Bush's Controversial Backrub - Now It's a Game

Unlike his hotly-debated decisions on Iraq and stem cell research, the unexpected back rub President George W. Bush gave to German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently is little more than an odd historical footnote.

But that never stopped parody game makers from taking comic advantage.

Bush Backrub lampoons the Prez's recent faux pas by challenging him to use backrubs to keep three world leaders at the negotiating table.

Recipients of W.'s rubbing include Merkel, North Korea's Kim Jong-Il and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Bush character must quickly navigate between the three, using a pair of backrub styles to keep the assembled leaders thinking positive thoughts. Should anyone's happiness meter run out, they will leave the table, causing the player to lose.

Like we said, it's silly. But Bush Backrub is an example of a growing trend in which current events are parodied with the digital equivalent of that editorial page staple, the political cartoon.

GP: Thanks to reader Tomica Divic for letting us know about this one!