalité, l’interview ayant été réalisée en anglais, tout comme le jeu qui n’est disponible que dans cette langue, mais si cela m’est demandé je le ferais).
Il y a neuf ans, en 2015, à la fin du mandat de Barack Obama et avant l’explosion du phénomène Trump, j’interviewai, avec grand plaisir, un très talentueux développeur de jeux vidéo passionné de politique : Anthony Burgoyne, fondateur du studio 270Sims. La dernière version de sa simulation de présidentielle américaine, President Infinity 2024, techniquement améliorée, offre une plus grande profondeur que jamais, et une expérience fun pour qui s’intéresse à la politique des États-Unis. Plus important sans doute, son jeu - parce que c’en est réellement un ! - peut être un atout précieux pour qui voudrait entreprendre de mieux comprendre le système électoral américain "vu de l’intérieur".
Je remercie vivement M. Burgoyne, qui a accepté à nouveau de répondre à mes questions pour Paroles d’Actu (19 août 2024, avant le retrait de Robert Kennedy Junior). Il y a neuf ans, la phrase d’accroche que j’avais mis en avant était "L’Amérique n’a jamais été aussi démocratique". Cette année, dans un contexte de tensions exacerbées, l’atmosphère est moins optimiste... En attendant les résultats du scrutin, début novembre, donnez une chance à ce jeu : au pire vous apprendrez toujours quelque chose, dans le meilleur des cas vous allez kiffer ! Une exclu Paroles d’Actu, par Nicolas Roche.
PAROLES D’ACTU EXCLUSIVE
Anthony Burgoyne : « I am
concerned for American democracy »
How important are politics and video games in your life, Anthony Burgoyne? How has this evolved since our first interview, back in 2015 ?
It’s interesting getting more depth and perspective on both. Back in 2015, the Trump phenomenon was brand new, and no one knew what sort of impact it was going to have. 9 years later, Trump is still the centre of attention and very well may be a major force for another 4 years or more in U.S. and in the Republican party.
Video games haven’t changed that much, but the tools to make them are getting better.
It’s been over 20 years since the release of your first game. In what areas do you think you’ve evolved the most? In terms of game mechanics - and I don’t mean graphics - are there any possibilities today that you didn’t have in 2004 ?
There are some computation intensive algorithms that one could use now that practically speaking one couldn’t use back then, because it would make things too slow, but I find the game mechanics work best when they’re clear to the player and relatively simple.
Specifically in terms of gameplay, what’s new in President Infinity 2024 ? What features have you added or improved, and to what extent do you owe it all to the suggestions of fans of your games ?
A lot of the distinctive aspects of the 2024 version in game play are putting in place simpler game mechanics, and making how they work clearer to the player. A lot of feedback was "I don’t understand how it works !", so a major goal is making things clearer and simpler. A lot of suggestions from fans are incorporated into the game, and these range from UI tweaks, to help, to game mechanics. For ex., 2024 now has an in-game Tutorial button on certain screens - this was inspired by a suggestion from a fan. Going back to a simpler polling system was also based on feedback from fans.
Tell us about the fans of your games, with whom I imagine you communicate regularly.
The fans like politics and like computer games ! They often know more than I do about politics, and so I look for feedback from them regularly on political topics and game design on X.
In your opinion, is the track record of the Biden-Harris administration, particularly in economic terms, an asset or a liability for the vice-president ?
I think it’s net an asset, although obviously there are big question marks on the economy, such as persistent inflation and a concerning debt. Being VP, she has an ability to run as not responsible for current policy (which is true, she’s not) but also as able to take partial credit for good things. We’ll see if the Democrats are able to successfully sell this approach.
How do you quantify, in the game, the strengths and weaknesses of Kamala Harris in relation to Joe Biden, and in relation to Donald Trump ? Do you think that the presidential election will be decided on personal qualities, on political platforms, or on something else ?
I have a personal sense, but then I ask for feedback on attributes. Often, people’s assessment of a politicians’ attributes varies by partisan status. It’s "Where you sit determines where you stand" on various questions. For ex., some people think Trump has negative charisma, but others think he’s highly charismatic. What’s the answer ? You have to look at the various viewpoints and try to figure out the objective values.
Trump’s personal qualities are highly important here. Those who think his lack of integrity makes him a threat to the Republic want to vote for someone - anyone else. But mounting questions about Biden’s ability to carry out Presidential duties for another 4 years I think were pushing more and more away from supporting him. The big question I think will be : is Harris good enough ? So far, it seems many voters have decided : yes. And so now the Democratic ticket has a polling advantage again and is favoured to win. But of course that might change over the next 3 months.
Which ticket is best placed to win the most of the swing states that will be decisive in the election ? Does the simulation part of your game most of the time match your personal feeling about the outcome of the vote ?
We’re at a unique place this election cycle at this point in time, because we have a nominee for one of the major parties who hasn’t been tested much in terms of her campaigning abilities at the national level as the presumptive nominee. So there are more unknowns this time. My guess is that Harris is better positioned at this point, and Trump will require significant movement his way to win enough swing states.
