Finally stepping up to the plate in defense of video games is Electronic Arts exec Peter Moore -- and to Mr. President, Barack Obama himself, no less! After recommending that kids should play out in the sunshine more rather than play videogames indoor, in his speech to the American Medical Association, Obama has now been challenged by Moore to get into a 30-Day Challenge.

Less video games, more playing outside. This is what US President Barack Obama asks the parents of the United States, to raise their kids with less gaming and more time to play outside and be active. In his speech addressed to the American Medical Association, Obama stressed the importance of every person taking charge of their health - stay healthy - to help avoid illness and disease. More after the jump.

With all the flak that video games have gotten from politicians, we're tempted to think that two will probably never mix.

The latest one involves U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama and his comment about video games. You can read an excerpt of his statement n the full article after the jump.

While we can understand his sentiment, Senator Barack Obama's choice of rhetoric was a bit stale. Game Politics notes an Associated Press report that mentions his use of gaming as an equivalent to slacking.

According to the Associated Press, Obama was heard saying this at a a recent promotional rally in Austin, Texas:

Obama told the Austin crowd that they should try to recruit their friends to support his campaign. "I want you to tell them, 'It's time for you to turn off the TV and stop playing Game Boy,'" Obama said. "We've got work to do."

It obviously wasn't meant as a literal term, as the senator's been somewhat vocal in getting newer voters to go out and rock the vote (for him, presumably). He previously criticized youth culture as "watching TV, playing video games, and avoiding tough classes in school." Whether or not he wins the elections, we just want to tell him one thing though: "The new handhelds are the DS Lite and PSP. Take your pick for your next performance."

 

President Bush is suffering from low approval ratings, Senator Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are already in the running to be the Democrats' presidential candidate. Yup, the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election is just getting warmed up and 80soft.com, a software company whose forte is making political video games just released their latest PC game, President Forever 2008 + Primaries.

The game boasts of using a realistic electorate modeling techniques, but you could still lose even if you got more votes (just like in 2000). Anyhow, if you want to be responsible for electing the first woman US president or the first African-American US president, you better start massive campaigning and fund-raising activities. Here are the game's features:

• battle across each party's primaries and then enter the general election!
• criss-cross the country doing barn-storming campaigns
• setup detailed platforms to outmaneuver your opponents
• unleash foot soldiers to stop your opponents, or get campaign crusaders to rally voters to your cause
• run attack ads to steal voters leaning towards your opponents
• give a fiery custom-made speech, but remember to prepare for the debates!
• craft a detailed electoral strategy to give you a landslide on election day
• play vs. computer players or hotseat with other human players!
• play with 18 ready-made candidates in 2008 complete with detailed attributes and skills, or make your own!
• play 2008, or try a Great Campaign of the Past: 2000 (Bush-Gore), 1992 (Bush-Clinton), 1980 (Reagan-Carter), or 1960 (Nixon-Kennedy)!

The game is already available for roughly US$ 20. Or if you have your doubts, you could also try the demo which is around 5MB. The read link below will take you to 80soft's site.