It seems the uber popular Narendra Modi just cannot stop trending on any media platform, be it the social network, the television or even the mobile phone game segment.
After the Modi-inspired smartphones made a splash in the country, the gaming industry is cashing in on the rage for the BJP prime ministerial candidate, as a new Modi-themed mobile game, called ‘Modi Run’, creates waves among India’s NaMo-loving technoscenti.
Naturally, in the election season, apart from high-decibel banner fights and ferocious tweeting, political parties are busy expanding their outreach and opting for fresh mediums of communication to attract newer vote banks. The latest turf to be conquered is the ‘Google Play Store’ on Android mobile phones, wherein games based on our political leaders are being launched frequently and their popularity with the poll-charged gamers are tapped to the last download and score.
‘Modi Run’ too is an Android platforming game that is available on Google Play Store for free. To its credit and as a proof of the swelling craze for the leader, Modi Run is the highest downloaded game on mobile phones in recent times. So far, one lakh people have downloaded it. Launched on 28 July, 2013, and 6.63 MB in size, the thrust of the game is to help Modi win the election by reaching the coveted Ballot Box.
The game description reads: ‘Help Modi through all the states and gather the votes to make him win the election and become Prime Minister of India.’ Based on the classic Mario series, in this game Modi’s character has to beat obstacles and collect diamonds at various stages, which are, cleverly enough, named after various states of India. The states include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu among others. After making Modi win a state, the gamer makes him jump to another state and finally makes him reach the Ballot Box, following which he is declared as the PM of India.
‘Modi Run’ also has wonderful graphics that are attracting the geeks of the gaming and political universe alike. But it comes with a disclaimer saying, ‘This game is not endorsed by Modi or BJP. It is purely for entertainment made as parody of Indian elections.’
Other political formations are also not far behind, with their copycat versions of Modi Run. ‘Aam Aadmi Runner’ is another game that was recently launched (on 2 October) and has already seen 5,000 downloads. The game spreads the ‘political philosophy of AAP’, with Arvind Kerjiwal preaching from the virtual pulpit. It is divided into two sections — ‘evolution of a revolution’ and ‘fight for true Swaraj.’ But to unlock the ‘fight for true Swaraj’, the player has to invite 20 Facebook friends!
Apart from Modi Run and Aam Aadmi Runner, there are several other games available in the Android Market. Narendra Modi (10,000 downloads), Na Mo’s Pocket (10,000 downloads), Na Mo Lion (1,000 downloads), Flying Manmohan (1,000 downloads), Super Namo (5,000 downloads) are some of the better known ones.