GOG Working Their Publicity Magic Via The Government Shutdown

from the idle-hands dept

I'm not sure if you heard, but the United States government has been shut down, or has been "slimmed down," or is partially funded, or whatever some talking noggin on your favorite cable news network has told you this news cycle. Terror is being expressed, much talk has been made over the dire consequences, and everyone is looking for someone to blame as our government pulls its latest hissy-fit slap-fight instead of being productive. Yay, democracy. Anyway, the result is a great many furloughed government employees with their retroactive pay guaranteed and a whole lot of self-reflection time on their hands.

No worries, because retro-gaming website Good Old Games is here to help. They've decided to make the further assclown-ery of our esteemed elected lizard-people a sort of theme for their latest publicity stunt. They're going halvsies with customers on game titles like Capitalism 2 and Theme Hospital. But the deal is even better if you're one of those furloughed folks on the government teet.

Finally, we would like to express our condolences to everyone who's been furloughed by the shutdown. More than that, actually, we'd like to offer you the games pack of our special Shutdown Promo for free. Send an email to thanksobama@gog.com with your picture holding the official furlough letter you received, before Friday 11 October 2013 at 12:00 EDT and we'll give you The Guild: Gold Edition, Capitalism, Capitalism 2, Tropico: Gold Edition, Alpha Centauri + Alien Crossfire, Theme Hospital, and Redneck Rampage free.
GOG, which has experimented with some forward-thinking promotions in the past, really knows how to turn government ineptitude into an opportunity. Yes, this is an obvious publicity stunt. Yes, I'm helping that stunt by writing this article. But I don't care, because the prospect of government employees essentially getting retroactively paid to play games based on healthcare, government, and capitalism, all of which they're getting for free, is the kind of recursive irony that tastes as good as a cut of prime rib.

So if you're sitting at home because our two party system has melted into a massive talking-points circle-jerk, pass the time by playing some games for free. And know that we Americans all appreciate the work you aren't doing thanks to the weirdos we all sent to Washington.

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Filed Under: games, government shutdown, promotions
Companies: gog, good old games


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  • identicon
    AL, 9 Oct 2013 @ 4:34pm

    Gee, the GOG page I see looks like they're getting a deal on Arcanum, The Witcher, Beyond Good and Evil and Deus Ex GOT Edition.

    Let me know if the gray death breaks out, will you?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Oct 2013 @ 4:54pm

    ...except that those 'poor' govt workers will get all back pay when they return to work...

    (And speak for yourself, re: appreciating their paper-pushing--they're 'non-essential' for a reason.)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Oct 2013 @ 11:47pm

      Re:

      In democracy electorate ultimately responsible for government.
      In this case as employers failing to meet their moral and contractual obligations.
      The biggest comfort for the US in this is that one would think their reputations cannot actually get worse although I have thought that for years now but somehow they pull out all the stops and confound expectations over and over again.
      That really is a sort of exceptionalism.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Bergman (profile), 10 Oct 2013 @ 3:49am

      Re:

      Yes, we can all die of a plague because the CDC is less essential than members of Congress having a place to workout...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 10 Oct 2013 @ 6:01am

      Re:

      Yet-to-be-recieved back pay is so good for buying groceries and paying rent, isn't it?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Oct 2013 @ 5:38pm

    Thanks for the gaming goodness Obama!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      DoubleFacePalm, 9 Oct 2013 @ 7:31pm

      Re: Thanks for the gaming goodness Obama!

      Your comment makes you part of the ass-clownery if you really think only one side is to blame. They are all to blame for this mess.

      Oh, and happy gaming.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 9 Oct 2013 @ 7:34pm

        Re: Re: Thanks for the gaming goodness Obama!

        hey I gotta blame someone and it's easier to rage against a single target

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 9 Oct 2013 @ 10:16pm

          Re: Re: Re: Thanks for the gaming goodness Obama!

          Then Rage against The Machine.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Oct 2013 @ 7:37pm

    I recent read that the government is something like 83% still going. The other are things that are done to piss the public off to put pressure on the politicians to do their jobs.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    btr1701 (profile), 10 Oct 2013 @ 9:58am

    Mammaries

    It's "teat", not "teet"!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Ninja (profile), 10 Oct 2013 @ 11:07am

    Well, at least things actually work in the games eh?

    Now if only one could implement Obamacare in theme Hospital with all these discussions and subcommittees... Red Cross would be proud.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Postulator (profile), 10 Oct 2013 @ 8:21pm

    Good on Good Old Games.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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