June 14, 2007
Fun With Redistricting!
A new online game is sweeping Congress -- and don't worry, Sens. Clinton and Lieberman, it isn't "Grand Theft Auto."
"The Redistricting Game" was developed at the University of Southern California to help teach voters that "mapmakers" can have more control over an election outcome than candidates or issues. Politically engineered redistricting, which can protect incumbents and party dominance even if voters are inclined differently, was most recently a hot topic in a Supreme Court decision last year and in the political fall of former GOP top dog Tom DeLay. Lawmakers concerned "the system is out of whack" invited the game's developers to the Hill yesterday.
NPR's Andrea Seabrook was one of the few journalists there. And nowhere in her report on the game does Seabrook address the most important issue of all:
Is it fun?
Quite a few Gaters are well-versed in video gaming (and have fulfilling social lives as well, if you want to know), and decided to give "The Redistricting Game" a whirl. Following are various verdicts.
"Well, it's no 'Civilization,'" scoffed producer Lisa Pickoff-White.
This Gater's last encounter with a video game was "Ms. Pac Man" at a New York bar that prides itself on "irony." In other words, I have no idea what that apparent barb is supposed to mean.
Lisa's other indictment of "Redistricting": "Pretty much it's drawing lines."
This Gater thought that was sort of the point, but never mind.
Lisa continues, "It makes the point pretty strongly about why people redistrict and are pretty open about it being 'bad.'"
So on top of not being something called "Civilization," "Redistricting" is neither fair nor balanced. Not looking good so far.
Luckily for the developers, copy editor Jon Hudec has a more upbeat assessment.
It "seems fun and perhaps even educational, if you take the time to figure out all the rules," Hudec says, despite futzing with his district for 10 to 15 minutes only to be told by the courts that his final map "did not comply with compactness laws." Compactness is legal parlance for the principle that districts should be drawn with attention to "natural" borders. Weirdly-shaped districts, for example, can raise suspicion.
The most enthusiastic praise came from managing editor Gwen Glazer, who in movie critic fashion hailed "Redistricting" as "really dorkily fun!"
There we have it: If you're a fan of "Civilization," stay away. For everyone else, "Redistricting" might prove educational and/or dorky fun.
Click here to try your hand at district-drawing. The game works best on Internet Explorer.
Posted at 4:57 PM
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