9 September 2008

RiotACT Sim Challenge - How David Morgan went

| Joe Canberran
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Yesterday saw Jazz and a nameless clone from the Riot 501st venture to deepest darkest Tuggeranong and the very nicely appointed but almost deserted on a Monday night, Ojo Bar to observe Liberal candidate for Brindabella, David “Morgo” Morgan attempt RiotACT’s Sim Challenge to a backing soundtrack of Ojo’s selection of ‘80’s hair rock.

Lacking RiotACT’s “irresponsible” Editor (to paraphrase the Crime’s Ian Warden), Johnboy, due to familial commitments the clone was soon sent off to search the labyrinthine corridors of an empty after hours Hyperdome in search of some note taking equipment. Surviving encounters with the kobold like cleaning staff and pale supermarket night denizens the clone returned to discover the Morgo had jumped right in laying down the first ring roads that would define New Murrumurrah, not pausing to do the tutorials as he had prepared and practiced on the game which he had bought in the previous week, although had never played past the half hour mark.

David, 29 (not 18, we checked his driver’s licence), is a practicing accountant when not running for the Assembly, hailing from Harden-Murrumurrah in country NSW )and, sorry to say for all those Liberal inclined young single Riotettes out there, happily married) who along with his mother were the only supporters early on although as the photos show this wasn’t to last long.

Morgo started with a coal fired power station and, similar to his fellow Liberal Jacqui Myers, set his ring roaded suburban area far to the north of his industrial area. Building emergency services early, particularly fire stations, would prove valuable later on as the fire that hit that area at the 2 hour mark barely made an impact as 5 fire units rushed to respond. The never seen in reality complaint of too many teachers early on disappeared as time went on as teacher strikes became a regular sight, although to be fair this was rectified quickly on every occurrence.

[ED – the next two Sim Challenges are:
— Matthew Watts, Liberal for Ginninderra, 7pm at The Pot Belly, Weedon Close Belconnen. Wednesday 10 Sept.
— Shane Rattenbury, Greens for Molonglo, All Bar Nun O’Connor. Thursday 11 Sept.]

An hour and a half in New Murrumburrah had seen four and a half years of growth with a population of just over 9,000 and a mayor rating of 5. Light rail had been built and other traffic issues had been dealt with by upgrading central roads to avenues and installing bus routes.

After upping the dirty industry tax rate in the second hour and then further tweaks around year 8 to balance the budget saw Morgo’s population numbers stagnate around 13,000 although his mayor rating hit 8 bars, a number it would stay at until the end. The construction of an airport late game and the lowering of taxes due to a healthy surplus saw demand rise and a growth spurt in the population. With scant minutes left Morgo built a few more sporting facilities in open spaces he had left within urban areas, a university and, in an upset for global money markets, The Bank Of America.

Final stats: 8 bars of mayor rating, environment score barely off the mat and improving but still poor, full marks for health and education, a high score for traffic and land value and a poor result for safety. 15,938 population and $15,938 left in the bank.

The video gives a good feel for Morgo the Man, as opposed to the dull feel you may get from his facebook page, as he took regular time outs to explain his priorities and frankly access his performance.

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“Vote for Morgo”

Ha! Grow a molester moustache Morgo and then I’ll think about it. The libs need a mo’ or two.

large cans

Skidbladnir said :

I discover late in the afternoon -of- the event this thing is on only minutes from work, but still couldn’t attend.

Is there another Brindabella candidate willing to step up and have a crack at this?

I hope so… I am interested to see other RA members attend, thought it would be a good chance to meet some…

3 appearances, no luck.

I discover late in the afternoon -of- the event this thing is on only minutes from work, but still couldn’t attend.

Is there another Brindabella candidate willing to step up and have a crack at this?

Joe Canberran4:41 pm 09 Sep 08

Sorry for being a tad verbose with the write up folks.

And a warning – the interviewer’s voice is REALY loud!

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