PETALING JAYA: While we await the 13th general election, smartphone users can “help” their favourite politicians “conquer or retain” Putrajaya - in the video game world.

An election-themed game titled “Conquest of Putrajaya” (pic) which features Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders battling it out for votes has hit the Web and App stores as a free download.

Players can choose to play the cartoon versions of politicians in states like Penang, Selangor, Johor and Sarawak before unlocking the final stage, which is Putrajaya.

Among the characters on the Barisan side are Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel and Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

On the Pakatan side, gamers can play as Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

“The parties will engage on a battlefield to defend their territory while trying to take their enemy's territory.

“As they move forward, they unlock different states and characters to play,” said Game Pro International Sdn Bhd general manager Kenny Chua.

Kenny said the developer had initially designed the engine for a different game but after observing the keen interest in the general election among Malaysians, he decided to switch the theme.

The game took two weeks to develop and was released last week.

“Everyone is so serious come election time. What we wanted was something in a fun setting that people can enjoy,” he said, adding that the game also took jabs at some recent political gags.

The game had over 30,000 downloads and is ranked in the top 50 new Apps on the Google Play Store.

Kenny said netizens can also play the game on Facebook while an iOS version of the App would be ready in a few weeks.

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