To understand a lot of what happens in U.S. Presidential elections, you have to understand they are basically fighting over a handful of swing states, and those states have more specific concerns. If you understand tips are a big part of the Nevada economy, and that Nevada is a swing state, you might better understand why both campaigns are promising to make tips tax-exempt. Similarly, economic concerns in Michigan or Pennsylvania. And so on.
Since the emergence of Donald Trump on the national political scene in 2016, are we really witnessing something completely different in the United States ? If so, is it a time-limited episode, or a new way of doing politics and conceiving power for generations of Republicans ?
Yes, but parts of it we saw with the Buchananite wing of the Republican party with his surprisingly strong bid in 1992 against the incumbent President, then again in 1992 with the Perot independent bid, which was the strongest since Teddy Roosevelt’s in 1912. You then had the Tea Party movement. So there were lots of precursors. Trump combined these populist elements with a celebrity persona. The reasons driving the populist elements he has catalyzed will probably remain, but he’s almost 80, and so I think the celebrity persona can only last so long. In this sense, "Make America Great Again !" is time-limited. But it has now consolidated control over the Republican party, and my guess is that’s the general direction of the party for at least awhile, even if Trump loses in 2024.
What advice would you, a seasoned political expert, give Kamala Harris ? To Donald Trump ? To Robert Kennedy Jr ?
The major candidates (and to an extent R.F.K. Jr.) have access to all sorts of data analytics and polling data that I don’t. But Trump’s major problems are message discipline and petty, irrelevant attacks. Even at this point, I think many independents are concerned about the Democratic party but want to see him acting more Presidential. I don’t think it’s possible for him to change at this point, but that would be my advice.
Harris’ major problem is perceived inauthenticity, so I think she has to work on coming across as authentic and connecting emotionally with voters. We’ll see how well she can campaign - whether she’ll become more like Obama or Hillary Clinton, say, in her campaigning.
Are you worried that this 2024 campaign will be dirty, or rather dirtier than usual ?
The good news is probably almost all of the dirt on Trump has been used up in previous campaigns, and so voters aren’t interested in it. But yes, politics in the US has gotten nastier, and if there’s a way to slime an opponent, I think it will be seized upon by either side.
A difficult question: are the United States, between Democrats and Republicans, between blue states and red states, more divided than at any time since the 1960s ? Are you among those who think the country is in a cold civil war ? And would you say the complexity of the American electoral system (with the over-representation of small states in the electoral college) prevent this from exploding ?
Yes, I think there’s an increasing divide. You see this with lack of competitive Congressional districts, by the way, and of course divisive politicking. Or look at Florida, which has gone from a purple state to a strongly red state, in part because of domestic migration. To an extent, people are sorting out along ideological lines into different states. Leaving California, the largest state, and going to Idaho, Utah, Texas, or Florida. I don’t think the electoral college is preventing this from exploding - if anything, the electoral college which is largely state-winner-take-all exacerbates it, in my opinion. There is an incentive to make a state ’safe’ for a political party by getting the opposing party’s political supporters to move to another state.
Are the foundations of the American democratic edifice solid ? Will the balance of power be more or less maintained, whoever the next occupant of the White House may be ?
There’s the fiery partisan rhetoric about how this will be the last election if the other side wins, and then there’s the historical record. However, looking at Trump’s actions after 2020 is concerning to me, with the alternate electors plan, pressure on his V.P., and calling of supporters to Washington, DC during a joint session of Congress, while still claiming the election was won fraudulently. Similarly, the politicized legal persecutions of Trump are concerning, although some of this has been self-inflicted, it seems. But I think things are definitely getting worse, and it does concern me.
9 years ago you told me that you didn’t want to get into politics, or even political strategy yourself. Is that still the case ?
I know people in politics. I have no desire to be a politician. :) I’m open to the idea of something related to strategy.
Do you know of any politicians, or staff of politicians, who use your games to train for their own campaigns ?
Yes, various staff have contacted me who have used the game, although I’m not sure how much they use it for training ! But many educators use it for helping students understand the American Presidential political system in a first-hand way. Playing is similar to being a campaign manager or chief strategist, so you quickly gain an appreciation for why certain things are the way they are with campaigns, and what hard decisions have to be made.
What do you think of France’s rather atypical semi-presidential system ? Would you be interested in adapting it to a future game, as you’ve done for the UK or Canada, or do you just think it wouldn’t interest enough people ?
France has a very interesting system of electing a President, which allows for less of a duopoly than in the US. However, it would probably take a lot of adapting to make the game engine work properly for the French election. For the foreseeable future, all focus for elections games is on PI24 and CI24.
Do you make a lot of money from developing these games ? Do you think it would be in your interest to team up with a major game publisher to reach a wider audience ?
It might be worth it. But I also value the autonomy and freedom that come with not having one. The games are a success on the independent level, though.
What arguments would you like to put forward to encourage our readers to play President Infinity 2024 ?
This will help you understand American politics from the inside.
Your plans and, above all, your desires for the future, Anthony Burgoyne ?
I want to solidify President Infinity 2024 as the best in the series going back to 2004. There will be more game mechanics tweaks, 2024 campaign updates, and help improvements going forward, to continue to set it out as the best in the series yet.
Un commentaire / Any comment ?
A few links...
- 270Sims
- Please follow Paroles d’Actu via Facebook and Twitter... MERCI !