Strategic Stalemate is a 2D turn based geopolitical and strategic video game with emergent gameplay set in an alternate beginning of the 1960's. Take charge of the US as both president and micromanager, managing everything from pressing international events, internal politics, managing the country's economy and energy demands. All while threading the needle between success, reelection and an all out nuclear war.
KEY FEATURES
The core part of the game will have you set in the Oval Office as acting president. Making individual choices for as many as 32 unique events based on your current circumstances. Events affect the five key elements, World Tension, Soviet Aggression, Military Strength, Popularity and Political Power which you will need to balance. To help with the delicate balance (and avoid nuclear annihilation), you will have access to the office's red phone from which you can make key calls to different officials.
Presidents come and go, only being allowed to serve two terms and as such, under the course of a playthrough, several different presidents will be elected. All with unique strengths and weaknesses which you will need to take into account under their presidential terms.
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To better organise and manage the country, you will need to establish and fund executive departments such as the Department of Energy. From the Department of Energy, you will be able to see and manage the country's energy demand, production and the funding of new power plants. Furthermore, you can also establish R&D Labs, which with the necessary funding and time, will provide certain bonuses to the nation.
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Each turn, you will be given a yearly income which you can either spend in the executive departments, or invest into the national economy. If the economy grows, your investments will increase in value and vice versa. The economy is unpredictable and thus an investment risk. However, you are not the only actor in the economy. As the world's largest industrial power, American companies have rapidly expanded and amassed considerable influence. In response, labor unions have emerged to protect worker's rights. Both sides vie for control each turn and it is up to you to support a side or choose to balance the power.
A lot of different factors such as events, elected president, energy demand and to a major degree, the economy, have an RNG aspect to them, keeping each playthrough unique and unpredictable. Combined with 3 endings, it gives the game a certain degree of replayability.
Composed by my good friend and aspiring indie artist, Theodor, the game includes a fully dynamic soundtrack in the style of dystopian ambient with spiraling high tones and a subtle undercurrent of tension. Meaning as World Tension increases or decreases, the soundtrack will respond in tune, providing a level of immersion.
