For those who thought prime minister's questions was more scripted roleplay than authentic political debate, it will come as no surprise that the highlight of the parliamentary week has spawned a text-based computer game spin-off. Prime Minister's Questions: the Game, available for download by Windows users, sees gamers assume the persona of David Cameron in a deadly battle of wits with Ed Miliband. They're both drawn with retro, arcade-style pixels, and kept in check by the burbles of speaker John Bercow.
Grilled on subjects ranging from tuition fees to unemployment, via public sector reform, Cameron has the option of four formulaic replies. Blame Labour – "the last government maxed out this country's credit card" – or invoke the national interest: it's your call. Pick the right response, and Miliband loses "health" points. Pick the wrong one, and Cameron takes the hit.
The game also riffs on memorable PMQ moments. "I lead my party, he follows his," Cameron says at one point, referencing Tony Blair's jibe at John Major. "Calm down dear!" he later cries, referencing himself.
The game is the brainchild of developer Mark Richards, who also makes video-game style political cartoons on his blog, Pixel Politics. "It just occurred to me," Richards told the New Statesman, "that prime minister's questions is essentially a real-life turn-based battle, like those bits from the old Pokemon games."
