Taiwanese politician uses mobile game to 'plant flowers' while campaigning

Tsai Chi-chang, the majority whip of the Democratic Progressive Party's caucus in Taiwan's Legislative Yuan, has found a novel way to engage with voters and stay active during his campaign trail: playing the popular mobile game "Pikmin Bloom."

While accompanying his protégé, Jian Jia-you, a candidate for the Taichung City Council, to market for votes, Tsai revealed his in-game activity. He explained that due to his busy schedule, which often involves car travel, he hadn't had much time for walking and "planting flowers" in the game. He seized the opportunity during the campaign to combine his walkabouts with tending to his virtual garden.

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I've been sitting in the car a lot lately and haven't been able to walk, so I haven't planted flowers for a while. I'm using this campaign to plant flowers while walking and see how many steps I take today.

Jian Jia-you, who is one of Tsai's assistants and a newcomer in the upcoming city council elections, also participates in the game. He proudly shared that he walks over 10,000 steps daily, a feat that earned him praise from Tsai. The duo was seen campaigning together in the Dongxing Market in Taichung's North District, aiming to secure two seats for the district.

The use of "Pikmin Bloom" during political campaigning highlights a blend of modern technology and traditional grassroots engagement. The game encourages players to walk in the real world to grow virtual flowers and collect in-game characters, effectively gamifying physical activity. This approach by Tsai and Jian offers a lighthearted, contemporary angle to their campaign efforts, potentially resonating with a younger demographic or those interested in mobile gaming.

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I walk more than 10,000 steps every day.