With elections around the corner and with leaders turning to web-based campaigning with a vengeance (such as Advani's ubiquitous portal link on every second website), it seems as good a time as any for politically themed online games to make an appearance.

7Seas Technologies Limited, a Hyderabad-based independent IP-based game developing company, is all set to launch the country's first free online political casual games on its official gaming portal www.onlinerealgames.com from March 15, says L Maruthi Sanker, managing director of 7Seas Technologies.

These five rib-tickling games, 'Who Wins' (a set of political Olympic games),Who Wins2, 'Vote Fun', 'Vote a Leader' and 'Political War' -- with the current Indian political scenario on the backdrop -- will have prominent Indian political leaders as the main characters vying for the Prime Minister's seat with more strong-arm tactics than usual. Dressed as athletes with bulging biceps, these illustrious leaders will compete in tug-of-war, running, javelin throw, swimming, and long jump among other contests.

To play these games, the user needs to select his favourite leader and pitch him or her into the sports arena. After successful completion of one level, the player will go to the next levels, thereby seeing his political icon sitting on the coveted thrown. The games will also have a percentage bar, which displays the number of gamers who selected a particular politician.

"Given the enthusiasm that the Indian elections are generating globally, we expect these five fun online games to attract players of all age groups," says Sanker. "The main objective of these games is to provide relief to the gamers from their routine lives and at the same time create awareness among them on the Indian political scenario," he adds.