Game maker Eversim will start selling the new version of Commander in Chief in the US on January 20, when Obama is sworn in as president.
The game is played on a 3D world map, and contestants must pick a cabinet then tackle modern-day problems ranging from terrorism to economic woes.
“Player presidents” will make budget, health, education, military, diplomatic and other decisions in simulated environments and have to virtually live with the ramifications of their choices.
Commander in Chief will give players information from 50 international organisations including the United Nations, G7, NATO, NAFTA, and OPEC to enhance the realism of the game.
“You can put your own political theories into action and see the domestic and international domino effect,” Eversim lead designer Louis-Marie Rocques said when plans for the game were unveiled in April.
“Anyone will now be able to develop their own exit strategy for Iraq, reverse the course of the economic recession, and attempt to prevent terrorist attacks from al-Qaeda.”
“We are offering the chance to step into the president’s shoes and take on those difficult and influential decisions,” IGS chief executive Paul Lombardi said in a statement.
Players can lobby foreign leaders, invade neutral countries, topple unfriendly regimes, or plot assassinations but must bear in mind economic, political or military consequences.
Domestic decisions such as raising or lowering taxes will result in players having either upset citizens or tight budgets.
Commander in Chief is a “geo political simulation” PC game played on a world map showing 192 countries and 8,000 cities. It will be priced at $US39.95 ($60.11).
Players can opt for an “open mode” where the goal is to remain in office as long as possible or a mode that assigns them missions to complete. A multi-player “war game” mode pits players against one another online.
Versions of the game have been crafted to let players become virtual leaders of other countries including France, Germany, Spain and Russia.
