Hail to the Chimp

Want to combat voter apathy? Then ditch Obama and McCain and put a lion and a monkey up for election. Ben Parfitt steps into the ballot box – and votes for the monkey...

When publisher Gamecock first emerged and promised a fresh approach to publishing, liberating developers in the process, many eyebrows instantly raised. But if one title encapsulates its publishing intentions, it’s Hail To The Chimp. On the surface, it’s a simple action/racing/party game, but the decision to infuse this with US-centric political satire is certainly unlike anything released on console before.

“Hail To The Chimp is a fast paced action/party game, where players fight and race each other to determine who will become the next King of the Animals,” says UK marketing manager Matthew Walker of Gamecock partner CDV. “The game has real depth with ten characters, all with their own attributes and quirky personalities. There are also 16 different game types included so there’s no shortage of gameplay. And as it’s best experienced in a multiplayer setting, it’s great value for money and one you can return to time and again.”

But what of that unusual theme? And more importantly, how it combines with the party game genre and the audience for both Xbox 360 and PS3? “We feel the marriage works well,” Walker adds.

“It’s not political satire in the Jon Stewart or Rory Bremner mould; it’s a lot more light-hearted and serves to lead you through the story of the game and flesh out the background to the characters you’re playing. It’s not essential to have seen all the cut scenes to enjoy the game, but they’re a genuinely amusing complement to the rest of the product.

“Naturally, the current demographics for the Xbox 360 and PS3 would suggest an older and more dedicated gamer, and that’s our primary market and the marketing campaign will reflect that.

“However, we feel there’s a big secondary market that would love the style of gameplay on offer here. This direction is backed up by the recent Microsoft price cut and move into the mass market space, along with Sony’s continued growth and the increasing number of consumers using the machine for dual purposes.”

The plot begins after the reigning monarch – a lion incidentally – is deposed following a number of embarrassing scandals. As a result, the remaining members of the animal kingdom decide the time has arrived to give democracy a chance and subsequently hold their first ever election. There’s certainly no way the game can be called uninteresting.

The title is all the more pertinent considering that the USA is currently preparing for what could be the most historic election in living memory. That, combined with the unique nature of Gamecock’s title, leads the firm to expect good things from the game.

“We have high expectations for the title at retail,” Walker concludes. “The price point of £24.99 ensures it makes a great impulse purchase and, combined with the product quality, it will appeal to both sides of the market.”